University of Southern California, who at the time were the reigning debating champions. Though they beat the reigning champions, Wiley was not allowed to officially call themselves champions, because they were not full members of the debate society; black people were not admitted until after World War II. Cast Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson Forest Whitaker as James L. Farmer Sr. Denzel Whitaker as James L. Farmer Jr. Nate Parker as Henry Lowe Jurnee Smollett as Samantha Booke Jermaine Williams as Hamilton Burgess Gina Ravera as Ruth Tolson John Heard as Sheriff Dozier Kimberly Elise as Pearl Farmer Devyn A. Tyler as Helen Farmer Trenton McClain Boyd as Nathaniel Farmer Jackson Walker as Pig Owner Tim Parati as Pig Farmer Justice Leak as Harland Osbourne Robert X. Golphin as Dunbar Reed Damien Leake as Wilson Frank L. Ridley as Security Guard Release The Great Debaters was released in theaters on December 25, 2007. The release of the film coincided with a nationally stepped-up effort by urban debate leagues to get hundreds of inner-city and financially challenged schools to establish debate programs. Cities of focus included Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. On December 19, 2007, Denzel Washington announced a $1 million donation to Wiley College so they could re-establish their debate team. June 2007, after completing filming at Central High School, Grand Cane, Louisiana, Washington donated $10,000 to Central High School. Home media The Great Debaters was released on DVD on May 13, 2008 on 1-disc and 2-disc editions. In the 2-disc edition, the first disc includes no extra material, but the second disc includes an audio commentary, a making of documentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a still gallery. The film was the first since 1979 allowed to film on Harvard's campus. Reception Box office The Great Debaters debuted at No. 11 in its first weekend with a total of $6,005,180 from 1,171 venues. The film grossed $30,236,407 in the US. Critical response As of November 20, 2012, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 80% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 132 reviews. The site's consensus reads: "A wonderful cast and top-notch script elevate The Great Debaters beyond a familiar formula for a touching, uplifting drama." Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 65 out of 100 based on reviews from 32 critics. Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer named it the 5th best