I Am Sam_
"Love is all you need."
Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Max
3 countries
Netflix
2 countries
Hulu
1 country
U-NEXT
1 country
Prime Video
1 country
wavve
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
I Am Sam earned $92.5M worldwide on a $22.0M budget — a 321% return on investment.
Jessie Nelson →
Year context
I Am Sam was released 25 years ago in 2001.
CAST (20)
Sean Penn
Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rita Harrison Williams
Dianne Wiest
Annie Cassell
Dakota Fanning
Lucy Diamond Dawson
Richard Schiff
Mr. Turner
Loretta Devine
Margaret Calgrove
Marin Hinkle
Patricia
Laura Dern
Randy Carpenter
Brad Silverman
Brad
JR
Joseph Rosenberg
Joe
Stanley DeSantis
Robert
Doug Hutchison
Ifty
Bobby Cooper
George
Mary Steenburgen
Dr. Blake
Eileen Ryan
Estelle Dawson
Michael B. Silver
Dr. Jaslow
Rosalind Chao
Lily
Ken Jenkins
Judge Philip McNeily
Wendy Phillips
Miss Wright
Mason Lucero
Conner Rhodes
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$22.0M
Budget
$92.5M
Revenue
+321%
ROI
MASSIVE HIT
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
Bedford Falls Productions
AWARDS (1)
S
Producers Guild Stanley Kramer Award
2002
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
132 min (2h 12m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.6/10 (2,445 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$22,000,000
Box Office
$92,542,418
Profit
+$70,542,418
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is I Am Sam about?
Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
How long is I Am Sam?
I Am Sam has a runtime of 132 minutes (2h 12m).
Who directed I Am Sam?
I Am Sam was directed by Jessie Nelson.
Who stars in I Am Sam?
The cast of I Am Sam includes Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Richard Schiff.
How much did I Am Sam make at the box office?
I Am Sam earned $92,542,418 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $22,000,000.
What is the rating of I Am Sam?
I Am Sam has a rating of 7.6 out of 10 based on 2,445 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama
KEYWORDS (13)
mentally disabled
foster parents
lawyer
pro bono
social services
coffee shop manager
pizza hut
children's book
locked door
child custody
woman director
father daughter relationship
neurodiversity