Woodlawn

Set in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1973, Woodlawn centers on Tony Nathan, an African American student who joins the football team at Woodlawn High School just as the school begins integrating Black students. The team and the surrounding town are divided by racial hostility, and head coach Tandy Gerelds has to hold together players whose conflicts mirror the tensions of the wider community. The arrival of an outsider named Hank, who speaks to the squad about his Christian faith, pushes the team toward a message of acceptance and unity. The story follows Tony as he pursues his talent on the field while navigating the pressures of the era.

The film is a drama directed by Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin, working from a screenplay by Quinton Peeples and Jon Erwin, with Kevin Downes producing. It was their third feature as directors, following October Baby and Moms' Night Out. The cast includes C. Thomas Howell, Sean Astin, Jon Voight, Virginia Williams, Brando Eaton and Sherri Shepherd, among 45 credited performers. Produced by Sony Pictures on a budget of about 12 million dollars, it took in roughly 14 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds a 6.4 rating from more than 7,700 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.9 from over 200 votes, indicating a modest but favorable response from those who have seen it.