Akeelah and the Bee

Changing the world... one word at a time.

An uplifting coming-of-age drama about a gifted young girl overcoming family hardship and social pressure through education and mentorship, grounded in community and personal growth.

11-year-old Akeelah Anderson has a way with words. After winning her schoolwide spelling bee, she decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates' derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr. Larabee, she reaches the finals. As she gets to know her fellow competitors, Akeelah realizes that coming first isn't everything in life.