Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Spelling the Dream

Original title: Breaking the Bee
  • 2018
  • TV-G
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
814
YOUR RATING
Spelling the Dream (2018)
An Indian-American competitor has won the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee for the past 12 years straight, making the trend one of the longest in sports history. 'Spelling the Dream' chronicles the ups and downs of four Indian-American students as they compete to realize their dream of winning the iconic tournament.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
6 Photos
Documentary

Chronicle of the ups and downs of four Indian-American students as they compete to realize their dream of winning the iconic tournament.Chronicle of the ups and downs of four Indian-American students as they compete to realize their dream of winning the iconic tournament.Chronicle of the ups and downs of four Indian-American students as they compete to realize their dream of winning the iconic tournament.

  • Director
    • Sam Rega
  • Writers
    • Sam Rega
    • Chris Weller
  • Stars
    • Srinivas Ayyagari
    • Jacques Bailly
    • Valerie Browning
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    814
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Rega
    • Writers
      • Sam Rega
      • Chris Weller
    • Stars
      • Srinivas Ayyagari
      • Jacques Bailly
      • Valerie Browning
    • 22User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos5

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Srinivas Ayyagari
    • Self
    Jacques Bailly
    • Self
    Valerie Browning
    • Self
    Ratnam Chitturi
    • Self
    Shourav Dasari
    • Self
    Pawan Dhingra
    • Self
    Ashrita Gandhari
    Ashrita Gandhari
    • Self
    Sanjay Gupta
    Sanjay Gupta
    • Self
    Jaideep Janakiram
    • Self
    Paige Kimble
    • Self
    Hari Kondabolu
    Hari Kondabolu
    • Self
    Nupur Lala
    • Self
    Tejas Muthusamy
    • Self
    Balu Natarajan
    • Self
    Kevin Negandhi
    • Self
    Shruthika Padhy
    • Self
    Shalini Shankar
    • Self
    Akash Vukoti
    Akash Vukoti
    • Self
    • Director
      • Sam Rega
    • Writers
      • Sam Rega
      • Chris Weller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.9814
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7Eggoreluckadman

    Good documentary, but heavily flawed in one major aspect

    I enjoyed the documentary. Thought it was well presented and well executed. However, the film should have explored the "tiger parent" concept much more in depth.
    9donaldricco

    good viewing!

    I really was into this film! Very interesting look at the spelling bee, and how Indian Americans have come to dominate the competition! I was pretty nerve wracked at the end for the three spellers that had been featured! My 12 year old daughter liked it too! A well done documentary!
    10contact-38287

    An Amazing American Tale

    Americans of Indian descent have come to the USA in greater numbers since the 1960's. Prior to that, there was the Asian Exclusion Act which barred immigration from Asia. However, Americans of Indian descent have a long history in America. The first recorded newspaper clipping of an Indian (from India) in America, was just 10 years after the pilgrims landed on Playmouth Rock. The Indians were brought over as indentured servants to the British. They eventually were swapped for Africans. The Indians from that time assimilated into the African slave population. Indian Americans next came in larger numbers during the transcontinental railroad. They helped build the railroad with other Asians. Then came the racist court decisions like US v. Bhagat Singh which stripped Indians of citizenship and took away their land rights. It was doubly cruel because Bhagat Singh (like a number of other Indians) fought for the USA in World War I.

    I say all this to point out that Americans of Indian descent are part of this country's history. Heck, this land was found by Europeans searching for a quicker path to India and they thought the Natives were Indian.

    Indian Americans are an extremely intelligent ethnic group in America. Their children greatly outsmart all other American children. This documentary shows the hard work and dedication these kids have. It is uplifting and a great way to show the amazing talent of Americans of Indian descent.
    10katrintamborello

    Good Watch!

    This is a brilliant documentary. I can never spell like these kids.Watch it if you want to know why these Indian American kids are dominating! Inspiring!!!
    10aaravmisra

    These kids make Indians proud - Must watch

    This reminds me of the Oscar nominated Spellbound. As one of the Indian American, I am proud of these children who value hard work, work ethics and dedication. A must family watch movie. I loved it.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Choked
    5.7
    Choked
    The Last Days of American Crime
    3.8
    The Last Days of American Crime
    Queer Eye
    8.5
    Queer Eye
    Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj
    8.3
    Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj
    Curon
    5.9
    Curon
    Lenox Hill
    8.6
    Lenox Hill
    ID Presents
    8.4
    ID Presents
    SeaChange
    8.0
    SeaChange
    CMT Artists of the Year
    8.6
    CMT Artists of the Year
    House Hunters
    6.7
    House Hunters
    Royalties
    6.4
    Royalties
    Below Deck Mediterranean
    7.6
    Below Deck Mediterranean

    Related interests

    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 3, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rüyayı Hecelemek
    • Filming locations
      • Ft. Washington, Maryland, USA
    • Production companies
      • Exit Zero Productions
      • Makemake
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 22m(82 min)
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.