I Am Sam: Directed by Jessie Nelson. With Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning, Dianne Wiest. An intellectually disabled man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family. Find out how and where to watch "I Am Sam" online on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ today – including 4K and free options. I Am Sam (stylized in all lowercase) is a 2001 American drama film co-written and directed by Jessie Nelson. It stars Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Richard Schiff, Loretta Devine and Laura Dern. Find out where to watch I Am Sam online. This comprehensive streaming guide lists all of the streaming services where you can rent, buy, or stream for free