Cooley High

Play trailer

Cooley High

PG

1975

1h 47m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in Chicago in the 1960s. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Cooley High crackles with vibrant energy and authenticity, elevated by an impressively natural cast and Michael Schultz's effortless direction.

Read Critics Reviews

Bryan Johnson

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

Preach and Cochise have their adventures, a lot of them patently comic or tragic -- but seldom, to me, either very funny or very moving.

Go to Full Review

Margo Jefferson

Newsweek

08/15/2025

It is a smart, very affecting movie.

Go to Full Review

James Walcott

Village Voice

08/15/2025

The surprise of Cooley High is that it is a schlock concept which transcends its limitation by becoming a celebration of black brotherhood.

Go to Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Aug 17

4/5

A classic "good hang" movie about some Chicago high school goofs that actually had something to say and influenced a generation of Black cinema and TV.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 29

Funny in 01 hour, 47 minutes, and 14 seconds. Rated R.

See more

Scott M

@RT75128960 Sep 14

Tries it's best to be a sentimental coming of age film in inner city Chicago. But it doesn't quite make it. Needed better directing. But it did have a solid core of acting by Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs.

See more

Gael C

@RT31765110 01/29/2025

ME GUSTO MUCHO COOLEY HIGH 1975 ME GUSTARÍA VERLA OTRA VEZ EN PRIME VIDEO

See more

Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life 12/24/2024

What a great coming of age movie. The soundtrack alone is amazing but the performances were really good to. Heartbreaking movie to say the least. Tim Treakle

See more

CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni 07/06/2024

Pleasant , you are there, realistic depiction of 1964 teenage life in Chicago, An American Graffiti type story, a slice of life, with appealing performances, a good soundtrack, a sobering ending,

See more

Mike F

@RT08031912 09/16/2023

This film is a true classic that I was fortunate enough to discover as a teenager in the early 90's and have enjoyed watching many times. Compelling dramatic story about black teens growing up in a tough Chicago neighborhood with some drizzles of comedy sprinkled in just right.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Michael Schultz

Director

Glynn Turman

Preacher

Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs

Richard "Cochise" Morris

Garrett Morris

Mr. Mason

Cynthia Davis

Brenda

Corin Rogers

Pooter

Lucky Lady

25%

33%

Lucky Lady

Watchlist

American Graffiti

95%

84%

American Graffiti

Watchlist

TRAILER

for American Graffiti

Mother, Jugs & Speed

53%

53%

Mother, Jugs & Speed

Watchlist

The Front

67%

74%

The Front

Watchlist

The Sugarland Express

87%

66%

The Sugarland Express

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Sugarland Express

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Divergent Series Will End on TV, and More Movie News

View more photos

Synopsis

Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in Chicago in the 1960s. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.

Director: Michael Schultz
Producer: Steve Krantz
Screenwriter: Eric Monte
Distributor: American International Pictures
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 11, 2017
Runtime: 1h 47m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings