Dead Poets Society

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2:35

Dead Poets Society

PG

1989

2h 8m

Drama

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), is introduced to an all-boys preparatory school that is known for its ancient traditions and high standards. He uses unorthodox methods to reach out to his students, who face enormous pressures from their parents and the school. With Keating's help, students Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) and others learn to break out of their shells, pursue their dreams and seize the day.

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Critics Consensus

Affecting performances from the young cast and a genuinely inspirational turn from Robin Williams grant Peter Weir's prep school drama top honors.

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Kurt Jacobsen

Chicago Reader

May 11, 2022

1/4

We never are privy to Keatings’s personal life, nor do we quite grasp why such a talented individual is devoted to pedagogy.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 23, 2017

3/4

A refreshing if obvious drama.

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Hank Gallo

New York Daily News

Jun 1, 2016

3.5/4

On the surface Robin Williams appears to be giving his standard performance as Prof. Keating - witty, sincere and lovable. But there's much more here.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Oct 28, 2025

9/10

One of Weir’s great gifts as a filmmaker is how he draws performances out of actors.

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Rudrangsh Gupta

The Hindu

Sep 8, 2025

By the end, the film not only makes you cherish friendships, but allows you to realise a deep gratitude for teachers, who in spite of all of their strictness, have the highest hopes for every single student who may cross their path.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 16, 2024

8/10

Though it’s marginally overlong, the script is absorbing.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 12, 2026

Dead Poets Society = a 4.5 star movie!

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Evelyn S

@evelyn09 Aug 31, 2026

oh captain my captain

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Jasmine W

@jasniquejewels Aug 31, 2026

"O Captain!, My Captain!" forever a favorite I sobbed so good.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Aug 30, 2026

I thought the whole thing was cheesy and stupid. I don't get why people cite this as their favorite movie. So many loose ends that weren't tied up made it unsatisfying.

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Antoni W

@Antonir Aug 29, 2026

While Dead Poets Society touches on too many separate subjects to truly excel at any, the message of loyalty(and anti-snitching) succesfully makes for a nice watch given the undoubtedly praiseworthy acting of Robin WIlliams and his class. Next movie though, I want a little more originality.

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Karen H

@RT85294852 Aug 21, 2026

I really enjoyed watching this film again. The location is absolutely beautiful and the music score is very good. Though it has a lot of holes in it for being truly believable as is, the meanings of the film are timeless. Robin Williams gives a warm, genuine performance just like he did in Good Will Hunting. Robin Williams at his very best!

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Peter Weir

Director

Robin Williams

John Keating

Robert Sean Leonard

Neil Perry

Ethan Hawke

Todd Anderson

Josh Charles

Knox Overstreet

Gale Hansen

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Dead Poets Society: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), is introduced to an all-boys preparatory school that is known for its ancient traditions and high standards. He uses unorthodox methods to reach out to his students, who face enormous pressures from their parents and the school. With Keating's help, students Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) and others learn to break out of their shells, pursue their dreams and seize the day.

Director: Peter Weir
Producer: Steven Haft, Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas
Screenwriter: Tom Schulman
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Home Video
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $94.5M
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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