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Dead Poets Society

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for Dead Poets Society PG 1989 2h 8m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society

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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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Critics Reviews

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Kurt Jacobsen Chicago Reader 05/11/2022
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. Go to Full Review
Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune 08/23/2017
3/4
A refreshing if obvious drama. Go to Full Review
Hank Gallo New York Daily News 06/01/2016
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. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine Oct 28
9/10
One of Weir’s great gifts as a filmmaker is how he draws performances out of actors. Go to Full Review
Rudrangsh Gupta The Hindu Sep 8
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. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 09/16/2024
8/10
Though it’s marginally overlong, the script is absorbing. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Onion R @ONION999 6h For me, this movie for me is outstanding. I would put this movie into my top 10 movies must-see that I would recommend this movie to other person. The ways this movie portrays the characters as Neil and Anderson is unbelievable, those character becomes a highlight in this movie. Although, this movie ending doesn't has a good ending, Mr keating leaves the school and neil… well at least their spirit has spreads to other students just like they never truly left. "step on the deck" look the things from a different perspective See more Xavier S @xylophone 6d Dead Poets Society is amazing. It's possibly the best I have ever watched. The fact that people EVEN DARE, to put this absolute MASTERPIECE under 5 stars is crazy to me. This movie will have you crying, but for how amazingly written, directed, and acted, it's the perfect price to pay. See more Ren Y @HeronR3n Jan 7 This movie has quite a lot of motivational and thought-provoking quotes/question. Loved how the whole movie had this sunset and autumn filter, you can almost feel the sun shining on your face. See more Mariana T @M.Tezeta Jan 4 I chose it as my first film of the year. Dead Poets Society is an aesthetic in itself. Every scene has its own essence. It's a bit long, though, for such a simple theme. But nostalgia is winning me over today. I won't be harsh, because the message endures longer than any criticism. See more Sahil K @Sahilk171 Dec 27 I feel the keating story should have been longer and the ending for me does not hot me that much, I felt something was left out, keating personal life story should have been great addition, 7/10 , See more nika s @crni123 Dec 20 Dead Poets Society is more than just a film. It's a profound story that will touch everyone. Although some may describe it as tragic, I say it shows how a person can be affected if they are not alowed to think and act freely. In today's time everyone must act by society's rules and if they don't they may be described as deviant. This movie reminded me to do things freely, without caution for how society might react. Oh captain, my captain. See more Read all reviews
Dead Poets Society

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Movie Info

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
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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