Dead Poets Society

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2:35

Dead Poets Society

PG

1989

2h 8m

Drama

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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

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

Rated: 1/4

May 11, 2022

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

A refreshing if obvious drama.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 23, 2017

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Hank Gallo

New York Daily News

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 1, 2016

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

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

Rated: 9/10

Oct 28, 2025

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Rudrangsh Gupta

The Hindu

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.

Sep 8, 2025

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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

Rated: 8/10

Sep 16, 2024

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Purevbat M

This movie is such a masterpiece. There are only two downsides and those are that i really feel like that the in the first half of the movie the pacing was too slow and they rushed the ending. And the other one is that if could've dived just a little into Mr.Keating's life and where he got that wisdom whilst graduating the same disciplined school as his pupils. Maybe they could've showed us more about Mr.Keating's life in the beginning where i mentioned the pacing was too slow so that the movie would be more balanced out.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

Full Review

Brenden S.

I would never say “no” to watching this film. Carpe Diem

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

Full Review

Orville M.

This may be one of my favorite films of all time. Between the cast itself and the overwhelming amount of inspiration it produces I can’t think of a better representation of what I wanted from my own teachers as a student.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Only movie to make me burst into tears and shout at my tv. If you don’t get this movie no one will ever truly understand you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/25

Full Review

Luxx L

I only just watched this movie recently but I’m upset I haven’t watched it sooner. This is an amazing movie, could have an impact on people’s life as a whole. Cried. Definitely now in my top 10.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/25

Full Review

Natalia L

YOU GUYS GOTTA WATCH THIS IT’S A WORK OF ART 😭 R.I.P Robin Williams

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/02/25

Full Review

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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

Charlie Dalton

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Dead Poets Society: Trailer 1

2:35

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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: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone 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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