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Dead Poets Society

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for Dead Poets Society PG Released Jun 2, 1989 2h 8m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 65 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 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Though it’s marginally overlong, the script is absorbing. Rated: 8/10 Sep 16, 2024 Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) It's extremely manipulative but it still works Aug 28, 2024 Full Review Lyric Waiwiri-Smith The Post NZ An achingly beautiful story of high school boys who give up the guards of their masculinity and family expectations to believe in something beautiful and real. Oct 28, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Divyansh U. A beautifully made movie with some brilliant acting and smart direction. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 2 hours and 8 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $94,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/13/25 Full Review José G B Beautiful, touching, emotional and inspiring! And the one-of-a-kind Robin Williams. What more could you ask for.? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Cory C Fantastic film that shows a dedicated teacher influencing the lives of the students around him. Robin Williams along with his supporting cast continue to get your more enveloped in the story. This movie will inspire and tug at your heartstrings. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Brody M In Dead Poets Society, Peter Weir offers a coming of age classic. The movie follows Mr. John Keating and his class at an all boys prep school as Keating attempts to inspire free thought and independence in his students through unusual teaching methods. While some of the child actors seem a little corny, Robin Williams’s performance as John Keating is incredible. In addition to this, the actors for Todd Anderson and Neil Perry are excellent. While special effects are not heavily employed in this movie, they are used tastefully to enhance certain scenes, such as the owl startling the boys as they venture through the forest. Similarly, the score is non-invasive and complements the action on the screen. But what makes this movie so special is Peter Weir's direction of the excellent script, themes, and cinematography. The script poses Keating as the only adult who understands the importance of living life to the fullest, a theme prominent in this film. The cinematography effectively frames him as an ally, whereas other adults like Nolan are oppressive and large when on the screen. Ultimately, Dead Poets Society is a classic and must watch for anyone who has ever been a teenager. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/30/25 Full Review Keira D The film “Dead Poets Society” directed by Peter Weir tells the story of a group of young boys at Welton Academy, a boarding school for young men, and the role their English teacher, Mr. Keating has on their lives—both academically, socially, and emotionally. The film is a powerful coming of age story—that depicts the struggles and triumphs each one of these boys’ faces in their pursuit of varying ambitions. For some, these ambitions include pleasing their parents and excelling academically, for others it is pursuing their passions, falling in love, or simply finding the courage and words to express themselves. The film’s gorgeous setting depicted through the grounds of Welton Academy perfectly encapsulates the romantic, hazy, and nostalgic memory of adolescence and the particular experience of boyhood in the late 1950’s that the story is intended to convey. I write this review having watched the film for what I believe is my fifth time, and I am surprised each viewing to find a different aspect of the story particularly touching to me. The film closely follows one of the boys in particular, Neil, who is struggling to pursue his passions in acting and literature, while his father discourages him in doing so in fear that it will distract him from the future he has planned for him in medicine. Though I always feel for Neil in the tragedy of his suicide, the depth of his depression in not being able to pursue his passions, this time around I felt myself connecting more with Tod, who struggles to find the courage to share his voice, having lived most of his life in the silent, lonely shadow of his successful older brother. I was particularly struck by Todd’s growth as the film progressed, how in a short scene in which Todd is getting ready with the other boys to go watch Neil perform in his play, he has more color in his cheeks—and not the kind of color that arises as a result of shame or embarrassment—but the kind that comes from laughter, excitement, and elation. Todd found a sense of confidence as he poked fun at the other boys around him, and received the same playful insults at ease. To see the power brought about by friendship, art, and literature is not only incredibly moving, but also incredibly personal. Mr. Keating’s class offered the boys at Welton Academy an outlet, not only to express themselves in ways they often were unable to, but also to find power and confidence that they had otherwise come to believe they were unworthy of or unable to achieve. This is one of my favorite films for a reason—an easy 5 stars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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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
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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