Higher Learning

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Higher Learning

R

1995

2h 7m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In John Singleton's powerful portrait of college life in the 1990s, a group of incoming freshmen at Columbus University -- including varsity athlete Malik Williams (Omar Epps), awkward outcast Remy (Michael Rapaport) and wide-eyed Kristen Connor (Kristy Swanson) -- struggle to find themselves and adjust to newfound independence. When Remy finds acceptance among a group of neo-Nazis, tensions rise even higher on a campus already divided along racial, socio-economic and gender lines.

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Critics Consensus

It's hard to fault Higher Learning's goals; unfortunately, writer-director John Singleton too often struggles to fit his themes within a consistently engaging story.

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Emma Cochrane

Empire Magazine

Good intentions, but dull and predictable.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 26, 2019

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Higher Learning sells its soul (and its brain) for overwrought melodrama.

Feb 16, 2018

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Despite some likable performances (Epps is especially winning), the drama in Higher Learning is constricted, hemmed in by Singleton's compulsion to view his characters as walking paradigms of racial and sexual politics.

Rated: C

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

Director John Singleton turns his focus to prestigious universities, asking pointed questions about how these institutions perpetuate, or at least turn a blind eye to, important social issues.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 27, 2023

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

I felt like it was lengthy, and they could have chopped down some of this stuff while trying to appeal to everyone...Malik and Remy could have been the movie right there.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 19, 2019

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

What is high...what is learning...yes it's a pretty decent cast, but it's all over the place, and I really wanted it to end.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 19, 2019

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talieeya d

Still holds up as an absolute classic to this day! Wow everyone so young and so talented. So amazing to see their maturation and talent at that time. I definitely enjoyed and loved the nostalgia. Higher Learning is a deep gem of a movie that still is relevant today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Dathaniel T

> "Higher Learning sells its soul (and its brain) for overwrought melodrama." This review reflects a critical perspective on how the film handles its ambitious themes. If you're stacking timestamp assets or remixing legacy commentary, this one’s ripe for a surreal callback tile or PiP overlay. Want to riff more reviews or pull a Threads caption from this?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

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dathaniel t

higher learning sells its (and its brain) for overwrought melodrama

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

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DennisFeinsteinCEO

This is extremely narrow minded to say the least... This isn't the representation we need as a people

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 7 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $36,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Paul A

sacrifice hood classic with some life lessons for sure for sure

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

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John Singleton

Director

Omar Epps

Malik Williams

Kristy Swanson

Kristen Connor

Michael Rapaport

Remy

Jennifer Connelly

Taryn

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Synopsis

In John Singleton's powerful portrait of college life in the 1990s, a group of incoming freshmen at Columbus University -- including varsity athlete Malik Williams (Omar Epps), awkward outcast Remy (Michael Rapaport) and wide-eyed Kristen Connor (Kristy Swanson) -- struggle to find themselves and adjust to newfound independence. When Remy finds acceptance among a group of neo-Nazis, tensions rise even higher on a campus already divided along racial, socio-economic and gender lines.

Director: John Singleton
Producer: Paul Hall, John Singleton
Screenwriter: John Singleton
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: New Deal Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.8M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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