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Mr. Holland's Opus

Play trailer Poster for Mr. Holland's Opus PG Released Jan 19, 1996 2h 22m Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Composer Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's taken a job at an Oregon high school. Though at first the job frustrates him, and his unconventional methods often draw the ire of the straight-laced vice principal (W.H. Macy), Mr. Holland grows to love his students as the temporary position stretches into a decades-long career -- and in the end, they reveal just how much they love him back.
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Mr. Holland's Opus

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Critics Consensus

A feel-good story brought to life by a terrific ensemble cast, Mr. Holland's Opus plucks the heartstrings without shame -- and with undeniable skill.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: A- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety This idealized tribute to a charismatic teacher who devotes himself to music appreciation has the same old-fashioned texture and sticky sentimentality as Goodbye Mr. Chips (of 1939), but Dreyfuss gives an effective, surprisingly restrained performance Rated: B- Jan 29, 2007 Full Review Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle Rated: 3/4 Jun 18, 2002 Full Review Don Shanahan Film Obsessive Every teacher in America dreams of a sunset moment like that of Glenn Holland. So few ever get or earn it. Rated: 4/5 Dec 22, 2024 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant Though Patrick Sheane Duncan's screenplay goes in various directions and never develops a cohesive narrative, Herek keeps the story rolling along. May 30, 2018 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) Holland may have been a failed composer, but he's a master at playing the heartstrings. Rated: 3/5 Apr 21, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tim M Not quite a magnum opus, Mr. Holland's Opus nevertheless gets a tremendous titular performance from Richard Dreyfuss and ultimately overcomes its more formulaic storytelling. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/15/24 Full Review Allen W A masterpiece! Five stars! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/24 Full Review Audience Member I have no feelings on this movie whatsoever, I feel like on one hand it's a really cute movie that has some heartfelt moments and real emotions, it can also be really funny at some points. But on the other hand this movie can be really unfunny, and boring, the best part of the movie, for me is either when Mr. Holland sang that adaptation of "Beautiful Boy" or the end when all his students ever preformed for him. Also that one girl who asked the Mr. Holland to run away with her or whatever and he wrote a song for was just really creepy for so many reasons. So yeah I both loved this movie and hated it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member A feel-good movie that isn't cheap or manipulative with it's uplifting final resolutions. Arguably, this is Dreyfuss' opus as an actor. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Great acting with a good moral to the story Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Kay W This is definitely a feel-good movie. I just watched it again and loved it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/02/21 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

Broken Hill 60% 59% Broken Hill Watchlist Wheeler 56% 57% Wheeler Watchlist TRAILER for Wheeler A Nashville Wish % 25% A Nashville Wish Watchlist Unstrung Heroes 75% 61% Unstrung Heroes Watchlist Unsung Hero 61% 99% Unsung Hero Watchlist TRAILER for Unsung Hero Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Composer Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's taken a job at an Oregon high school. Though at first the job frustrates him, and his unconventional methods often draw the ire of the straight-laced vice principal (W.H. Macy), Mr. Holland grows to love his students as the temporary position stretches into a decades-long career -- and in the end, they reveal just how much they love him back.
Director
Stephen Herek
Producer
Ted Field, Michael Nolin, Robert W. Cort
Screenwriter
Patrick Sheane Duncan
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Hollywood Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Interscope Communications
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 19, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$82.6M
Runtime
2h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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