Mr. Holland's Opus

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Mr. Holland's Opus

PG

1996

2h 22m

Drama

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

28 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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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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Emanuel Levy

Variety

01/29/2007

B-

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

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Mike Clark

USA Today

01/01/2000

2.5/4

An overwrought Disney weeper.

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Don Shanahan

Film Obsessive

12/22/2024

4/5

Every teacher in America dreams of a sunset moment like that of Glenn Holland. So few ever get or earn it.

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

05/30/2018

Though Patrick Sheane Duncan's screenplay goes in various directions and never develops a cohesive narrative, Herek keeps the story rolling along.

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Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

04/21/2006

3/5

Holland may have been a failed composer, but he's a master at playing the heartstrings.

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

01/23/2006

9/10

A touching, uplifting and life-affirming winner that makes it hard to avoid leaving the theater teary-eyed, with a lump in your throat.

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Leaburn O

5d

A reasonable performance that doesn’t quite hit the high notes it’s ambitiously seeking. A marginally better than mediocre drama. Watched on DVD.

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Michael F

Nov 15

This movie reminded me just how wonderful an actor Richard Dreyfuss is. Mr. Holland's Opus is one of his best.

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Lanfranco C

@Lanfrancobz Oct 25

In little many teachers passed trough this kind of experience

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Nick E

@nicksmovies93 Jul 7

The film can be overly thematic, but Mr. Hollands Opus has heart.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 1

Success in 2 hours and 22 minutes.

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Larry K

@Larrymoses39 Feb 13

What a great movie! Dreyfuss is awesome.

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Stephen Herek

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Glenn Holland

Glenne Headly

Iris Holland

Jay Thomas

Bill Meister

Olympia Dukakis

Principal Helen Jacobs

William H. Macy

Vice Principal Gene Wolters

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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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