Dead Poets Society (1989)

Painfully shy Todd Anderson has been sent to the school where his popular older brother was valedictorian. His room-mate, Neil, although exceedingly bright and popular, is very much under the thumb of his overbearing father. The two, along with their other friends, meet Professor Keating, their new English teacher, who tells them of the Dead Poets Society, and encourages them to go against the status quo. Each, in their own way, does this, and are changed for life. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Peter Weir
Written By: Tom Schulman
Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Kurtwood Smith, Melora Walters, Norman Lloyd, Lara Flynn Boyle, Josh Charles, Robert Sean Leonard, Dylan Kussman, James Waterston, Gale Hansen, Allelon Ruggiero
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
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Dead Poets Society belongs to 68 collections
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Browse the full list of collections
Stars | User | Rating | |
6 | ![]() |
BeeDub | 95 91st |
Fantastic acting and even-handed direction more than make up for the rather ham-fisted screenplay, creating something that feels authentic and special despite its manipulations.
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5 | ![]() |
recklessmess | 90 97th |
Despite the fact that this movie spurred on a wave of ridiculous "Carpe Diem" slogans, I still like this movie. Carpe fuck you.
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4 | ![]() |
Actionberg | 70 49th |
Dead Poets Society appeals most to the age group of the protagonists of the film. It's great as a coming-of-age film, and I appreciate the boys' realistically imperfect grasp of the poetry they so worship. Robin Williams unfortunately plays himself in a few scenes, but it's not enough to deter one from the whole scope.
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sophie | 80 81st |
After seeing this movie now, I can't understand why I hadn't already watched it a long time ago. Very nice to see Robert Sean Leonard whom I've known only from House so far. He and Ethan Hawke and of course Williams are great in this one!
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caiman | 69 34th |
Walks a fine line between genuine and pretentious, and ultimately tips too far on the side of the latter. Some scenes, especially early on, feel inspired (and inspiring). But as the movie progresses, the dramatic cues really kick into high gear and things get corny. The third act especially gets excessively heavy-handed. Williams and all the boys give fine performances, but the movie can't sustain the weight of its turgid script.
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3 | ![]() |
billkerwin | 86 71st |
This is a very good movie, but a little too manipulative of audience sympathy: the father is too determined a villain, the teacher's culpability is too easily excused, and the end just a little too inspiring. Nevertheless, Robin Williams is remarkably restrained, Robert Sean Leonard is very moving, the cinematography is gorgeous, and Peter Weir guides it all with sensitivity and a sure hand.
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3 | ![]() |
Syntheseizur | 59 13th |
Many plot issues keep me from rating this higher: the journeys of individual students end incomplete, Keating's personal story is underdeveloped, and some of the emotional and humorous beats fall flat. Of course, the film's inspirational point-of-view is undoubtedly infectious, and the movie has an interesting perspective on institutional education and how the most beneficial teaching methods are those which pierce the wall of bureaucracy and traditionalism, but it doesn't all ring true for me.
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Magb | 60 23rd |
Robin Willliams isn't fooling anyone -- that guy couldn't inspire-disillusioned-students his way out of a paper bag.
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CCLZA | 55 28th |
very, VERY manipulative.
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2 | jhenson | 12 18th |
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This film ruined a generation of educators.
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auritech | 39 28th |
Boring backstories and an eye-roll inducing main story made this movie more than a bit unbearable. Good teacher at a bad school, oh no, I've never heard that premise before.
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2 | ![]() |
Boobjuice | 55 52nd |
Robin Williams hams it up in one of those movies that all high school teachers show to pacify and distract their students for two hours.
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tonydal | 20 2nd |
Completely unrealistic and silly. Typical Peter Weir stuff. And the final scene--where they stand on the desks--God, what hokum.
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Rufam | 55 21st |
(spoilers) Despite Weir's admirable craft and a strong cast (led by a surprisingly tolerable Williams), "Dead Poets Society" can't conceal its true essence: an ideologically hollow and shamelessly manipulative tearjerker. Its first half is shallow but enjoyable -but when Neil's suicide, which makes no sense at all, functions as a plot device leading up to the almost downright hypocritical climax, the ridiculously contrived script starts begging for some cheaply earned tears from the viewers.
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rant1229 | 1 6th |
A feel good film for the 80's, that presents a simplistic view of reality, a black and white version of morality, and paints the ultimate in upper-class vicarious victimization and self-serving non-conformity. As long as your rebelliousness includes such things as reading poetry, acting and standing on a desk! Do what's best for you. Carpe Diem.
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1 | ![]() |
doctor7 | 75 62nd |
Quite good but far too melodramatic at times. Even as an English major I can't get behind the notion that poetry is a massive rebellious thing that truly sets the mind free, at least to the degree portrayed in the film. Still this packs very strong performances, especially from Robin Williams who is superb making it well worth watching.
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Sockman | 0 0th |
hurf durf standing on your desk
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1 | lifeandall | 75 50th |
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Williams pulls off one of his best acted movies. Will inspire you to stand on top of your desk and scream "carpe diem".
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jenks101 | 94 93rd |
Oh Captain, my captain! This almost makes you wish you were a young boy in boarding school... almost!
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Stain | 95 90th |
I greatly admire the artistry and performances, and so much of it works... but this whole movie is such a HUGE LIE. I remember what it was like to be an adolescent. My "peers" -- even the other especially bright ones -- were not noble souls yearning to breathe free like the teenagers in this film. They were mice studying to be rats, who made the school shootings that became so popular in the 90s completely understandable
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1 | meanmikhail | 75 53rd |
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Robin William's performance is very good, but the movie isn't nearly as great as some say.
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1 | Bo_Dagger | 0 13th |
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Did I say Forrest Gump was the poster child for trite Hollywood bullshit? I must have forgotten about this one.
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1 | dasgeordie | 0 5th |
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Utter monkeys cocks. Pretentious cunts.
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1 | ![]() |
cinema_hell | 50 9th |
Carpe Diem my ass.
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1 | ![]() |
ofallpieces | 100 98th |
O Captain, My Captain!
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Melvin Smif | 70 79th |
Some of William's best work, and he's hardly in the movie. I think the film would have been more enticing had we focused on Keating's 'Carpe Deim' approach to life unintentionally becoming a catalyst for tragedy when it was taught to 15 and 16 year old boys possibly too young to truly grasp the message. Also, non-conformity is easy to cheer for when the "conformists" are so easily recognized as villains.
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1 | filmdot | 78 33rd |
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A good film but I don't get what all the fuss was about, it was kind of empty and bland at times but at other times it was great. A valiant effort by Weir and he succeeded but not as much as I hoped it to. Williams was good also.
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1 | ![]() |
fenixdown | 75 54th |
A cautionary tale about the destructive nature of conformity. Robin Williams is great.
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d_drudges | 50 56th |
The concept is good but the movie just feels unfinished and rushed. Having all the characters be so intolerably posh makes the whole thing unrelatable, at least for me. There's a point here about movie audiences though: you throw them a load of philosophy and all they'll remember when it's over is a stupid catchphrase.
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1 | ![]() |
hellboy76 | 71 84th |
I avoided this movie for a long time for some reason, but upon watching it, its deeply sappy but doesn't come off as overly cloying, so that was good. Williams turns in one of his effective aw shucks I am insane roles, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Robert Sean Leonard who was quite good. It's not a life changer but it's definitely a solid piece of work.
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1 | twisp | 38 20th |
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A bad version of If.... (1968) combined with the 'Ministry of silly walks' sketch.
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1 | alex9000 | 65 57th |
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A reasonable life inspirational flick that falls flat from it's hokey heart. Sure it's there but it can get cheesy after a while. It's intellectual quoting is kind of interesting but dwindles as we come to expect someones really patting themselves on the back or otherwise for it. It tried to make me care for prissy boarding school prep kids and failed but I did come away with the thought that it tried. Cinematography poor. No great shots. Robin delivers. A lesser effort for gus. Nuff said.
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1 | ![]() |
Julie Rubio | 94 53rd |
"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
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1 | ![]() |
le mami | 25 17th |
One of the most overrated films of the history. Still, there are some great acting performances. On the other hand, the idea in this film starts great but loses its auro by repating itself over and over again. I love the idea "Carpe Diem" but it makes this movie very predictable and boring with these repetitions.
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1 | dogeatmoon | 62 41st |
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Super white movie.
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Displaying 1 to 250 of 253 total ratings: Prev | Next
Average Percentile 61.12% from 12024 Ratings | ![]() |