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Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen ... see more see more... , Dylan Kussman , Allelon Ruggiero , James Waterston , Norman Lloyd , Kurtwood Smith , Carla Belver , Leon Pownall , Joe Aufiery , Lara Flynn Boyle , Kevin Cooney , John Cunningham , George Martin , Debra Mooney , Alan Pottinger , Alexandra Powers , Melora Walters , Welker White , Charles N. Lord , Jane Moore , Howard Feuer

Robin Williams toned down his usually manic comic approach in this successful period drama. In 1959, the Welton Academy is a staid but well-respected prep school where education is a pragmatic and rat... read more read more...her dull affair. Several of the students, however, have their thoughts on the learning process (and life itself) changed when a new teacher comes to the school. John Keating (Williams) is an unconventional educator who tears chapters of his textbooks and asks his students to stand on their desks to see the world from a new angle. Keating introduces his students to poetry, and his free-thinking attitude and the liberating philosophies of the authors he introduces to his class have a profound effect on his students, especially Todd (Ethan Hawke), who would like to be a writer; Neil ( Robert Sean Leonard), who dreams of being an actor, despite the objections of his father; Knox (Josh Charles), a hopeless romantic; Steven (Allelon Ruggiero), an intellectual who learns to use his heart as well as his head; Charlie (Gale Hansen), who begins to lose his blasé attitude; unconventional Gerard (James Waterston); and practical Richard (Dylan Kussman). Keating urges his students to seize the day and live their lives boldly; but when this philosophy leads to an unexpected tragedy, headmaster Mr. Nolan (Norman Lloyd) fires Keating, and his students leap to his defense. Dead Poets Society was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Williams; it won one, for Tom Schulman's original screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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90% liked it

276,201 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

53 critics

PG, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Peter Weir

Release Date: June 2, 1989

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DVD Release Date: November 10, 1998

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Stats: 16,907 reviews

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Dead Poets Society Charlie Dalton Dead Poets Society Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society Dead Poets Society Dead Poets Society Ethan Hawke & Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society Dead Poets Society Gerard Pitts Dead Poets Society John Keating John Keating John Keating
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Flixster Reviews (16,907)

  • fb1710827246
    April 29, 2012
    fb1710827246
    Incredible. There hasn't been a film that isn't so attuned to my own concerns, with the truest of sympathies, this film is everything that all my life I bore my deep anguish. And its greatest pull comes from that, even then, the film making is poignantly fleshed. And there hasn't... read more a film that contains so much of what profoundly implicates oh so many who live in this miserly, dysfunctional society. It is sentimental, and so it ends as it probably should, on a heart-tugging tragedy and finally ends in a keep-the-faith, hopeful note of how we can all come to truly live meaningful lives.
  • movieguru12
    November 25, 2011
    movieguru12
    Carpe Diem. Seize the day. That's the message for Knox Overstreet, Charlie Dalton, Pitts, Steven Meeks, Neil Perry, Todd Anderson and Cameron. Robin Williams stars as the upbeat teacher, John Keating, to these quite different and kids with big dreams. Todd dreams of being a write... read morer and Neil dreams of acting on the stage in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Both will try their hardest to accomplish these goals and one will fail trying.
  • fb100001493964409
    November 4, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    This is a film that left me with mixed feelings. Luckily, it has more good than bad (a lot more good), but there is one scene in this film that just simply wasn't done right. Unfortunately, I can't say what the scene is (mostly on the grounds that it's a massive spoiler), but one... read more very small detail screws the whole scene up. But the rest of the film's execution is always competent and enjoyable. There are a few scenes that truly rise to greatness, but the rest of the film is simply enjoyable. I definitely recommend seeing it. And one final thing. This is NOT Robin William's best performance, not even close. If you want to see a good performance from him, watch "One-Hour Photo" or "Good Will Hunting."
  • spielberg00
    September 15, 2011
    spielberg00
    There's absolutely no question as to why DEAD POETS SOCIETY was nominated for Best Picture in 1989. Truly, if it weren't for the fact that a few critics thought Robin Williams should have just gone back to comedies (an absolutely idiotic statement, in my opinion, though I can se... read moree a slight bit of their reasoning), this would have easily won the award. "Carpe diem; seize the day, boys!" If that one quote is remembered centuries from now, don't expect me to be at all surprised. DEAD POETS SOCIETY was like a tragic, sometimes witty drama that is one of Robin Williams' best yet.
  • moonrivers
    July 14, 2011
    moonrivers
    Impressionable prep school types are challenged by wild card English Poetry teacher Williams who encourages them to "feel the words." Will they all take up goth rock???
  • ajaymuthecooldevils
    March 24, 2011
    ajaymuthecooldevils
    Before watching this movie, I already heard great reviews about this movie.. And those reviews were true, after almost 2 hours watching this movie I must say that I'm truly impressed with Peter Weir's job in this movie.. Not only he made a great movie that could inspire the audie... read morence who watch it, but he also collects a great cast full with potential young actors and we see one of them, Ethan Hawke, is now an A-class Hollywood actors.. Robin Williams' performance as Mr. John Keating was truly convincing, and he deserved his Academy Awards nominee for Best Actor.. But the one who steal my attention was Robert Sean because his performance was very good, too bad he didn't get lucky enough to have a nominee.. Overall, it's a great movie, with a great story, and a great cast, I guaranteed you'll be inspired after watching this movie..
  • sanjurosamurai
    February 23, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    one of the best films of its decade. as a massive fan of poetry this film was tailor made for me, especially as a fan of keating's perspective. williams was perfect in what may be the best performance of his stellar career. the insights, the inspiration, and the contrasts buil... read moret into the characters make the film more than just another "teacher inspires kids" film, as the events surrounding the film are completely believable. the only thing holding the film back from perfection in my mind is the way the film puts a halt to the teaching, the club, the relationships, and the poetry in order to explore a dark final act that in some ways kills the films momentum, but even then what we are given was executed with precision. a wonderful film.
  • fb733768972
    February 19, 2011
    fb733768972
    Dead Poets Society grabs a bunch of talented actors, places them in a film where the story is already magnificent, and gives the audience 100% satisfaction. However, that being said, even though the film satisfies and is one of the best scripted films in it's genre, it does feel ... read moredull at times, because there aren't enough events occurring. Overall, I loved Dead Poets Society. It has emotion, comedy, life lessons and life decisions. What more can you ask for? The final act of the film is unexpected and brutal, which makes it all the more believable. This film is stunning!
  • jamers2011
    January 15, 2011
    jamers2011
    One of my favorite movies of all-time! A brillant, touching, tragic story. Great performances, too. Great movie all around!
  • Tomassgringo
    January 1, 2011
    Tomassgringo
    Slow at times but delivers a powerful bang at the end. Some good and some great acting help spotlight Robin Williams performance.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
August 24, 2010
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Williams, who has comparatively little screen time, has come to act, not to cut comic riffs, and he does so with forceful, ultimately compelling, simplicity. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 18, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Story sings whenever Williams is onscreen. Screen belongs just as often to Leonard, who as Neil has a quality of darting confidence mixed with hesitancy. Hawke, as the painfully shy Todd, gives a haun... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
July 18, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The moral divisions set up between characters are childishly overdrawn; and, worst of all, the behavior shown by the boys and adults frequently reeks of falsity and contrivance. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The movie undercuts Mr. Williams's exceptionally fine performance, making the character seem more of a dubious fool than is probably intended. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

It's a literate though strained uplifter, a not altogether compatible coupleting of Rocky Balboa and the Bard. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Not the worst of the countless recent movies about good kids and hidebound, authoritatian older people. It may, however, be the most shameless in its attempt to pander to an adolescent audience. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Solid, smart entertainment. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 20, 2012
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's not so easy to dismiss Dead Poets Society. For all its faults, it still has as much power as it ever did. Full Review

James Plath
January 9, 2012
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

Williams keeps a stiff upper lip, showing a more sedate and sensitive side, and the Oscar-winning screenplay provides a strong backbone. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 23, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Falters when it goes for too much heart-tugging manipulation. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • John Keating: 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. To quote from Whitman, 'O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?' Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
    • John Keating: They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.
    • John Keating: No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
    • John Keating: Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.
  • The first Touchstone Pictures release to gain a best picture nomination.
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Dead Poets Society Trivia

  • What movie did Robin Williams play a teacher who encouraged his kids to stand on the desk to get a different perspective of the world?  Answer »
  • In which movie did the son commit suicide because his parents were against his career aspirations?  Answer »
  • Robin Williams plays a what in Dead Poet's Society?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Ethan Hawke play a shy student at a 1940's boarding school?  Answer »
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