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Morgan Freeman, Robert Guillaume, Beverly Todd, Lynne Thigpen, Jermaine Hopkins ... see more see more... , Karen Malina White , Todd Alexander , Robin Bartlett , Michael Beach , Heather Rose Dominic , Marina Durrell , Yvette Hawkins , Michael Imperioli , Tyrone Jackson , Knowl Johnson , Michael Joseph , Marcella Lowery , Jim Moody , Michael P. Moran , Alan North , Ethan Phillips , Sandra Reaves-Phillips , John Ring , Sloane Shelton , Mike Starr , Regina Taylor , Tony Todd , Harry Madsen , Bruce Malmuth , Karina Arroyave , Ivonne Coll , Richard Grusin , Pat McNamara , Alex Romaguera , Jennifer McComb , Morgan J. Freeman

After earning rave notices for powerful supporting turns as a pimp in Street Smart (1987) and an alcohol abuse counselor in Clean and Sober (1988), actor Morgan Freeman began his ascent to stardom wit... read more read more...h this, his first lead role in a major motion picture. Freeman is real-life high school principal Joe Clark, a tough, harsh educator and administrator who in 1987 is given a nearly impossible task by his old friend, school superintendent Dr. Frank Napier (Robert Guillaume). Clark is asked to reform inner city Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ, a hotbed of delinquent kids and drug dealers. Considered the worst school in New Jersey, the state is threatening to take control of Eastside away from the local school board. If Clark can straighten out Eastside in time to get the school's basic-skills test scores up, he can have the job permanently. Although Clark's tyrannical approach and hard-line policies alienate many members of the staff and the community, his uncompromising campaign gets results and even makes him famous, much to the chagrin of his powerful enemies. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

36,662 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

15 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: John G. Avildsen

Release Date: March 3, 1989

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DVD Release Date: October 20, 1998

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Stats: 1,467 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,467)

  • fb701560354
    January 26, 2012
    fb701560354
    Morgan Freeman is great in this role, but Lean on Me is a bit cheesy and predictable.
  • DreamExtractor
    April 22, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A good movie. A bit dated but Freeman was great none the less.
  • deano
    February 11, 2007
    deano
    Great courage and true story of a high school principal who is saving the school from the troublemakers. Morgan Freeman electrifies his fiction character in an extraordinary performance as an extraordinary man.
  • superclerk25
    January 27, 2007
    superclerk25
    A teacher inspires his students to do better. Good flick.
  • fb1526363679
    December 2, 2011
    fb1526363679
    A good movie. A bit dated but Freeman was great none the less.
  • EbertsLittleApprentice
    December 12, 2011
    EbertsLittleApprentice
    This film is like all true stories in which they are inspired by fact. "Lean on Me", However is different because it is inspired by fact and a great story of a man who cherished his community and for those who wanted tto become someone good.
  • ashleymh007
    August 8, 2007
    ashleymh007
    Oh if only there were more teachers like this..
  • leekyle1968
    June 1, 2009
    leekyle1968
    this was another one i saw this weekend on BET. I love this movie to death and i think Morhan Freeman was overlooked by the academy on the year this came out. Morganès performance is intense as hell as he portrays real life principal joe Clark. Great story which shows that once... read more you weed out all the bad kids in a group there are surprisingly quite a few that actually want to learn and make something of themselves. Joe Clarks ways of doing things for sure are over the top however effective. My own kids were saying gee dad, were glad ure not like that! Why? cause then you would actually listen to me? hmmmmmm?
  • qtmemoe
    September 18, 2007
    qtmemoe
    For those of you who like Morgan Freeman, this is the movie that really got him noticed...Think about that.
  • Chosen718
    June 9, 2007
    Chosen718
    Classic

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Critic Reviews

Polly M. Robertus
January 2, 2011
Polly M. Robertus, Common Sense Media

Inspirational movie about a controversial teacher. Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson
April 7, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Is a baseball bat the best way to organize a school? In the movie, sure. In real life, maybe not.

Nick Davis
August 17, 2003
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

Freeman, as usual, infuses a standard-issue plot with extraordinary emotional conviction.

David Nusair
August 1, 2003
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Freeman goes for the gusto and pulls it off... Full Review

Eugene Novikov
August 1, 2002
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather

Watchable but formulaic tough-love-teacher movie, made perhaps before Morgan Freeman could get himself better roles.

James Sanford
July 29, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

calculated to get you cheering -- and it does

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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Facts

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    • Joe Clark: You'll be dead in a year son. You hear me? You'll be dead in a year.
    • Kid Ray: I don't think I'm cut out for this, ya know, school and all. I just came by to say I'm leaving.
    • Kaneesha Carter: He don't believe in you, cause you don't take care of your responsibilities! Mr. Clark is like a father. He's like a father to some of us who don't have fathers. You don't know a thing about Mr. Clark. Free Mr. Clark!
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Lean on Me Trivia

  • What movie is this quote from: "You are here for one reason, one reason only: to learn"?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the movie where Mr. Carter was the principle  Answer »
  • True or Fales? The Film Lean on me is based on a true story??  Answer »
  • easy one name this 1989 morgan freeman movie based on the audio clip song  Answer »
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