Dangerous Minds (1995)

29% of critics liked it
(38 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(96,433 ratings)

In this drama, a school teacher discovers that it takes more than the ABCs to get through to a class of "uneducatable" kids. When Lou Anne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer), a nine-year veteran of the Marine Corps with a degree in education, begins a new job at an inner-city school in California, the… More In this drama, a school teacher discovers that it takes more than the ABCs to get through to a class of "uneducatable" kids. When Lou Anne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer), a nine-year veteran of the Marine Corps with a degree in education, begins a new job at an inner-city school in California, the principal (George Dzundza) warns her that her class will be the "rejects from Hell" -- kids with severe social problems and no interest in education. While at first her African-American and Latino students scoff at Lou Anne, she ultimately gets them to open up to learning and literature, through a combination of bribery (candy bars) and intimidation (her karate training from the Marines comes in handy), and she's able to reach out to the students who need her the most: Callie (Bruklin Harris), a bright girl who believes she's thrown away her future when she becomes pregnant; Emilio (Wade Dominquez), a macho bully whose violence is stifling his academic potential; and Raul (Renoly Santiago), the brightest kid in the class, who is afraid to show his intelligence. Dangerous Minds was adapted from a memoir by Lou Anne Johnson entitled My Posse Don't Do Homework. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: John N. Smith
Written By: Ron Bass
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Aug 11, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 1999

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Pfeiffer gives a funny, scrappy performance that makes you feel a committed teacher's fire to make a difference.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
The tale screenwriter Ronald Bass came up with, and the way director John N. Smith tells it, is stereotypical, predictable and simplified to the point of meaninglessness.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie pretends to show poor black kids being bribed into literacy by Dylan and candy bars, but actually it is the crossover white audience that is being bribed with mind-candy in the form of safe words by the two Dylans.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
A no-frills, single-minded drama driven by Pfeiffer's totally committed performance.
Tom Keogh, Film.com
Pfeiffer has a lot of good moments as Johnson.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
The movie has real emotional and reportorial credibility, a prime source of its power.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
None of it rings the slightest bit true; all of it insults the intelligence.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
So whitebread I want to call everyone involved 'Urkle'.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Horrible. A waste. How was this ever a hit?

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

I like movies like these, although its not as good as films like freedom writers, it is an entertaining enough movie. Its not the most inspirational drama that gives you the wow factor at the end of the movie but it is funny and keeps you interested. I absolutely love the soundtrack… More
I like movies like these, although its not as good as films like freedom writers, it is an entertaining enough movie. Its not the most inspirational drama that gives you the wow factor at the end of the movie but it is funny and keeps you interested. I absolutely love the soundtrack to this movie its amazing.
Wildaly M

Stereotypical, predictable and unrealistic.
Jason O

Been spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise.
Lenny M

Michelle Pfeiffer looking hot in the ghetto trying to teach knowledge.
Candy R

Michelle is a teacher in an inner-city school. Love the soundtrack.
Dean !

The best of the cool teacher reaches out to the tough kids in a run down area films. You should like if you enjoyed Coach Carter which is very similar but is about the school basketball team.
Ken S

This movie was the bomb when I was in Junior High
xGary X

A teacher in "the ghetto" wins the trust and respect of her class of "homies". Absolutely laughable exploitative drivel.
danny d

lady meets kids. kids do stuff. one kid dies. sad.
Jason S

The first of the teachers who inspire gangster movies.
Leigh R

Very well done.
Deb S

The lives of these troubled and misunderstood teens are described very well and maybe that's one of the reasons why I liked this movie. Michele Pfeiffer portrays a teacher who gets a new job teaching at a city school. When she gets there, she realizes that she has agreed to teach… More
The lives of these troubled and misunderstood teens are described very well and maybe that's one of the reasons why I liked this movie. Michele Pfeiffer portrays a teacher who gets a new job teaching at a city school. When she gets there, she realizes that she has agreed to teach a classroom full of hoodlums. After a terrible reception, from the students she tries unorthodox methods of teaching, using friendship and attention to win the trust of her students. In the end she becomes their inspiration for caring about their future. Not up to the classy "To Sir with Love" but pretty good nonetheless. I thought the soundtrack was great and I especially loved the song, "Gangsta's Paradise," by Coolio. This song really suits the atmosphere of the movie in a neighbourhood where fights and deaths are a common thing. Dangerous Minds is actually based on a true story. This movie carried a powerful message of hope, recognizes that there are certain situations where you truly have no control over, but ultimately you still have the choice and power to change your own life.
Joseph E

Could have been better!
Lea L

An ex-marine teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner city schools. A wonderful and powerful movie.. Michelle Pfeiffer is outstanding.
Leina R

Interesting.
Brett W

one of the jewels in the never ending series of "How do I reech deez keedz!?" movies.
Marcus W

Michelle Pfeiffer becomes a teacher in a rough neighbourhood, earns the respect of the students and then gives them hope for the future. That's it. No character arcs, no surprises and no twists. It's short and does exactly what anyone can guess it's going to do.
Sarah B

It gave us a Gangsta's Paradise, but don't hold that against it.
Ira Z

Awesome movie. It was a bold movie to cast an actress as beautiful as Michelle Phfiffer to play this role. But she literally won me over by managing her role with flying colors. Aside from that, although this specific story has been used in many films, it still never fails to make a… More
Awesome movie. It was a bold movie to cast an actress as beautiful as Michelle Phfiffer to play this role. But she literally won me over by managing her role with flying colors. Aside from that, although this specific story has been used in many films, it still never fails to make a great movie.
Jared H

The first movie to truly portray what my everyday life is like...living in a gangsta's paradise day in and day out 24/7, saying prayers in the street light! Nah, but seriously this is a good movie and Michelle Pfeiffer does a great job. Must have seen in a dozen times.