Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke

English professor John Keating inspires his students to a love of poetry and to seize the day.

Flixster Users

90% liked it

182,925 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

45 critics

PG, 2 hrs. 8 min.

Directed by: Peter Weir

Release Date: June 2, 1989

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DVD Release Date: November 10, 1998

Stats: 16,051 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,051)


  • September 21, 2009
    Cringe worthy, contrived and convoluted. Not Peter Weir at his best, this is just Oscar fodder and complete garbage!
  • May 28, 2009
    Such a great movie! It really teaches a person to live for the and love what you have.
  • April 27, 2009
    "Oh captain, my captain."

    Peter Weir's been nominated 6 times for best director at the Academy Awards, failing to win it. "Dead Poets Society" could've been his best attempt thus far. The film is simply wonderful.

    I'm not a big fan of English litterature or poetry but if I woul...( read more)d have had a teacher like John Keating, played by Robin Williams, I might've been a lot more interested at class. Mr Williams is simply great is his role as the unorthodox teacher. If I remember correctly, this role was his first real attempt to do a serious performance. He does bring out his goofy side at times but it never goes over the top. Could this be his best performance ever?

    "This is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your hearts and souls."

    The boys who continue the legacy of the Dead poets society, consist of some very nice talent, including a young Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard. Many of 'em have made their first appearance in a motion picture and I must say that they did a wonderful job. Peter Weir really got the best out of them.

    There are several scenes that brought out strong emotions in me. The biggest of them was the memorable final scene, where the boys who refused to let the system hold them back, stood up on their desks as the first one of them said the words; "Oh captain, my captain." Simply awesome.

    The screenwriter, Tom Schulman, deserved the honor that his script brought him. Wonderful and well suited quotations from beautiful poems. Its funny to look at his filmography, as most of his work consist of such films as "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids", "What About Bob?" and other lame comedies.

    "Dead Poets Society" is a beautiful film that features a lot of strong performances and scenes, that will definitely bring tears to the eyes of even the most toughest viewers. Wish they would make more films like this.
  • September 13, 2008
    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 lik...( read more)e 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."

    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.

    Dead Poet's Society has everything necessary for an exceptional movie. First, an Oscar winning screen play. Second, an exceptional cast. Robin Williams is a great actor and was paired with Ethan Hawke, this combination is incredible.

    Lastly, a director meant to blow your socks off. Peter Weir knew exactly where to go with this, any one who hasn't seen this movie must see it now. This movie inspires everyone to get up and do, "to suck all the marrow out of life." This is truly a movie for all, it has a little language and a few sexual innuendos, but that is nothing to be taken into consideration.

    4.5/5
  • June 19, 2008
    One of (or possibly THE best) the best performances Robin Williams has given. Ethan Hawke didn't cut it for me, but Robert Sean Leonard was excellent. A very underrated actor.

    Rousing, but the whole 'O Captain, my Captain' thing was too much after a while.
  • November 7, 2009
    belle histoire, beaux et bons acteurs, fin dramatique mais porteuse d'un message
  • November 7, 2009
    Lots of missing tails in the movie has been founded.. from my point of view few additions and subtractions could have made this movie a perfect one.. but yes the point has been made by the movie.. and its worth watching.. very few movies have ability to touch people's hearts, and...( read more) this one belongs to that category.. oh caption my caption
  • November 3, 2009
    Woooooow! Clasico de clasicos!!!
    Carpe Diem! Oh captain my captain!
  • October 30, 2009
    Seize the day. So don't watch NEXT.
  • October 29, 2009
    Very inspiring movie

Critic Reviews


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

View more Dead Poets Society reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • menschlich14
    September 24, 2008
    Carpe diem!
  • Jugbug992
    May 5, 2008
    walk the deck my captain lies, fallen cold and dead.
  • Jugbug992
    May 5, 2008
    oh captain my captain, our fearful trip is done. our ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won. the port is near the bells i hear, the people all exulting, while follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring. but oh hark hark, oh the bleeding drops of red, where on the deck my captin lies, fallen cold and dead. Oh captain my captain, rise up and hear the bells! Rise up; for you the flag is flung, for you the bugle trills. For you boquets and ribbon'd wreaths for you the shores a'crowding. For you the call the swaying mass, their eager faces turning. Here captain, dear father, this arm beneath your head! it is some dream that on the deck you've fallen cold and dead. My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, my father does not feel my arm he has no pulse, nor will. the ship is anchored safe and sound, it's voyage closed and done. From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won. Exult o shores and ring oh bells but i with mournful tread
  • iwannoula
    January 11, 2008
    a very nice movie...it's in my top list ...robin williams is just perfect...
  • SoulSweeper
    January 4, 2008
    Robin Williams is a genius
  • cricket019680
    May 13, 2007
    You just have to "think" & try to "understand" what the movie & Robin Williams as well as the other actors are trying to say. They put the information out there for you to pay attention too.
  • Ophelia101
    April 4, 2007
    Is it wrong to hate those who don't like this movie and be annoyed by those who didn't "get it"? Truly inspiring film about freethinking..thinking outside the box, etc. A must for any rugged individualist!
  • crazyval33
    January 24, 2007
    The name is Nuwanda.
  • NobleKnight
    December 7, 2006
    This is indeed that best movie I have ever seen. Anyone whom says they HATE poetry, let them see this movie. Robin Williams does a wonderful job! It's this movie, one of the reasons, why I am whom I am today!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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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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