Higher Learning

Higher Learning (1995)

  • 50% of critics liked it
    (34 reviews)

  • 74% of users liked it
    (20,228 ratings)

This drama examines the personal, political, and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. Malik (Omar Epps) is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking… More

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R,
Directed By
Written By
John Singleton
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Jun 1, 1994 Wide
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

    Despite some likable performances (Epps is especially winning), the drama in Higher Learning is constricted, hemmed in by Singleton's compulsion to view his characters as walking paradigms of racial and sexual politics.

  • Todd McCarthy, Variety

    Higher Learning has a great many things on its mind, which immediately places it in a rather exclusive category of American films these days.

  • Geoff Andrew, Time Out

    A stylish, intelligent film-maker, Singleton interweaves the threads of his demographic tapestry with assurance, passion and a welcome awareness of the complexities of the college community's contradictory impulses towards integration and separatism.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    Everyone here, from beer-swilling white fraternity boys to rap-loving black students harassed by the campus police, can be judged at face value. Everyone is exactly what he or she seems.

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    Higher Learning is often clichéd, unfocused and didactic. But Singleton has a goal most of his contemporaries have given up on: He wants to make a movie that makes a difference.

Read all 16 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • danny d


    a gripping story of race relations at the university level. thankfully most universities are beyond this, as is much of american society, but there are still places in the u.s. where this sort of tragic ignorance remains and this is a great film to address the issues. many only… More

  • Jason O


    I remember in late '94 or early '95 when I and about 5 other students were helping out a teacher outside of class in her room, and she asked what our favorite movie is currently. Two said "Higher Learning," two (one of them me) said "Speed," and one said… More

  • Khris N


    John Singleton's ability to delve into multi-issues and stories creates a superb drama in the most unusual of settings - a university campus. Headed by a superb cast including Michael Rapport, Jennifer Connelly, Ice Cube, Omar Epps, and Kristy Swanson, Higher Learning visualises… More

  • James A


    In this movie we learn everyone is an ignorant dick and Singleton will never make a better movie than Boyz N Tha Hood.

  • Dean M


    Amazing and emotional story of new students at the institute of Columbus University with every black, white, Jew and lesbian neatly slotted into his or her place.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

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