Lean on Me (1989)

67% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(36,662 ratings)

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 with this, his first lead role in a major motion picture. Freeman is real-life high school principal… More 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 with 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 3, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Oct 20, 1998
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Polly M. Robertus, Common Sense Media
Inspirational movie about a controversial teacher.
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, Nick's Flick Picks
Freeman, as usual, infuses a standard-issue plot with extraordinary emotional conviction.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Freeman goes for the gusto and pulls it off...
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Watchable but formulaic tough-love-teacher movie, made perhaps before Morgan Freeman could get himself better roles.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
calculated to get you cheering -- and it does

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Raymond W

Morgan Freeman is great in this role, but Lean on Me is a bit cheesy and predictable.
Brad W

A good movie. A bit dated but Freeman was great none the less.
Dean M

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.
Jason S

A teacher inspires his students to do better. Good flick.
Bradley W

A good movie. A bit dated but Freeman was great none the less.
Joseph E

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.
ashley h

Oh if only there were more teachers like this..
Lee K

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 you… More
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 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?
Miriam K

For those of you who like Morgan Freeman, this is the movie that really got him noticed...Think about that.
Chosen 7

Classic
Sean S

Morgan Freeman gives a pretty damn good performance and makes the movie interesting even though this kind of story has been done to death.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark

            Robert Guillaume as Dr. Frank Napier

            Beverly Todd as Ms. Levias

            Lynne Thigpen as Leona Barrett

            Jermaine Hopkins as Thomas Sams

            Karen Malina White as Kaneesha Carter

            Todd Alexander as Derrick

            Robin Bartlett as Mrs. Elliott

            Michael Beach as Mr. Carnell

            Heather Rose Dominic as Stacey

            Marina Durrell as Miss Ruiz

            Yvette Hawkins as Mrs. Arthur

            Michael Imperioli as George

            Tyrone Jackson as Clarence

            Knowl Johnson as Tommy

            Michael Joseph as Brian Banes

            Marcella Lowery as Mrs. Richards

            Jim Moody as Mr. Lott

            Michael P. Moran as Mr. O'Malley

            Alan North as Mayor Don Bottman

            Ethan Phillips as Mr. Rosenberg

            Sandra Reaves-Phillips as Mrs. Powers

            John Ring as Fire Chief Gaines

            Sloane Shelton as Mrs. Hamilton

            Mike Starr as Mr. Zirella

            Regina Taylor as Mrs. Carter

            Tony Todd as Mr. Wright

            Harry Madsen as Teacher in Cafeteria

            Bruce Malmuth as Burger Joint Manager

            Karina Arroyave as Maria

            Ivonne Coll
            
            Richard Grusin as Mr. Danley

            Pat McNamara as Police Officer

            Alex Romaguera as Kid Ray

            Jennifer McComb as Ellen

            Morgan J. Freeman
            
See full cast