Dangerous Minds

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Dangerous Minds

R,

1995,

1h 39m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

36%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

36%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.

Critics Consensus

Rife with stereotypes that undermine its good intentions, Dangerous Minds is too blind to see that the ones it hurts are the audience.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

May 12, 2001

Pfeiffer gives a funny, scrappy performance that makes you feel a committed teacher's fire to make a difference.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Feb 13, 2001

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.

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

The movie has real emotional and reportorial credibility, a prime source of its power.

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Gary Wolcott

Tri-City Herald

Aug 19, 2025

3.5/5

Dangerous Minds is formula-feel-good that works most of the time. What makes it click is Pfeiffer's excellent acting and a supporting cast of talented kids.

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Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Mar 29, 2024

3/5

Often these students seem a little too easy to tame, but on this level, Dangerous Minds is enjoyable.

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Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

May 13, 2022

If you liked Sidney Portier in To Sir With Love, this is the film for you.

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Jan 31, 2019

The best movie song ever sung: Gangsta's Paradise!

Rey P

Dec 26, 2018

This movie is nonsense.BULLSHIT à¤¯à¤¹ à¤«à¤¿à¤²ï¿ 1/2?ï¿ 1/2 (R) ï¿ 1/2 (R)à¤¹ï¿ 1/2 3/4 à¤«ï¿ 1/2?à¤¡ï¿ 1/2? à¤¹ï¿ 1/2 à¥¤ ï¿ 1/2à¨¹ à¨«à¨¿à¨²ï¿ 1/2 (R) ï¿ 1/2 (R)à¨¹ï¿ 1/2 3/4ï¿ 1/2, à¨«ï¿ 1/2 (C)?à¨¦ï¿ 1/2 (C), à¨¹ï¿ 1/2 (C) à¥¥

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Draco L

Jan 25, 2018

This movie is pretty much a soundtrack movie. Everyone heard the Coolio song and that's about it. Even "The Substitute" has a higher RT score than this cinematic abomination.

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Albus S

Jan 16, 2018

This movie is a bland and frankly boring experience. If you want to see a teacher help some kids from a rough area, watch the south park episode where Cartman becomes a teacher.

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Theodore W

Nov 12, 2017

Oh boy, this was such a hit, not sure why . . . I hate it since it came out. So boring, and I can't stand Michelle Pfeiffer.

Rey S

Nov 12, 2017

Story about a female teacher who takes her first job at a tough violent high school. Yeah its cliched. Yeah its silly. Michelle Pfieffer is a bit too soft and gorgeous for the role. But I love this movie anyway. I think the reason why is Michelle. I'm a big fan of her's.

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John N. Smith

Director

Michelle Pfeiffer

Louanne Johnson

George Dzundza

Hal Griffith

Courtney B. Vance

Mr. George Grandey

Robin Bartlett

Ms. Carla Nichols

Bruklin Harris

Callie Roberts

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Synopsis

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.

Director: John N. Smith
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson
Screenwriter: LouAnne Johnson, Ronald Bass
Distributor: Hollywood Pictures Home Video, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, Via Rosa Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $84.9M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround

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