Dangerous Minds

34%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Former Marine Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) 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.

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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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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

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

May 12, 2001

Full Review

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.

Feb 13, 2001

Full Review

Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

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

Rated: 3/5

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

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

May 13, 2022

Full Review

Margaret A. McGurk

Cincinnati Enquirer

[Dangerous Minds] tells a story that, frankly, we've heard before. Yet it tells that story with such piercing emotion that it seems brand new.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Serena F One of the best movies ever!!! Michelle Pifer is one of my fav actresses of all time!! Makes me cry every time I watch it. Beautiful story line!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/11/24 Full Review Audience Member Don’t remember much about it but emotional Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/05/24 Full Review Aj L Brilliant movie and nostalgic too, one of my favourites! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/31/24 Full Review Ulric S you should watch this movie it is a fucking 12/10. people who think this movie is bad are fucking retarded. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Dustin D Corny, unrealistic. The performances elevate the made-for-TV-quality script. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Steve D You have seen it before but it is still effective. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/01/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Dangerous Minds

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Cast & Crew

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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Dangerous Minds

Dangerous Minds (1995)

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Synopsis Former Marine Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) 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