Dead Poets Society
At an elite, old-fashioned boarding school in New England, a passionate English teacher inspires his students to rebel against convention and seize the potential of every day, courting the disdain of the stern headmaster.
Critics Sentiment
Students stand on desks saluting departing Keating with O Captain
Neil commits suicide after his father threatens military school
The film plunges from Neil's triumphant stage performance to his tragic suicide, a devastating 2.3-point drop that represents the crushing of youthful dreams by authoritarian control.
Dead Poets Society maintains consistently high sentiment throughout most of its runtime, with reviewers praising Williams' inspirational performance and the film's powerful themes of individualism and seizing the day. The narrative reaches emotional peaks during Keating's teaching moments and Neil's artistic awakening, before plummeting during the tragic suicide sequence. The film recovers magnificently with its universally acclaimed finale, where students defiantly honor their departed teacher in one of cinema's most moving conclusions.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 51
Robin Williams
John Keating
Robert Sean Leonard
Neil Perry
Ethan Hawke
Todd Anderson
Josh Charles
Knox Overstreet
Gale Hansen
Charlie Dalton
Dylan Kussman
Richard Cameron
Allelon Ruggiero
Steven Meeks
James Waterston
Gerard Pitts
Norman Lloyd
Mr. Nolan
Kurtwood Smith
Mr. Perry
Carla Belver
Mrs. Perry
Leon Pownall
McAllister
George Martin
Dr. Hager
Joe Aufiery
Chemistry Teacher
Matt Carey
Hopkins
Kevin Cooney
Joe Danburry
Jane Moore
Mrs. Danburry
Lara Flynn Boyle
Ginny Danburry
Colin Irving
Chet Danburry
Alexandra Powers
Chris Noel
Crew
Write a Review
Rate each story beat:
