--- title: "Dead Poets Society: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dead-poets-society/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/dead-poets-society" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Dead Poets Society (1989): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 12 reviews: 7 positive, 3 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics come down in the film’s favour, though the warmth is rarely unqualified. The praise clusters on Robin Williams, whose English teacher is called superb, charming and, by more than one reviewer, unusually restrained for him at the time. The young cast is admired almost everywhere, with Leonard and Hawke singled out, and Peter Weir is credited with a strong sense of time and place and a habit of lending simple scenes an air of myth. The reservations are about the script. Several reviews find it pat, its conflicts manufactured and its villains overdrawn, and Roger Ebert calls the whole thing a collection of pious platitudes about nonconformity. The spread is wide, from firm recommendations to outright dismissals, and it follows the calendar: the harshest notices, from The New York Times and The New Yorker, date from the 1989 release, while later revisits are kinder. Slant Magazine, in 2014, is the exception, arguing the film preaches independence while practising conformity. ## Time Out — CM Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The casting of Robin Williams as the eccentric teacher is inspired, and the script focuses on paternal prejudice against artistic pursuits rather than falling into cliché. Weir draws sensitive performances from the young cast while infusing the film with his customary mysticism. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/dead-poets-society) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds the film an often overlooked screen gem that radiates intelligence, humanity and warmth. She singles out Peter Weir's direction for creating a strong sense of time, place and people while imbuing simple acts with beauty and mystery. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dead-poets-society-review/) ## The Guardian — Luke Buckmaster Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 July 2019. The critic highlights the film's enduring cultural impact through its celebration of literature, individuality and the rousing 'O Captain! My Captain!' finale. They note how it continues to inspire appreciation for seizing the day and the power of inspirational teaching, even as some elements feel simplistic upon revisiting. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/16/dead-poets-society-30-years-on-robin-williams-stirring-call-to-seize-the-day-endures) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2014. The review praises Robin Williams as superb in the role of the inspirational English teacher who shakes up a conservative 1950s boarding school with his passion for poetry. It singles out the heartening effect of his unorthodox methods and fine performances from the young cast. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11287287/Dead-Poets-Society-review.html) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1988. The story focuses on the youths and how creative flames are kindled then stamped out. Director Peter Weir fills the screen with compelling teenagers; the tale sings when Williams is onscreen, and young actors like Leonard and Hawke deliver strong performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/dead-poets-society-1200428019/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2012. The script is too pat in its depiction of idealistic souls being squelched by stern authority figures, but the young actors are extraordinary and Weir imbues the campus with the feel of an old myth playing out with dark inevitability. Williams is more restrained here than in his other films of the era, though his style sometimes clashes with the director's emphasis on the boys' gawkiness and real risks. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/good-morning-vietnam-dead-poets-society-1798171449) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2/4. 9 June 1989. The critic views the film as a collection of pious platitudes about nonconformity that panders to adolescents without genuine depth. He singles out the shallow plundering of poetry quotes and the artificial, manipulative handling of the students' rebellion and tragedy for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dead-poets-society-1989) ## Slant Magazine — Odie Henderson Rating 2/4. 4 June 2014. The film purports to be about the bravery of following one’s own path but is actually a conformist, less inspirational piece of cinema whose script manufactures every conflict and whose characters fail to seize the day when it matters. It singles out the young actors and Williams for relatively better work amid the contrivances and overbaked villains. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-89-dead-poets-society-do-the-wrong-thing/) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 1989. Robin Williams gives a graceful, restrained performance as the liberating teacher whose rapport with students sparks creativity. The film is polished and on the side of youth and poetry but feels middlebrow and overly prepared, with a perception of reality like pulp fiction. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1989/06/26/stonework) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 1989. The critic calls the film dim and sad, noting that the teacher character is a catalyst rather than central. Good performances from the young actors are praised, but the director is faulted for overusing fancified effects like eerie bird shots and prettily lighted scenes. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/02/movies/review-film-shaking-up-a-boys-school-with-poetry.html) ## Collider — Kendall Myers Rating 8/10. 27 April 2024. The critic praises the film's timeless message of individuality and independent thought conveyed through Keating's unconventional teaching, along with Robin Williams' charming and endearing performance. Some outdated elements, including a problematic romantic pursuit subplot, are noted as flaws, but the film is still deemed a must-watch classic. [Read the review](https://collider.com/dead-poets-society-review/) ## Eye for Film — James Benefield Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2009. The critic finds the film a sentimental but well-made and enjoyable story of an inspirational teacher transforming boys at a strict boarding school through poetry and 'carpe diem'. Robin Williams' performance as the charismatic professor stands out as the highlight, though the film risks mawkishness and may divide viewers. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dead-poets-society-film-review-by-james-benefield) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/dead-poets-society.md