The Principal
Seen it?1987 | 109 min | Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and action fans. If you loved Coffy, start here.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 49 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect drug use.
Burglary. Drugs. Assault. Rape. The students at Brandel High are more than new Principal Rick Latimer bargained for. Gangs fight to control the school using knives - even guns - when they have to. When Latimer and the head of security try to clean up the school and stop the narcotics trade, they run up against a teenage mafia. A violent confrontation on the campus leads to a deadly showdown with the drug dealer's gang, and one last chance for Latimer to save his career... and his life.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 37 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$20 million worldwide on a $11 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 45K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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We Die Young Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Substitute Weeknight WatchAnother crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Coffy
Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime drama that's easy to miss.
Toy Soldiers Weeknight WatchAnother action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Christopher Cain
- Jim BelushiRick Latimer
- Louis Gossett Jr.Jake Phillips
- Rae Dawn ChongHilary Orozco
- Kelly Jo MinterTreena Lester (as Kelly Minter)
- Michael WrightVictor Duncan
- J.J. CohenWhite Zac
- Esai MoralesRaymi Rojas
- Troy Winbush'Baby' Emile
- Jacob VargasArturo Diego
- Annabel ArmourMrs. Ripton