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Poster for Mr. Holland's Opus

Mr. Holland's Opus

Seen it?

1995 | 143 min | Drama, Music

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It was a solid box office hit. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved The Fabelmans or TÁR, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 23 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.

In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $106 million worldwide on a $31 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 156K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Stephen Herek

  • Richard DreyfussGlenn Holland
  • Glenne HeadlyIris Holland
  • Jay ThomasBill Meister
  • Olympia DukakisPrincipal Jacobs
  • William H. MacyVice Principal Gene Wolters
  • Alicia WittGertrude Lang
  • Terrence HowardLouis Russ
  • Damon WhitakerBobby Tidd
  • Jean Louisa KellyRowena Morgan
  • Alexandra BoydSarah Olmstead