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Poster for Waiting for "Superman"

Waiting for "Superman"

Seen it?

2010 | 111 min | Documentary

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. 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
Tailor-made for anyone who likes learning something new. You'll come away knowing something you didn't. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 51 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
  • Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.

Gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, Waiting for Superman is an impassioned indictment of the American school system from An Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    Our audience score: 60%

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Documentary Feature. Also nominated for 1 more Critics' Choice Award and 1 DGA Award. Plus 4 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $100 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 32K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Davis Guggenheim

  • Charles AdamsSelf
  • Jonathan AlterSelf
  • Geoffrey CanadaSelf
  • Celeste BellSelf