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Waiting for Superman

Play trailer Poster for Waiting for Superman PG 2010 1h 42m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 122 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
This film by director Davis Guggenheim investigates the public school system in the United States, and uncovers the many ways in which education in America has declined. Rather than relying largely on statistics and expert opinions, Guggenheim focuses on five students -- Anthony, Bianca, Daisy, Emily and Francisco -- portraying their own individual struggles and triumphs within problem-plagued academic settings where there are no easy solutions to the myriad issues that affect them.

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Waiting for Superman

Waiting for Superman

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Jim Schembri The Age (Australia) 03/31/2011
4/5
It's possible that one of the reasons why the film wasn't nominated for a best-documentary Oscar was because it was too horrifying. Go to Full Review
Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) 11/29/2010
2/5
In the end, this is scattergun film-making, well-intentioned but sloppy, sometimes deliberately evasive. If this documentary were an exam essay, I'd fail it. Go to Full Review
Philip French Guardian 11/29/2010
A hectoring, simplistic affair that has nothing of value to contribute to the British debate. Go to Full Review
Michael Clark Epoch Times 01/10/2024
3.5/5
The people we trust with our children’s education have no intention of doing anything different. Unionized teachers work within a system where merit and achievement are marginalized, and the loss of employment because of poor performance is impossible. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 03/08/2022
3/5
The cracks and deficiencies of the American public school system are revealed and out on display in a very strong way. Go to Full Review
Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com 11/01/2021
3/4
For all the solid information and convincing arguments presented throughout the run time, it's the genuine emotional connection to those families that make the film so powerful. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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klr D @RT03479079 Apr 13 This should be required viewing for every American who cares about our future. The powers that be, didn't like the message of this film, and tried to quash it. It's very sad that Teachers Unions wield so much power in the halls of Congress, but they do. And our groveling media have no interest in challenging Sacred Cows of the Democrat Party, despite the obvious need for reform of our education system. It's a real shame that we fail our kids, to protect a political narrative. No matter your politics, please watch this film from the director of An Inconvenient Truth. It's a brave and compelling documentary. See more Kyle M @RT77296778 Mar 26 The only way this documentary would be argumentatively countered is by egotistical defense over professionalism, or simply ignorance. A provocative call to reflect and examine how’s our education’s being handled and received, critically contributing to the given problematic decline that goes against the promising stance and considerately stretched to acknowledge both sides of the classroom with a humble heart reflecting academic performances. (B+) See more jeff b @JeffBeamer 03/13/2025 If anyone asks me to recommend a documentary I always name this one. Anyone interested in the collapse of education in America should watch. Also, VERY entertaining! See more 02/17/2024 when you get down to it it really sinks in our American education system is broken but it's never too late to completely save it all the interviews and statistics may seem like nothing but it really strikes right into you me, I couldn't believe the number of people who get shunned out b/c of the lack of the quality of schools most people rarely get that lucky to send their children to top-quality learning facilities alot of it makes sense once you thoroughly analyze everything it's a brilliant, retrospective documentary covering nervewracking topics about parents and childrens' desires to be the best at learning it's a little too long but 'Waiting for Superman' acheives what it does at taking a critical, serious sit-down the kids are our future and the founders of what makes us the best when it comes to education See more Gina W @RT47387387 07/15/2022 It really makes me sad to see bad teachers get rewarded the same as good teachers. A little dated but still relevant. See more forrest h @OurNewProgress 03/20/2020 It will challenge you, and make you ask questions. Like any great documentary, it will start a conversation. See more Read all reviews
Waiting for Superman

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Movie Info

Synopsis This film by director Davis Guggenheim investigates the public school system in the United States, and uncovers the many ways in which education in America has declined. Rather than relying largely on statistics and expert opinions, Guggenheim focuses on five students -- Anthony, Bianca, Daisy, Emily and Francisco -- portraying their own individual struggles and triumphs within problem-plagued academic settings where there are no easy solutions to the myriad issues that affect them.
Director
Davis Guggenheim
Producer
Michael Birtel, Lesley Chilcott
Screenwriter
Davis Guggenheim, Billy Kimball
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Electric Kinney
Rating
PG (Some Thematic Material|Mild Language|Incidental Smoking)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.4M
Runtime
1h 42m
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