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IMDbPro

Waiting for Superman

Original title: Waiting for 'Superman'
  • 20102010
  • PGPG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Waiting for Superman (2010)
This documentary follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, and undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying "drop-out factories" and "academic sinkholes," methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.
Play trailer2:35
2 Videos
26 Photos
  • Documentary
An examination of the current state of education in America today.An examination of the current state of education in America today.An examination of the current state of education in America today.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Davis Guggenheim
  • Writers
    • Davis Guggenheim
    • Billy Kimball
  • Stars
    • Charles Adams
    • Jonathan Alter
    • Robert Balfanz
Top credits
  • Director
    • Davis Guggenheim
  • Writers
    • Davis Guggenheim
    • Billy Kimball
  • Stars
    • Charles Adams
    • Jonathan Alter
    • Robert Balfanz
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 105User reviews
    • 100Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 16 wins & 28 nominations

    Videos2

    Waiting for Superman
    Trailer 2:35
    Waiting for Superman
    Waiting For Superman
    Clip 1:19
    Waiting For Superman

    Photos26

    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Davis Guggenheim and John Legend in Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Bill Gates in Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Lesley Chilcott in Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Geoffrey Canada in Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)
    Waiting for Superman (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Adams
    • Self
    Jonathan Alter
    Jonathan Alter
    • Self
    Robert Balfanz
    • Self
    Harriet Ball
    • Self
    Steve Barr
    • Self
    Celeste Bell
    • Self
    • (as Ms. Celeste Bell)
    The Black & McGee Family
    • Themselves
    Geoffrey Canada
    Geoffrey Canada
    • Self
    James Carter III
    • Self
    Todd Dickson
    • Self
    The Esparza Family
    • Themselves
    Mike Feinberg
    • Self
    Adrian M. Fenty
    • Self
    • (as Adrian Fenty)
    Howard Fuller
    • Self
    The Garcia Regalado Family
    • Themselves
    Lester Garcia
    • Self
    The Guy Family
    • Themselves
    Eric Hanushek
    • Self
    • Director
      • Davis Guggenheim
    • Writers
      • Davis Guggenheim
      • Billy Kimball
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There is a scene in which Bianca, one of the little girls, is reading from a book about someone taking apples and bringing them into the city to sell. The book she is reading is called "The Giving Tree" written by Shel Silverstein.
    • Quotes

      Geoffrey Canada: One of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me Superman did not exist.

    • Connections
      Edited from Adventures of Superman (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      Hitting The Trail
      Written by Larry Hochman

      Courtesy of APM Music

    User reviews105

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Super
    I may not be a teacher, but both my parents were, and I grew up going to public school and got many views of the educational system as a whole. I'm really surprised to see that some teachers went to this and were actually offended by what it offered.

    This movie did not set out to blame the issues of this country's education on the teachers. It depicts the issues with the SYSTEM. It's a system that protects the teachers' needs over the students in some cases. We all are aware that teachers don't get paid very well, but there are many upsides to a career as a teacher, and some go into this field because they are gifted, but just as many aren't.

    What this film attempted to say (in my opinion, successfully) is that we must put the child's needs above all. The system is BROKEN, and that's all the director wanted to say. Through the establishment of the abuses of the unions, the communication of the compelling stats, and the following of just a few examples of a larger populace of suffering students and their families, the director did a BEAUTIFUL job of bringing issues to the surface.

    Teachers who are talented, work very hard, and are committed to pushing students and not cruising through should not take offense to this film. However, there are plenty of teachers out there who should find this film threatening, just as many departments of education should, because on the whole, American schools are failing, and we have a lot of work to do.

    Because there are educators who are threatened by the message of this film, I say that is what makes it a success. What effective documentary doesn't shake up the system and strike fear in those whose system it threatens? I'm ready for more!!!
    helpful•64
    32
    • karmajustice
    • Oct 6, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 29, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Waiting for 'Superman'
    • Filming locations
      • 118th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Electric Kinney Films
      • Participant
      • Walden Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,417,135
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $139,033
      • Sep 26, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,433,688
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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