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IMDbPro

Waiting for 'Superman'

  • 2010
  • PG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
12K
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
8 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.

  • Director
    • Davis Guggenheim
  • Writers
    • Davis Guggenheim
    • Billy Kimball
  • Stars
    • Charles Adams
    • Jonathan Alter
    • Robert Balfanz
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Davis Guggenheim
    • Writers
      • Davis Guggenheim
      • Billy Kimball
    • Stars
      • Charles Adams
      • Jonathan Alter
      • Robert Balfanz
    • 107User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 21 wins & 28 nominations

    Videos8

    Waiting for Superman
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch Waiting for Superman
    Waiting For Superman
    Clip 1:19
    Watch Waiting For Superman
    Waiting For Superman: Geoffrey Canada Interview
    Clip 1:37
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Geoffrey Canada Interview
    Waiting For Superman: Rank
    Clip 0:52
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Rank
    Waiting For Superman: Lesley Chilcott Interview
    Clip 1:25
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Lesley Chilcott Interview
    Waiting For Superman: Shock And Awe Animation
    Clip 2:07
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Shock And Awe Animation
    Waiting For Superman: Daisy
    Clip 2:08
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Daisy
    Waiting For Superman: Michelle Rhee
    Clip 1:10
    Watch Waiting For Superman: Michelle Rhee

    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
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    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 reviews107

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Failing Schools is failing society!
    When I watched this documentary, I couldn't help but take sides. How do you fix a broken system with another broken system? While Geoffrey Canada is successful at his charter school, not all charter schools survive much less thrive to produce excellent students. Yes, the film touches on the politics of getting a good education. But even with college degrees, you're not guaranteed a job in life especially now. I could tell you what it's like to be in the classroom as a substitute or teacher's aide or in-class support teacher but there's not enough room here. I would have to write a book about it first. When you cut money to schools, you cut support staff and not administration. Schools rely heavily on it's support staff to keep it functioning. The principal and teachers have one job to educate the students and to assure an education. This film documentary will raise a lot of questions about improving the broken school system in our country. There are some successful schools and failing schools as well as teachers. Not all teachers strive to fail. Sometimes, the teachers are burned out, tired, and exhausted from the bureaucracy themselves. I could go on and on about the system but it's not worth it. Everybody has a story and an opinion.
    helpful•4
    3
    • Sylviastel
    • Feb 23, 2011

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Waiting for Superman?Powered by Alexa

    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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