Lean on Me (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Lean on Me is a 1989 drama directed by John G. Avildsen, starring Morgan Freeman, Robert Guillaume and Alan North. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $31.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- John G. Avildsen
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Lean on Me About?
The premise of Lean on Me without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Facing closure, East Side High receives an unexpected lifeline when Superintendent Napier brings in unconventional principal Joe Clark. Clark’s mission is to revive the school and combat the pervasive issues of violence and academic decline. He must challenge the existing problems and inspire change among students, faculty, and the community to save the institution's future.
Lean on Me Themes & Keywords
· 33 tags- african american
- title based on song
- high school
- based on true story
- inner city
- dedicated teacher
- arrest
- school song
- hood
- principal
- schoolteacher
- vice principal
+21 more Show fewer
- academia drama
- unfair dismissal
- unreasonable
- taking further action
- demanding an explanation
- live action
- abuse of power
- school board meeting
- head of security
- reference to batman
- fired from a job
- reference to wolfgang amadeus mozart
- rooftop
- reference to judas iscariot
- student principal relationship
- class differences
- teen pregnancy
- drug dealing
- civic activist
- urban decay
- media coverage
Lean on Me Cast
Morgan Freeman leads the cast, with Robert Guillaume and Alan North. Directed by John G. Avildsen; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John G. Avildsen
Also Starring in Lean on Me
· 6 moreMore from John G. Avildsen
More films directed by John G. Avildsen, best-rated first: Rocky, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II and Rocky V.
Lean on Me Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Lean on Me 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 68% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 85%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
Lean on Me Plot Summary
What happens in Lean on Me from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
African-American history teacher Joe Clark, portrayed by the esteemed Morgan Freeman, finds himself at the forefront of a significant educational reform in the tumultuous year of 1967 at Eastside High School located in Paterson, New Jersey. The school, once a beacon of hope for its vibrant community, has seen a stark decline in both discipline and educational standards. One fateful day, a fellow educator and friend, Frank Napier, now played by Robert Guillaume, interrupts Joe’s class to inform him of an urgent union meeting. Upon arriving at the meeting, Joe uncovers disheartening news: the union has decided to transfer him to another school while agreeing to a raise. Discontent builds in Joe as he realizes the implications for the students he deeply cares about.
Full summary
The whole story of Lean on Me, scene by scene
Lean on Me Box Office
Lean on Me grossed $31.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$31.9M
- US & Canada
- $31.9M
Lean on Me Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Lean on Me.
How Well Do You Know Lean on Me?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the majority of the film take place?
Cars in Lean on Me
7 cars on screen, including the 1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the 1979 Dodge Sportsman.
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1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Minor role -
1979 Dodge Sportsman Minor role -
1987 Nissan Maxima Minor role -
1985 Chevrolet Astro Background role
Lean on Me Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “Escuela de rebeldes” and “Apóyate en mí”.
- Also known as
-
- Escuela de rebeldes
- Apóyate en mí
- Lean on me - Joe Clark gibt nicht auf
- Conta su di me
- Der knallharte Prinzipal
- Kőkemény diri
- Meu Mestre
- Minha Vida
- סמוך עליי
- L'Incroyable Défi
- Держись за меня
- 铁腕校长
+4 more Show fewer
- 고독한 스승
- Escola de joves rebels
- Wesprzyj się na mnie
- Ослони се на мене
Seen Lean on Me?
Movies Like Lean on Me
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Ron Clark Story, Blackboard Jungle and The Principal.
Lean on Me FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Lean on Me, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Lean on Me?
Lean on Me runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was Lean on Me released?
Lean on Me was released on March 3, 1989.
Who directed Lean on Me?
Lean on Me was directed by John G. Avildsen.
More films by John G. Avildsen Who is in the cast of Lean on Me?
Lean on Me stars Morgan Freeman, Robert Guillaume and Alan North, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Lean on Me make at the box office?
Lean on Me grossed $31.9 million worldwide.
How is Lean on Me rated?
Lean on Me has 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Does Lean on Me have a post-credit scene?
No. Lean on Me has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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