In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.
Directed by Stephen Herek
high school
husband wife relationship
composer
music teacher
mentor
deaf-mute
portland, oregon
marching band
teacher student relationship
high school teacher
disabled
teaching
retirement party
sign languages
forced retirement
1960s
1990s
father son relationship
inspiring teacher
Rank
#77 in 1995·#4568 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Richard Dreyfuss
Glenn Holland
Glenne Headly
Iris Holland
Jay Thomas
Bill Meister
Olympia Dukakis
Principal Jacobs
William H. Macy
Vice Principal Gene Wolters
Alicia Witt
Gertrude Lang
Terrence Howard
Louis Russ
Damon Whitaker
Bobby Tidd
Jean Louisa Kelly
Rowena Morgan
Alexandra Boyd
Sarah Olmstead
Joseph Anderson
Cole at 15 Years Old
Joanna Gleason
Gertrude Lang as an adult
Crew
Stephen Herek
Director
Michael Kamen
Original Music Composer
Oliver Wood
Director of Photography
Ted Field
Producer
Sharon Bialy
Casting
Steve Boyum
Stunt Coordinator
Aggie Guerard Rodgers
Costume Design
Stephen McLaughlin
Scoring Mixer
Stephen McLaughlin
Score Engineer
Jeff Okabayashi
Second Assistant Director
Nina Saxon
Title Designer
Popular Reviews
122 reviews
Ellie Blake
6.0★ · 05/18/26
“life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”
so this almost took a turn
I LOVE RICHARD DREYFUSS (and ofc olympia dukakis)
“life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”
so this almost took a turn
I LOVE RICHARD DREYFUSS (and ofc olympia dukakis)
Alex A
9.0★ · 04/06/26
felt every single emotion during this movie in the best way possible. love love love it.
felt every single emotion during this movie in the best way possible. love love love it.
skye
8.0★ · 03/29/26
john lennon jump scare 😲
I sobbed through the whole ending of this movie btw
john lennon jump scare 😲
I sobbed through the whole ending of this movie btw
Paige Daul
6.0★ · 03/23/26
So I actually cry every time he signs beautiful boy I can’t help it
So I actually cry every time he signs beautiful boy I can’t help it
