Mr. Holland's Opus

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Mr. Holland's Opus

PG

1996

2h 22m

Drama

Music

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Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Composer Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's taken a job at an Oregon high school. Though at first the job frustrates him, and his unconventional methods often draw the ire of the straight-laced vice principal (W.H. Macy), Mr. Holland grows to love his students as the temporary position stretches into a decades-long career -- and in the end, they reveal just how much they love him back.

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Critics Consensus

A feel-good story brought to life by a terrific ensemble cast, Mr. Holland's Opus plucks the heartstrings without shame -- and with undeniable skill.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Jan 29, 2007

B-

This idealized tribute to a charismatic teacher who devotes himself to music appreciation has the same old-fashioned texture and sticky sentimentality as Goodbye Mr. Chips (of 1939), but Dreyfuss gives an effective, surprisingly restrained performance

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/4

An overwrought Disney weeper.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Jun 29, 2026

99/100

All these years later and time never fails Mr Holland’s Opus, a film I can rewatch anytime anywhere. Richard Dreyfuss is exceptional in what might have been his last truly great performance.

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Don Shanahan

Film Obsessive

Dec 22, 2024

4/5

Every teacher in America dreams of a sunset moment like that of Glenn Holland. So few ever get or earn it.

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Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

May 30, 2018

Though Patrick Sheane Duncan's screenplay goes in various directions and never develops a cohesive narrative, Herek keeps the story rolling along.

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Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Apr 21, 2006

3/5

Holland may have been a failed composer, but he's a master at playing the heartstrings.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 6, 2026

This movie is deserving of 4 stars!

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Christian K

@ckacar Jul 24, 2026

Just kind of bland since the lead is both uninteresting and kind of a bad person not worth the effort. I do love when classic music lyrics carry thematic relevance to the plots of the characters.

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Chris B

@Papa13070 May 19, 2026

Richard Dreyfuss is outstanding (as is the whole cast) in this thoroughly enjoyable film. I really liked it the first time, but with repeated viewings, I'd say that this film got even better. It's a little predictable, but so what? For me, it was impossible not to care about these characters, and the ending was the perfect heartwarming note to go out on. It was rather funny as well, but my favourite thing about this movie was the music. It seems only fitting, considering the importance of music to this film, that it would have a great number of songs, but I was astonished by how much I LOVED the music in this movie. All-in-all, this was a completely satisfying film, and I would call it a must-see.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jan 24, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Jan 3, 2026

A reasonable performance that doesn’t quite hit the high notes it’s ambitiously seeking. A marginally better than mediocre drama. Watched on DVD.

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Michael F

@Michael445 Nov 15, 2025

This movie reminded me just how wonderful an actor Richard Dreyfuss is. Mr. Holland's Opus is one of his best.

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Stephen Herek

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Glenn Holland

Glenne Headly

Iris Holland

Jay Thomas

Bill Meister

Olympia Dukakis

Principal Helen Jacobs

William H. Macy

Vice Principal Gene Wolters

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Synopsis

Composer Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's taken a job at an Oregon high school. Though at first the job frustrates him, and his unconventional methods often draw the ire of the straight-laced vice principal (W.H. Macy), Mr. Holland grows to love his students as the temporary position stretches into a decades-long career -- and in the end, they reveal just how much they love him back.

Director: Stephen Herek
Producer: Ted Field, Michael Nolin, Robert W. Cort
Screenwriter: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Interscope Communications
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $82.6M
Runtime: 2h 22m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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