# Lean On Me (1989)

> A ferocious principal wages a morally complicated campaign to rescue a troubled high school from violence, drugs, and bureaucratic indifference.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/8669

## Facts

- Runtime: 108 min
- Genres: Drama
- Director: John G. Avildsen
- Cast: Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Ethan Phillips, Lynne Thigpen, Michael Beach, Tony Todd, Karen Malina White
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097722/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: moderate
- Mood: inspirational, confrontational, earnest, inspirational viewing, educator movie night

## Synopsis

An unorthodox educator takes on a failing school, battling against the odds to inspire change.

## Movies like Lean On Me

- [Dangerous Minds (1995)](https://ember.film/movie/5040)
- [Life of a King (2013)](https://ember.film/movie/117789)
- [Won't Back Down (2012)](https://ember.film/movie/58628)
- [The Principal (1987)](https://ember.film/movie/5198)
- [High School High (1996)](https://ember.film/movie/4509)
- [The Substitute (1996)](https://ember.film/movie/12521)
- [Blackboard Jungle (1955)](https://ember.film/movie/15824)
- [The Ron Clark Story (2006)](https://ember.film/movie/15129)
- [Only the Strong (1993)](https://ember.film/movie/9476)
- [One Eight Seven (1997)](https://ember.film/movie/3392)

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