Waiting for "Superman"
A passionate education documentary turns the hopes of five children into an urgent case for reforming America's failing public-school system.
Overview
A powerful examination of the education system through the eyes of hopeful children facing overwhelming odds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- impassioned
- heartbreaking
- hopeful
- educational discussion
- classroom screening
What critics said
Critics broadly found the documentary gripping, emotionally powerful, visually polished, and hopeful in its indictment of the American school system, while some argued that its critique was not exhaustive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily serve as recurring human anchors for the film's education-system critique.
The film methodically examines public-school failures while highlighting charter-school models and reformers such as Geoffrey Canada.
Its central conflict concerns children whose academic prospects are constrained by dropout factories, academic sinkholes, poverty, and inadequate schooling.
The children's educational futures and school-placement uncertainty give the policy debate a personal, suspenseful emotional register.
Films like Waiting for "Superman", and why
An Inconvenient Truth
social-issue documentary using personal stories and institutional analysis to build an urgent public-policy argument
Sicko
impassioned documentary critique of American institutions centered on vulnerable people and reform
Most Likely to Succeed
education-focused documentary combining student testimony, systemic critique, and hopeful reform advocacy
Movie Details
- Director
- Davis Guggenheim
- Release Date
- 2010-09-24
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (150)
Cast
- Charles Adams
- Jonathan Alter
- Geoffrey Canada
- Celeste Bell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Waiting for "Superman" about?
- A passionate education documentary turns the hopes of five children into an urgent case for reforming America's failing public-school system.
- What is Waiting for "Superman" like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Waiting for "Superman" as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Waiting for "Superman" violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Waiting for "Superman".
- What did critics think of Waiting for "Superman"?
- Critics broadly found the documentary gripping, emotionally powerful, visually polished, and hopeful in its indictment of the American school system, while some argued that its critique was not exhaustive.
- Which films are like Waiting for "Superman"?
- Films with a similar feel include An Inconvenient Truth, Sicko, and Most Likely to Succeed.
- How long is Waiting for "Superman"?
- Waiting for "Superman" runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Waiting for "Superman"?
- In United States, Waiting for "Superman" is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
