Production note The film won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Production note The movie made about $235 million worldwide and was one of 1989’s biggest hits.
Production note Tom Schulman based the screenplay on his experiences at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville.
Production note Roger Ebert gave the movie a largely negative review and called it pious platitudes.
Production note Peter Weir shot the movie chronologically and had the young cast live together.
Production note Robert Sean Leonard was written out of the set after his final scenes to create a sense of loss.
Production note A deleted scene reportedly showed Keating with leukemia.
Production note The studio apparently wanted to turn the film into a musical at one point.
Production note Robin Williams said Peter Weir was the best director he ever worked with.
Production note Ethan Hawke says Williams kept trying to make him laugh on set while Hawke stayed serious.
Stand By Me Used in the ad read as a movie Bill rewatchs every 18 months.
Field of Dreams Compared to Dead Poets as another universal, emotionally resonant movie.
Rebel Without a Cause Cited as an era-defining movie that captured youth identity.
The Beat Generation Referenced as the literary-cultural movement the film brushes against.
Toy Soldiers Cited as one of Bill’s favorite boarding-school movies.
Taps Also cited as a boarding-school movie example.
School Ties Used as a comparison point for other prep-school stories.
That Thing You Do Compared to the film because both hinge on whether the creative act inside the story works.
Good Will Hunting Mentioned when discussing Williams’ later Oscar and career trajectory.
House Referenced when talking about Robert Sean Leonard’s later career.
The Good Wife Mentioned as the later show where Josh Charles and James Waterston appeared together.
Midsummer Night’s Dream Referenced as a school production and as part of Keating’s theatrical world.
Jerry Maguire Mentioned in the Vudu ad inventory near the end.
Platoon Mentioned in the Vudu ad inventory near the end.
Open Water Mentioned in the Vudu ad inventory near the end.
