Mr. Holland's Opus (1995): Plot, Cast & Where to Watch

Name: Mr. Holland's Opus
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: 1995
Duration: 143 min
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy

What Mr. Holland's Opus Is About

A musician who takes a temporary job teaching high school music to buy himself time to compose stays for thirty years. The film builds this as a story of sacrifice, but its best material is elsewhere: what it does to him that he cannot communicate with his son, who was born deaf, and cannot share music with him. School budget cuts run in the background. Stephen Herek directed, with Richard Dreyfuss in the lead. Before watching: the film plays openly for emotion and the closing scene takes that as far as it goes. You may find it manipulative; the film makes no secret of it.

How did this film move you?

Trailer

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mr. Holland's Opus about?

A musician who takes a temporary job teaching high school music to buy himself time to compose stays for thirty years. The film builds this as a story of sacrifice, but its best material is elsewhere: what it does to him that he cannot communicate with his son, who was born deaf, and cannot share music with him.

Where can I watch Mr. Holland's Opus?

Mr. Holland's Opus is available to watch on digital platforms such as Disney Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.

How long is Mr. Holland's Opus?

Mr. Holland's Opus runs for 143 minutes (2h 23m).

When did Mr. Holland's Opus come out?

Mr. Holland's Opus was released in 1995.

Who directed Mr. Holland's Opus?

Mr. Holland's Opus was directed by Stephen Herek.

Who stars in Mr. Holland's Opus?

Mr. Holland's Opus stars Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas, Olympia Dukakis.

What is Mr. Holland's Opus's rating?

Mr. Holland's Opus holds 7.4/10 on IMDb and 7.0/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 72 out of 100.