School of Rock

2003
PG-13
1h 49m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

339K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:36

High-Concept Comedy Comedy Music

After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

339K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,301

133

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 24 nominations

Trivia
Early in filming, an insecure Robert Tsai approached director Richard Linklater and tried to talk him out of letting him be in the movie because he felt he wasn't right for the role. Linklater responded that it was his very insecurity that made him exactly right for the role, and kept him in. Fittingly, Tsai's character, Lawrence, has a very similar conversation with Dewey Finn (Mr. S) about not feeling right for his role in the band.

Goofs
When they are playing Zack's song for the first time. The drummer Freddy and bass player Katie have scene costumes, but in the next clip, they are back in their school uniforms.

-There was a fade to indicate time passing. They probably started practicing and then once Dewey had figured out the parts, they did a second rehearsal. You can also see the girls who sing backups standing when they were initially sitting.

Quotes
Dewey Finn: Now, what makes you mad more than anything in the world?
[sees Billy who has his hand raised]
Dewey Finn: Billy?
Billy: You!
Dewey Finn: Billy, we've already told me off. Let's move on.
Billy: You're tacky and I hate you!
Dewey Finn: Okay, you see me after class!

Crazy credits
The "School of Rock" band jams through the closing credits.

Alternate versions
In the theatrical version of the movie, the performance by School of Rock during the ending credits is changed. Originally, after several solos, Dewey tells Katie she does not get one, as bassists don't get solos and that's just how it works. This was changed for the DVD and TV versions: Dewey does not tell Katie that bassists don't get solos and she does not assume she gets one anyhow.

Connections
Featured in Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Jack Black/Christopher Walken/Staind (2003)

Soundtracks
Fight
Written by Warren Fitzgerald and Mike White
Performed by No Vacancy
Produced by George Drakoulias

User reviews601

Review

Featured review

Maybe it's not intelligent - but it's funny and it rocks!

Glancing at what other people have written about this movie, it seems that these individuals are taking this film a bit too seriously. Worrying about the "messages" this movie is delivering? Come on, there is no way that the con that Jack Black's character pulls off could ever get far in the real world! I don't think any sane person watching this movie would take this seriously. This is a comedy, for crying out loud, made to make us laugh!

I thought Black was fine in this movie. Sure, maybe his character is a little one-note with his proclamations of "rock on" and "stick it to the man", but Black somehow manages to do it over and over without being boring. He's unbelievably energetic AND versatile, delivering these same things in different ways each time that prevent the movie from getting into a rut. I think it's safe to say that only Black himself could have made this role work so well.

There is plenty of humor and great music. Even my senior citizen parents kept laughing, and told me after it was over that they enjoyed the rock soundtrack as well. It's a great movie for the whole family. Why was this rated PG-13? Sure, there are some references to stuff like alcohol and groupies, but they are not emphasized at all in their brief passing - and your kids will already have seen these kind of things treated much worse elsewhere! In fact, here in British Columbia, the ratings board gave it a "G" rating.