Lean On Me (1989): cast, story & where to watch
1989 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1989, Lean On Me is a drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, running about 108 minutes. “Eastside High was out of control...until Joe Clark took it back.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line.
Who’s in it. Lean On Me stars Morgan Freeman as Principal Joe Clark, Beverly Todd as Ms. Levias, Robert Guillaume as Dr. Frank Napier and Ethan Phillips as Mr. Rosenberg, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Lean On Me has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Lean On Me page.
If you liked it. Fans of Lean On Me tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Lean On Me (1989)?
- In US, Lean On Me is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Lean On Me worth watching?
- Lean On Me holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Lean On Me?
- Lean On Me stars Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Ethan Phillips and Lynne Thigpen.
- When was Lean On Me released?
- Lean On Me was released in 1989, with a runtime of about 108 minutes.