Higher LearningMovie Reviews

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Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Higher Learning is seriously intended and seriously flawed. Singleton tends to shout his objectives. But in an era of cop-out escapism, it is gratifying to find a filmmaker who is spoiling to be heard. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Singleton's film is interesting for a lot of reasons, but especially because he stands outside this campus system and looks at it with a detached eye. Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    Despite a weakness for trying to tie things up with melodramatic violence, Singleton remains a fluid filmmaker who works well with actors. He may not be there yet, but he is on the road. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Janet Maslin

    Higher Learning culminates in facile violence instead of the assurance that this film maker, in trying to explain forces that oppress his characters, has really done his homework. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post |

    For every persuasive insight John Singleton brings to Higher Learning, his thoughtful but flawed movie about multiculturalism and racism, he throws in something equally disappointing. Read full review

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Higher Learning starts out as a liberal message movie, but it turns into a demagogic rabble-rouser, a shrewdly incendiary exploitation of these wayward days of rage. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Susan Wloszczyna

    Higher Learning: John Singleton's ambitious potpourri of on-campus tensions - date rape, black power, white supremacy - all too quickly lapses into pandering preachiness. [17 Feb 1995, p.4D] Read full review

  • 40
    Austin Chronicle |

    Higher Learning is a disappointment. What might have been director Singleton's (Boyz N the Hood, Poetic Justice) most ambitious and potentially intriguing work, wound up as his most shallow and scattershot. Read full review

  • 40
    Wall Street Journal |

    Higher Learning put me in mind of a long lecture by a well-meaning but dull professor. What he has to say may be worthwhile, but it's delivered with plodding predictability. [12 Jan 1995, p.A12] Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Higher Learning says nothing new or challenging and is too naive to inspire controversy. Read full review

Higher Learning Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 4 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews

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