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The Principal

1987·Movie
1h 49min·R
42
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb6.3Metacritic37–Rotten Tomatoes44%51%
IMDb6.3Metacritic37–Rotten Tomatoes44%51%

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The Principal fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Brutally violent and thrilling

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Adrenaline8
  • Fast Pace8

Heart

Cathartic

  • Catharsis7
  • Pathos6
  • Hopefulness5

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Physical Comedy3
  • Dark Humor3

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and the mind

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

Graphic violence bothers youYou want something quiet and calm

Find more like it

Gritty movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

He's teaching the students at Brandel High two words... NO MORE.

Burglary. Drugs. Assault. Rape. The students at Brandel High are more than new Principal Rick Latimer bargained for. Gangs fight to control the school using knives - even guns - when they have to. When Latimer and the head of security try to clean up the school and stop the narcotics trade, they run up against a teenage mafia. A violent confrontation on the campus leads to a deadly showdown with the drug dealer's gang, and one last chance for Latimer to save his career... and his life.
Urban Crime DramaHigh School Gang WarfareViolent ConfrontationsSocially ConsciousRedemption StoryGritty RealismTense & Action-PackedMoral Dilemmas

Crew

Directed by:
Christopher Cain
Written by:
Frank Deese
Produced by:
Thomas H. Brodek
Composed by:
Jerry Trent, Dan Gleich, Jay Gruska

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Principal

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Principal legally?

PhiloTubi TVHowdy

The Principal is included with a subscription to Philo in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Principal worth watching?

42
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 43/100 (IMDb 6.3, Rotten Tomatoes 44%, and Metacritic 37). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Principal rated?

RViolenceDrug useStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, drug use, and strong language.

How long is The Principal?

1 h 49 min

The Principal runs 1 h 49 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Principal?

Critics41
Audiences57

Not quite. Audiences rate The Principal higher (57) than critics (41). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Principal a box office hit?

Budget$11 million
Box office$20 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $11 million to make and earned $20 million worldwide, 1.8 times its budget.

What language is The Principal in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Principal?

63ARATAUBEBGBOBRBYBZCACHCLCOCR+49

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Principal in 63 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Principal use?

Attempted RapeIs That a Threat?Never Learned to ReadNow It's My TurnNon-Giving-Up School GuyInner City SchoolReassigned to AntarcticaArc WordsBadass BikerSave Our StudentsBadass Teacher

TV Tropes lists 11 storytelling tropes for The Principal, including Attempted Rape, Is That a Threat?, Never Learned to Read.