Dead Poets Society
$95,860,116
Tagline: He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.
Twenty years on, you wonder if Dead Poets Society is remembered for anything other than Robin Williams portraying the inspirational teacher we all wish we had been fortunate enough to have as our own. His John Keating utterly dominates every frame he's in (sadly, not enough of them) but you'd be well served to recall Ethan Hawke's sensitive student or Robert Sean Leonard playing the cool kid tragically undone by his intense father. In turns classy and captivating: O Captain my Captain indeed.
Quote: John Keating (Williams): Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? — Carpe — hear it? — Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.
TIME's Take: "Williams ... has come to act, not to cut comic riffs, and he does so with forceful, ultimately compelling, simplicity. Like everyone else involved in this movie, he is taking a chance on an odd, imperfect but valuable enterprise. He and the movie deserve attention, respect and finally gratitude. "