Dangerous Minds

Parents need to know that Dangerous Minds is a 1995 drama in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays a new teacher who finds ways to inspire her classroom of students of color from impoverished neighborhoods. There's frequent profanity, including the "N" word, "f--k," and "motherf---er." One of the students is killed (off-screen), and the teacher and students are obviously emotionally distraught upon learning of his death. Movie addresses teen pregnancy, abortion, drug dealing, fighting in order to keep one's respect on the streets. One of the characters (teacher) smokes cigarettes. Some product placement. Before the teacher has earned the respect of her students, one of her students leers at her and says, "I'll eat you," which is greeted by hoots and hollers from his classmates. This movie is an example of the "white savior narrative," and while it could be argued that the movie does at least try to address this, families can use this movie to discuss the prevalence of movies in which white characters come in and "rescue" people of color from their circumstances.