Waiting for “Superman” is a 2010 American documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim, who also made An Inconvenient Truth. This film explores the American public education system, its failures, and the human cost of a system that too often lets children down. The title comes from the idea that no one is coming to “save” the system — that real reform has to come from people themselves.
Detailed Summary
Opening: The Crisis in American Education
The documentary opens with director Davis Guggenheim narrating his daily drive past several public schools in Los Angeles as he takes his own children to private school. He reflects on the irony and guilt he feels — that while he can afford to choose, millions of parents cannot. This sets up the film’s central question: Why are so many public schools failing?
The Children’s Stories
The heart of the documentary lies in the stories of five children from different parts of the United States:
- Daisy from Los Angeles dreams of becoming a veterinarian or a nurse.
- Francisco from the Bronx struggles in a tough school environment.
- Anthony, from Washington D.C., is being raised by his grandmother and hopes for a better future.
- Bianca from Harlem lives with her mother, who is determined to give her daughter a private education despite financial hardship.
- Emily, from California, faces a future shaped by the uneven quality of schools in her district.
Their lives form the emotional core of the documentary. Each child’s fate hinges on a lottery system that determines whether they will attend a charter school — a possible escape from the underperforming public schools in their areas.
The Broken System
Through interviews with education experts, teachers, and reform advocates, the film presents a grim picture of American public education. It blames systemic bureaucracy, ineffective teaching, and powerful teachers’ unions that make it nearly impossible to fire ineffective teachers.
The term “The Lemon Dance” or “The Dance of the Lemons” is introduced — a process where schools transfer ineffective teachers from one school to another rather than firing them, to avoid conflict with unions.
Education reformers such as Geoffrey Canada and Michelle Rhee (then Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools) appear as central figures. Canada, in particular, speaks about his Harlem Children’s Zone, which attempts to create a cradle-to-college support network for students.
Charter Schools and Hope for Reform
The film contrasts traditional public schools with high-performing charter schools like KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) and Harlem Success Academy. These schools, led by dedicated teachers and visionary administrators, are shown as examples of what education could look like if freed from bureaucratic constraints.
However, because spots in these schools are limited, thousands of students rely on a lottery system — a heartbreaking symbol of chance deciding a child’s future.
Movie Ending
The final act focuses on the results of these charter school lotteries. Each child’s future comes down to whether their number is drawn.
- Daisy, the bright and ambitious girl from Los Angeles, does not win a spot. Her family is devastated.
- Francisco also loses the lottery. His mother, who had pinned all her hopes on this opportunity, is left in tears.
- Anthony, who lives with his grandmother in D.C., wins a spot at the SEED School, giving him a chance to break free from generational poverty.
- Bianca, whose mother struggled to pay private school tuition, also fails to get a spot. Her mother is forced to confront the harsh reality of being unable to afford the education her daughter deserves.
- Emily’s story concludes with her parents facing the difficult decision of sending her to a subpar public high school, highlighting how even middle-class families are trapped by systemic inequality.
The film closes with Geoffrey Canada explaining the origin of the film’s title. As a child, he believed Superman would come to save his community — but he realized no one was coming. The message is powerful: if we want change, we have to create it ourselves.
The closing text states that only a small percentage of American children get access to good schools, leaving viewers with a sobering reflection on the urgency of reform.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Waiting for “Superman” does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends on a reflective note with statistics and updates about the children featured, but there are no additional scenes after the credits.
Type of Movie
This film is a documentary — more specifically, a social issue documentary that critiques the U.S. public education system. It combines investigative journalism, personal storytelling, and policy analysis.
Cast and Key Figures
While not a traditional “cast” film, key individuals featured include:
- Geoffrey Canada – Educator and founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone
- Michelle Rhee – Former Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools
- Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft and education reform advocate
- The five students and their families – Daisy, Francisco, Anthony, Bianca, and Emily
Film Music and Composer
The film’s score was composed by Christophe Beck, known for his emotional and subtle soundtracks. The tone is hopeful but tinged with melancholy. The soundtrack also includes “Shine” by John Legend, an original song written for the film that earned critical acclaim.
Filming Locations
The documentary was filmed across multiple U.S. cities — Los Angeles, New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco — representing different demographics and regions. These locations highlight that educational inequality is a national issue, not confined to one area.
Awards and Nominations
- Sundance Film Festival (2010): Premiered to critical acclaim
- National Board of Review: Best Documentary
- Critics’ Choice Awards: Best Documentary Feature (Winner)
- Academy Awards: Shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature (but not nominated)
- Grammy Awards: John Legend’s “Shine” nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Director Davis Guggenheim initially intended to make a short piece about education but was so moved by the stories he encountered that it expanded into a full-length documentary.
- The filmmakers followed real families for over two years to capture genuine moments of struggle and hope.
- Some educators criticized the film for oversimplifying the problem, but others praised it for sparking national debate about education reform.
- The title was inspired by Geoffrey Canada’s childhood realization that “Superman isn’t coming to save us.”
Inspirations and References
The film draws heavily from real-life educational reform movements in the U.S., especially the work of KIPP Schools, Teach For America, and Harlem Children’s Zone. It also takes inspiration from the long-standing debates surrounding No Child Left Behind and the inequality in American public schools.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No official alternate ending exists, but some deleted footage showed extended interviews with teachers’ union leaders and more detail about Michelle Rhee’s controversial policies in Washington D.C. These scenes were trimmed to focus more tightly on the children’s personal stories.
Book Adaptations and Differences
A companion book titled Waiting for “Superman”: How We Can Save America’s Failing Public Schools was released alongside the film. The book expands on the data, interviews, and educational policies discussed in the documentary but lacks the emotional immediacy of the children’s stories shown on screen.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The heartbreaking charter school lottery sequence — the emotional climax of the film.
- Geoffrey Canada’s powerful monologue about the absence of “Superman.”
- Michelle Rhee confronting the political resistance to her education reforms.
Iconic Quotes
- Geoffrey Canada: “We’ve been waiting for Superman. But Superman isn’t coming.”
- Michelle Rhee: “If you do nothing, nothing changes.”
- Narrator: “Every kid deserves a great school. Not just the lucky ones.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The use of animated infographics and charts visually simplifies complex data about test scores and funding disparities — a nod to Guggenheim’s earlier work on An Inconvenient Truth.
- The title sequence includes comic book-style imagery of Superman, connecting the theme of lost hope to popular culture.
Trivia
- The documentary reportedly led to a temporary spike in interest in charter schools and education reform movements.
- After the film’s release, Michelle Rhee resigned from her post as D.C. Schools Chancellor amid public debate.
- The film’s editor, Jay Cassidy, also worked on An Inconvenient Truth, giving both films a similar visual rhythm.
Why Watch?
Watch Waiting for “Superman” if you want to understand why America’s education system is broken — and how it affects real families. It’s a film that will move you, frustrate you, and inspire you to think critically about what education should be.
It’s not just a documentary; it’s a call to action.
Director’s Other Movies
- An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
- He Named Me Malala (2015)
- It Might Get Loud (2008)
- From the Sky Down (2011)
Recommended Films for Fans
- He Named Me Malala (2015)
- The Class (2008)
- Teach Us All (2017)
- America to Me (2018)
- The Lottery (2010)
