Cooley High

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Cooley High

PG

1975

1h 47m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in Chicago in the 1960s. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.

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Critics Consensus

Cooley High crackles with vibrant energy and authenticity, elevated by an impressively natural cast and Michael Schultz's effortless direction.

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Bryan Johnson

Globe and Mail

Oct 8, 2025

Preach and Cochise have their adventures, a lot of them patently comic or tragic -- but seldom, to me, either very funny or very moving.

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Margo Jefferson

Newsweek

Aug 15, 2025

It is a smart, very affecting movie.

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James Walcott

Village Voice

Aug 15, 2025

The surprise of Cooley High is that it is a schlock concept which transcends its limitation by becoming a celebration of black brotherhood.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Aug 17, 2026

4/5

A classic "good hang" movie about some Chicago high school goofs that actually had something to say and influenced a generation of Black cinema and TV.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 29, 2026

Funny in 01 hour, 47 minutes, and 14 seconds. Rated R.

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Scott M

@RT75128960 Sep 14, 2025

Tries it's best to be a sentimental coming of age film in inner city Chicago. But it doesn't quite make it. Needed better directing. But it did have a solid core of acting by Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs.

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Gael C

@RT31765110 Jan 29, 2025

ME GUSTO MUCHO COOLEY HIGH 1975 ME GUSTARÍA VERLA OTRA VEZ EN PRIME VIDEO

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Dec 24, 2024

What a great coming of age movie. The soundtrack alone is amazing but the performances were really good to. Heartbreaking movie to say the least. Tim Treakle

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CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni Jul 6, 2024

Pleasant , you are there, realistic depiction of 1964 teenage life in Chicago, An American Graffiti type story, a slice of life, with appealing performances, a good soundtrack, a sobering ending,

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Mike F

@RT08031912 Sep 16, 2023

This film is a true classic that I was fortunate enough to discover as a teenager in the early 90's and have enjoyed watching many times. Compelling dramatic story about black teens growing up in a tough Chicago neighborhood with some drizzles of comedy sprinkled in just right.

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Michael Schultz

Director

Glynn Turman

Preacher

Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs

Richard "Cochise" Morris

Garrett Morris

Mr. Mason

Cynthia Davis

Brenda

Corin Rogers

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Synopsis

Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in Chicago in the 1960s. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.

Director: Michael Schultz
Producer: Steve Krantz
Screenwriter: Eric Monte
Distributor: American International Pictures
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 11, 2017
Runtime: 1h 47m

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