IMDb 6.7 1994 HD

With Honors

With Honors

1994
Comedy Drama
103 min PG-13 USA
6.735 / 10
6.7 IMDB

Convinced he'll graduate with honors because of his thesis paper, a stuffy Harvard student finds his paper being held hostage by a homeless man, who might be the…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Alek Keshishian / Stephen P. Dunn / David Fudge / Julie Pitkanen
Starring
Joe Pesci / Brendan Fraser / Moira Kelly / Patrick Dempsey / Josh Hamilton / Gore Vidal / Deborah Lake Fortson / Marshall Hambro

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

Heartfelt Predictable Charming Earnest Thought-provoking Dated Uplifting Contradictory Humorous Melodramatic Inspirational Shallow

Reviews

P
Priya Sharma
May 16, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

A timely reminder that wisdom isn't confined to textbooks, 'With Honors' presents a compelling dynamic between Brendan Fraser's ambitious student and Joe Pesci's enigmatic homeless mentor. The film deftly explores themes of privilege, empathy, and the broader meaning…

L
Liam O'Connell
May 16, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The concept behind 'With Honors' is intriguing: a clash between the hallowed halls of Harvard and the harsh realities of homelessness. Brendan Fraser plays the quintessential overachiever, whose journey of enlightenment is spurred by Joe Pesci's character. While…

S
Sophia Chen
May 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'With Honors' offers a refreshing look at what truly constitutes success, challenging the narrow definition often associated with elite institutions. Brendan Fraser is effective as the uptight Harvard student, whose encounters with Joe Pesci’s streetwise character force a…

M
Marcus Bellwether
May 16, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'With Honors', the premise of a privileged student learning life lessons from a disenfranchised soul is ripe with potential. Joe Pesci delivers a performance that hints at a weary wisdom, a compelling counterpoint to Brendan Fraser's initial…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 16, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Brendan Fraser anchors 'With Honors' as a Harvard student whose world is turned upside down when his thesis becomes leverage for a homeless man, played with surprising depth by Joe Pesci. The film treads a familiar path, contrasting…

FAQs

The homeless man in 'With Honors' is significant because he acts as a catalyst for the protagonist's personal transformation. He embodies a life experience and a perspective that is antithetical to the sheltered, academic world of Harvard. His presence challenges the student's assumptions about success, worth, and the human condition. He is not merely an obstacle, but a teacher offering profound, albeit unconventional, life lessons.