The School of Rock, commonly known as School of Rock, is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin and written by Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, White and Sarah Silverman. Black plays struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is fired from his band and subsequently poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to pay his rent. After witnessing the musical talent of the students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands as revenge against his former bandmates.
School of Rock was released on October 3, 2003, by Paramount Pictures, grossing $131.3 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Black's performance and humor. It was the highest-grossing music-themed comedy of all time until the release of Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015. A stage musical adaptation opened on Broadway in December 2015, and a television adaptation aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from March 2016 to April 2018.