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Bad Apples

Play trailer 1:48 Poster for Bad Apples R Sep 2026 1h 40m Comedy Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
A primary school teacher accidentally locks her most disruptive student in her home. Desperate to undo it, she hesitates when her class begins to flourish in the child's absence, landing her in an impossible predicament.
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Bad Apples

Bad Apples

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Critics Consensus

A tart comedy that Saoirse Ronan's terrific performance polishes into something humane, Bad Apples has an unsettling darkness that worms its way through an otherwise playful satire of the education system.

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Critics Reviews

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Iana Murray Empire Magazine Sep 18, 2026
4/5
Jonatan Etzler’s school satire is darkly hilarious and politically sharp — as satisfying as a crisp Granny Smith. Saoirse Ronan has never been better walking its riveting moral tightrope. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take Sep 18, 2026
2.5/4
In this darkly comic thriller, teacher Saoirse Ronan loses it and takes drastic action against a rotten 10-year-old student who’s spoiling her whole classroom bunch. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) Sep 18, 2026
It isn't satirical enough. Go to Full Review
Latoya Austin Movie Marker 6 days ago
4/5
Wickedly absurdist and engrossing, the film lurches from one extreme to the next, with unpredictable farce ... Bad Apples is best watched with no expectations and is full to the brim of dark, enjoyable humour. Go to Full Review
Tiffany McLaughlin Pop Culture Leftovers Sep 27, 2026
In a summer full of breakout independent films and smash hits from young, first-time directors, Bad Apples is director Jonatan Etzler's English-language debut. With Saoirse Ronan attached to star, that was all it took for me to take a bite. Go to Full Review
Cameron Meier MeierMovies.com Sep 22, 2026
3.5/5
The novel’s seeds could have grown more, but the film is nevertheless delicious. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Andrew E @Tafftrailviews 15 hrs ago Absolute Cinema, so tense and funny. So nice to see a film that is a bit different. Some people take watching films way too seriously. This was seriously entertaining and makes you think as well. See more Catherine G @RT61889138 2 days ago Wow what a blast of a movie. Initially I thought I might know where it was going but I was wrong! It’s so much fun when you lean in to the dark humour ( and it made me squirm a bit and feel bad for laughing) Saoirse is amazing as always and Nia Brown as Pauline managed to make me laugh and gasp all at the same time. There are so many reviews that give most of this plot away - avoid them - try and watch it knowing as little as possible. A really great movie to spend a few hours watching. See more Jon S @Jononthecuttingfloor 2 days ago A thrilling ride, so tense and funny. Insane theatre reactions. Laughed a lot and then questioned my own laughter - a great feeling. How we let our self/interest, feelings and biases lessen actual crimes. The children are two sides of the same neglect coin with very different ways of coping/acting out. Love a film that doesn't tell you what to think (and we should think) or wrap everything with a neat bow. If you let yourself enjoy the ride this is awesome! See more Simon G @SiPlym92 4 days ago Truly excellent. Fantastic commentary on the current state of education, teachers and a primal twist as it’s drawing to a close. I didn’t have any expectations going to watch at the cinema, but I’ve found myself thinking about it in the week since. See more Adam W @Jawbone78 Sep 30, 2026 THIS IS NOT A COMEDY. This is a dark drama. It has the perfect premise for a comedy - a teacher kidnaps an impossible student that is wrecking her classroom. Hilarious premise. Unfortunately they went with a dramatic approach that was dreadful, humorless and illogical. If it were a comedy, you could bend, twist and even suspend your disbelief but by playing it straight - it's absurd. See more Tony S @Jd4ever Sep 29, 2026 Ronan is an extremely talented actress but god knows why she involved herself in this ridiculous film. The screenplay and script are pathetic and the characters are unconvincing. Who decided this would make a good film doesn’t live in the real world and if the intention was to make the film as ridiculous as possible then it has certainly succeeded. See more Read all reviews
Bad Apples

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Bad Apples

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Movie Info

Synopsis A primary school teacher accidentally locks her most disruptive student in her home. Desperate to undo it, she hesitates when her class begins to flourish in the child's absence, landing her in an impossible predicament.
Director
Jonatan Etzler
Producer
Oskar Pimlott
Screenwriter
Jess O'Kane, Jess O'Kane
Distributor
Republic Pictures
Production Co
Pulse Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 18, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 18, 2026
Runtime
1h 40m
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