Bad Education

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1:07

Bad Education

2019

1h 48m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A Long Island school superintendent and his assistant are credited with bringing the district unprecedented prestige. Frank is a master of positive messaging, whether before an audience of community leaders or in an office with a concerned student or parent. That changes when a student reporter uncovers an embezzlement scheme of epic proportions, prompting Frank to devise an elaborate cover-up.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by an outstanding Hugh Jackman, Bad Education finds absurd laughs -- and a worthy message -- in the aftermath of a real-life scandal.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

05/13/2022

3/4

This is one of those deadpan farces where we get to chortle as awful people are hoisted high on the petard of their own greed.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

06/12/2020

4/5

Hugh Jackman turns in a beguiling and powerful performance in his latest movie, based on a real-life scandal.

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

05/18/2020

3.5/5

Fuelled by a fascinating story and its sensational performances, Bad Education is a movie worthy of its star-power and ambitions.

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Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

10/04/2024

Bad Education helps to present us with very flawed, and very real people who are as layered as the film’s plot.

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Joonatan Itkonen

Region Free

07/08/2024

4/5

This is a great film; it will aggravate, amaze, and confound you all at once. Make it a priority to see it the moment it’s out.

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

02/20/2024

B+

Bad Education is a strong film overall, especially during a time in which we are bereft of theatrical releases and original ideas.

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Monica B

@Chartreusea Jun 19

Very good, I stumbled upon it, Hugh Jackman is a wonderful actor, we have to start giving him props. He is the king of the based on a true story lead role

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Maarit L

@Komedienne Jun 2

This is a very good film.

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Romas M

@Romas Oct 12

Greetings from Lithuania. "Bad Education" (2019) is a terrific story superbly told. Writing, acting and directing in this movie were first rate. As great as actors Hugh Jackman & Allison Janney are, these two performances were one of the better in their great carriers - they both were that good. Also the story was very involving, based on a very true events - i couldn't take my eye off screen for the whole 1 h 45 min. This movie never dragged, was very surprising in a best ways and simply terrific from start till finish.

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Tina S

@Tinas413 06/21/2025

The pace of this was too slow I swear it felt like I was watching for 4 hours and I wasnt even Halfway thru. Idk how they made a story like this so boring

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THE NASHVILLE I

@Nshvlleindie 06/12/2025

Man, what a hilariously sharp movie! Thankfully Jackman’s WAY MORE than his wolverine work. Hilarious yet intimidating work from Janney, as if Darth Vader took a turn on Modern Family. The script also does a great job unsuspectingly creating a sort of mystery motif, the way it breadcrumbs the major pieces of the second act.

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Paul S

@PManRager 04/28/2025

This movie was so much fun to watch, and its story was really whacky and compelling. I definitely recommend it for drama fans!

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Cory Finley

Director

Hugh Jackman

Frank Tassone

Allison Janney

Pam Gluckin

Ray Romano

Bob Spicer

Kathrine Narducci

Sharon Katz

Geraldine Viswanathan

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Bad Education: Featurette - Based on a True Story

3:51

Bad Education: Trailer - Race Car

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Bad Education: Trailer 1

2:17

Bad Education: Teaser Trailer 1

1:07

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Synopsis

A Long Island school superintendent and his assistant are credited with bringing the district unprecedented prestige. Frank is a master of positive messaging, whether before an audience of community leaders or in an office with a concerned student or parent. That changes when a student reporter uncovers an embezzlement scheme of epic proportions, prompting Frank to devise an elaborate cover-up.

Director: Cory Finley
Producer: Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Julia Lebedev, Mike Makowsky, Oren Moverman, Eddie Vaisman
Screenwriter: Mike Makowsky
Production Co: HBO Films, Sight Unseen Pictures, Automatik Entertainment
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 26, 2020
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)