A struggling primary school teacher is forced to take drastic action because of a foul-mouthed, violent student, and uncovers how her community will turn a blind eye to the most outrageous events to preserve harmony and their sense of safety.

Bad Apples poster

Bad Apples (2026)

It only takes one.

★ 7/10 September 10, 2026 100 min

ComedyThriller

Director: Jonatan Etzler  ·  Writer: Jess O'Kane

A struggling primary school teacher is forced to take drastic action because of a foul-mouthed, violent student, and uncovers how her community will turn a blind eye to the most outrageous events to preserve harmony and their sense of safety.

Trailer

Director

Jonatan Etzler Jonatan Etzler

Cast

Saoirse Ronan Saoirse Ronan Maria Eddie Waller Eddie Waller Danny Nia Brown Nia Brown Pauline Jacob Anderson Jacob Anderson Sam Rakie Ayola Rakie Ayola Sylvia Sean Gilder Sean Gilder Frank Robert Emms Robert Emms Josh Kerry Howard Kerry Howard PC Williams Jaye Jacobs Jaye Jacobs Khaliya's Mum Joanna van Kampen Joanna van Kampen Carys's Mum Kirris Riviere Kirris Riviere Jamal's Dad Dorian Simpson Dorian Simpson Zayn's Dad

User Reviews (2)

Manuel São Bento
Manuel São Bento October 10, 2025
★ 7/10

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/bad-apples-review/ "Bad Apples is a shocking, original satire, carried by Saoirse Ronan in a state of grace and surprising child performances. Its journey toward the absurd is highly entertaining, but the constant collision between the dramatic weight of the staging and the ridiculousness of the script creates a tonal dissonance that affects its final message and its potential to be one of the most powerful films of the year. It deserves to be seen, debated, and perhaps, to make us question what, after all, a "bad apple" in life truly is." Rating: B

CinemaSerf
CinemaSerf September 23, 2026
★ 7/10

"Danny" (Eddie Waller) is the pupil from hell in the classroom led by his teacher "Maria" (Saoirse Ronan). He likes to throw things - whether it be a shoe into the production line during a visit to a cider factory or the young "Pauline" (Nia Brown) down the stairs. He is just a nightmare - and the head teacher isn't interested in anything but keeping the parents happy and the inspectors off her back. "Maria" decides that an approach to the lad's dad (Robert Emms) might be the solution but that only ends up making matters worse and her basement finds itself with a new lodger (think "9 to 5" (1980) only younger!). With searches going on all around for this miscreant kid, she hopes that by a little one-on-one time and maybe a little more attention and understanding than he is used to, she might be able to turn "Danny" from gorgon to gifted. The question is, of course, how sustainable is thi…