Bad Education

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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)

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.

Rated: 3/4

May 13, 2022

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

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

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2020

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

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

Rated: 3.5/5

May 18, 2020

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

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

Oct 4, 2024

Full Review

Joonatan Itkonen

Toisto.net

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.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 8, 2024

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

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

Rated: B+

Feb 20, 2024

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Tina S

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

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

THE NASHVILLE I

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

Full Review

Paul S

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Guilherme N

Hugh's acting convinces you so well

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Tracy W

A very entertaining, well-acted movie but essentially a cover up of the real reasons for the destruction of public education. Companies essentially no longer pay property taxes and homeowners are being blackmailed into higher taxes. There’s no reason these issues couldn’t have been addressed. Instead it’s left on the level of personal corruption. Also, the state of public education isn’t really comedic, is it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Ventsislav Y

I would say worth a watch. Top performance from Hugh per usual

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/26/24

Full Review

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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

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Bad Education: Trailer 1

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Bad Education: Teaser Trailer 1

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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)

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