Notes on a Scandal

Play trailer

Notes on a Scandal

R

Released Dec 27, 2006

1h 38m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

175 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Barbara Covett (Judi Dench), a veteran teacher at St. George's, senses a kindred spirit in Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), the school's new art teacher. The younger woman's charisma intensely draws in the older, and the two become friends. Then Barbara learns of Sheba's affair with a teenage student and becomes the keeper of the explosive secret.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

In this sharp psychological thriller, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give fierce, memorable performances as two schoolteachers locked in a battle of wits.

Read Critics Reviews

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Smart and brash, it's a picture Bette Davis and Joan Crawford would have killed (preferably each other) to be in.

Rated: A-

May 15, 2009

Full Review

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Blanchett has also recently appeared in The Good German and Babel, but this represents far and away her best work.

Rated: A

Feb 9, 2007

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

That's the wonder of the film: it's about the vicious power of loneliness, played out through a story of two women in love. The tragedy, for both of them, is that it's not with each other.

Feb 9, 2007

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

A gripping twin character study... Darkly camp and spanning just 92 perfectly paced minutes, this is an intense immersion into two very ugly psyches.

Sep 2, 2023

Full Review

Murtada Elfadl

Sundays with Cate

Despite the trope of the predatory lesbian being the engine behind its plot, Notes on a Scandal is delicious fun. A most enjoyable entry into the hagsploitation genre with serious art house credentials.

Rated: A

Mar 30, 2021

Full Review

PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Dench is compelling, and offers a transcendent portrait of a sociopath, whose bitter, fantasy-inflected interaction with the outside world is informed by a colossal solipsism.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 29, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Julian S

A wickedly fun slice of camp that Dench seems to relish—though you can’t help but wish she’d lean even further into the darkness.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

Full Review

Jenna S

Stunning performances from the two leads, thrilling story with layers revealed throughout. Fantastic drama/thriller. Based on a great novel of course. Well worth a watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/09/24

Full Review

Savannah G

This Movie was an uncomfortable watch for sure- still was incredible to see two of the industry titans work together in Blanchett and Dench- a masterclass to watch even if the topic and writing was rough

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

Arnold D

Top class performance by Judi Dench. Also a stellar performance by Cate Blanchett, and a strong nod to Bill Nighy as well. Strong movie throughout, and one I would recommend but won't be rushing to re-watch. I value this movie for the performance of the actors rather than the story itself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

Full Review

John G

The critics consensus has it right on this movie. Powerful work by Blanchett and Dench. Compellingly told.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Jerod S

You think that Blanchett is the teacher with some major issues. But as the story goes on, it's Dench that rises as the greatest sicko. Fresh script and idea helps grip you into this one.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Richard Eyre

Director

Cate Blanchett

Sheba Hart

Judi Dench

Barbara Covett

Bill Nighy

Richard Hart

Tameka Empson

Antonia Robinson

Max Lewis

Ben

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

My Summer of Love

90%

69%

My Summer of Love

Watchlist

A Home at the End of the World

50%

67%

A Home at the End of the World

Watchlist

Quinceañera

86%

72%

Quinceañera

Watchlist

Carrington

54%

74%

Carrington

Watchlist

High Art

76%

77%

High Art

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT-UK: Patrick Marber Interview

RT-UK: Richard Eyre – Director’s Masterclass II

SAG Award Winners Revealed, Oscar Predicting Hits Full Steam

View more photos

Synopsis

Barbara Covett (Judi Dench), a veteran teacher at St. George's, senses a kindred spirit in Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), the school's new art teacher. The younger woman's charisma intensely draws in the older, and the two become friends. Then Barbara learns of Sheba's affair with a teenage student and becomes the keeper of the explosive secret.

Director: Richard Eyre
Producer: Scott Rudin, Robert Fox, Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Patrick Marber
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films
Rating: R (Some Aberrant Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.5M
Runtime: 1h 38m

Most Popular at Home Now