Top 50 Best Teacher Movies Of All Time

To Be and to Have (originally titled Être et avoir) is a remarkable French documentary directed by Nicolas Philibert. The film received significant acclaim and made a strong impression at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

This engaging documentary offers an intimate portrait of a devoted teacher at a small rural school in France, where children aged 4 to 11 years old learn together in a single classroom. It beautifully captures the unique challenges and joys of multi-age teaching and learning.

The filmmakers follow thirteen students, observing not only their time in school but also their routines at home. The film highlights the rhythms of their daily lives, including household chores and homework, offering a heartfelt glimpse into rural childhood.

Throughout the year, the students repeat this routine, creating a sense of stability and community. After the film’s widespread success, the teacher, Lopez, filed a lawsuit against the producers, claiming he and his students were misled about the film’s reach and consequently sought a greater share of the profits.

"The Class" (originally titled "Entre Les Murs") is a captivating French film adapted from François Bégaudeau's semi-autobiographical novel. Remarkably, Bégaudeau himself stars as the teacher, offering an authentic portrayal of classroom life.

The story centers on François Marin, a dedicated French language and literature teacher who navigates the challenges of instructing diverse students in a Parisian high school. The film highlights the immense effort teachers invest to help their students reach their full potential.

Through Marin's experiences, viewers witness the complexities of classroom dynamics, from motivating students to dealing with those who constantly test boundaries. The film illustrates both the successes and setbacks of teaching, emphasizing that learning is an ongoing process for everyone involved.

"The Class" won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival by unanimous decision, and it was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

"The Miracle Worker" is an inspiring biographical film that tells the remarkable story of Helen Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan. Adapted from William Gibson's celebrated play, the film captures Sullivan's determined efforts to help Helen, who lost her vision and hearing as an infant.

As a result of her disabilities, Helen Keller frequently experienced intense frustration and uncontrollable outbursts. Desperate for help, her parents eventually turn to Anne Sullivan, a teacher who is herself visually impaired.

Sullivan approaches Helen with unwavering patience, introducing her to a world of communication through hand signs. With her guidance, Helen not only learns to communicate but also discovers how to read and write.

The film features powerful performances by Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft, both of whom appeared in the original play. Despite initial doubts from the directors about translating their performances to film, both actresses went on to receive Academy Award nominations for their roles.

Monsieur Lazhar is a poignant Canadian-French film inspired by the one-man play Bashir Lazhar by Évelyne de la Chenelière.

Director Philippe Falardeau skillfully transforms this intimate stage piece into a deeply moving film, expanding the story to include a talented cast. The film opens at an elementary school, shaken after the tragic suicide of a beloved teacher in her classroom.

In the aftermath, the school hires Bashir Lazhar, an Algerian immigrant with a hidden, tragic past, to step in as the new teacher. Despite carrying his own burdens, Lazhar patiently guides his young students as they navigate their collective grief.

With kindness and understanding, he helps the class begin to heal—until it’s revealed that he lacks official teaching credentials, forcing him to leave the school.

The film earned numerous awards and was an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, cementing its impact and resonance.

"The Hunt" is a gripping Danish psychological thriller centered on a school teacher whose entire life is devastated by a false accusation from one of his students.

The film earned critical acclaim, securing multiple awards at major film festivals and receiving nominations at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

Lucas, a beloved kindergarten teacher in a tight-knit rural Danish community, shares a close bond with his friend’s young daughter, who is known for wandering off alone.

After the girl stumbles upon pornographic images belonging to her brother, she makes ambiguous and misleading statements to the school principal.

This sparks a wave of suspicion, branding Lucas as a pedophile and causing the entire community to turn against him. The narrative reflects real-life events similar to the Escola Base case in São Paulo, Brazil.

This case was heavily covered in the Brazilian media but eventually dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

"Good Will Hunting" is a compelling psychological drama, crafted by writers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and skillfully directed by Gus Van Sant. The film received widespread acclaim, earning multiple Academy Award nominations for its powerful storytelling and performances.

The story centers on Will Hunting, a brilliant but troubled young man from a difficult background. Despite his extraordinary intellect, his traumatic past and emotional wounds frequently lead him into trouble with the law.

While working as a janitor at MIT, Will anonymously solves a complex mathematical problem, drawing the interest of Professor Lambeau. This pivotal moment sets his life on a new trajectory.

With help from Professor Lambeau and his compassionate friend, Dr. Sean Maguire, Will begins to confront his inner demons and navigate the challenges he faces, both personally and intellectually.

Interestingly, to ensure they found the right studio that respected their vision, Damon and Affleck inserted a random, out-of-place scene on page 60 of their script. They chose Miramax Studios to produce the film when the studio questioned this unusual addition.

"Election" is a sharp black comedy directed by Alexander Payne, adapted from Tom Perrotta's acclaimed novel of the same name.

The film garnered widespread praise for its dark humor, clever plotting, and sharp dialogue, all elevated by standout performances. Jim McAllister, a well-liked social studies teacher, finds himself entangled in the school's student government elections.

McAllister becomes increasingly frustrated with Tracy, a highly ambitious and driven student competing for student body president. Attempting to derail her campaign, he convinces a popular football player to run against her, unwittingly igniting a fierce rivalry.

This scheme sets McAllister and Tracy on a collision course, as she responds with determination and cunning tactics. The film was recognized with an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

"Election" was filmed at Papillion-La Vista Senior High School, where regular classes continued throughout shooting, adding to the movie's authentic atmosphere.

"Half Nelson" is a powerful drama directed and co-written by Ryan Fleck. Before expanding the narrative into a feature-length film, Fleck originally explored this story in a short film.

Ryan Gosling received an Academy Award nomination for his compelling portrayal of Dan Dunne, a history teacher at an inner-city New York high school.

Dan also coaches the girls' basketball team and is admired by students for his unconventional and engaging approach to teaching history. Despite his popularity at school, Dan's personal life is deeply troubled.

Struggling with drug addiction, he finds temporary solace in illicit substances, unable to break free from the destructive habit that shadows his otherwise chaotic existence.

The film's title, "Half Nelson," does not refer to a character, but rather a wrestling move in which one arm is slipped under the opponent's arm from behind and locked on the back of the neck—symbolizing struggle and entrapment.

"Not One Less" is a Chinese film known for its neorealist and documentary-style approach, inspired by the story "A Sun in the Sky" by Shi Xiangsheng.

The film received international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the 1999 Venice Film Festival. Set in a remote mountain village, the story follows a schoolteacher who must take a month-long leave of absence.

To keep the school running, a 13-year-old girl named Wei Minzhi is appointed as a substitute teacher. Facing immense responsibility at such a young age, she is promised a reward if she can ensure that no students drop out during this time.

When one student leaves for the city to find work, Wei Minzhi displays remarkable determination as she embarks on a journey to retrieve him, demonstrating resilience and dedication.

While some critics accused the film of promoting government propaganda, others lauded its distinctive filmmaking style and heartfelt narrative.

"School of Rock," directed by Richard Linklater and written by Mike White, tells the story of a group of musically talented children attending a prestigious prep school.

The film's dynamic soundtrack played a key role in its success, making it one of the highest-grossing music-themed movies ever made.

Dewey Finn, a struggling guitarist whose career is at a standstill, finds himself impersonating his friend Ned Schneebly to take on a substitute teaching job.

Upon discovering his students' impressive musical skills, Dewey forms a rock band with them and enters them in the Battle of the Bands competition, transforming the classroom into a stage for self-expression.

Jack Black shines in the lead role, drawing on his real-life experience as a musician and comedian. He personally created playful nicknames for each band member, adding to the film’s unique charm.

"Dead Poets Society" is a powerful drama directed by Peter Weir that explores the lives of students at a fictional boarding school in Vermont.

The film received critical acclaim and earned several honors, including the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, awarded to Tom Schulman. Welton Academy, the story's setting, is a strict boys' prep school governed by traditional teaching values.

Everything changes when an unconventional English teacher arrives, challenging these rigid norms. He inspires his students to think for themselves and encourages them to embrace the philosophy of "carpe diem"—to seize each day in pursuit of remarkable achievements.

The teacher revives the clandestine Dead Poets Society, a move that ignites creative passion among his students but angers the conservative school administration.

Robin Williams, who starred in the film, considered it his personal favorite, as it allowed him to portray the inspirational teacher he always dreamed of having. Peter Weir, the director, was also among Williams' favorites to collaborate with.

Stand and Deliver is a powerful biographical film that chronicles the transformation of a struggling Hispanic school on the brink of losing its accreditation.

The story centers around Jaime Escalante, a passionate teacher at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, who takes on the challenge of inspiring his students to succeed.

Originally an engineer, Escalante discovers his true calling in education when he witnesses the dire circumstances at the school.

He steps in to teach students entangled in gang activities and other troubles, employing innovative teaching methods, discipline, and his unique sense of humor to engage and motivate them.

Through perseverance and dedication, Escalante helps his students aim higher and set new goals for themselves. His efforts culminate in their passing of an advanced mathematics class, defying expectations and astonishing the school administration.

Skeptical officials suspect cheating and require the students to retake the test, which they pass once again, proving their abilities and Escalante's inspiring impact.

"The Teacher" (Učiteľka) is a Slovakian black comedy that delves into the dark consequences when a teacher fails to serve as a positive influence. Rather than uplifting her students and their families, the film explores the turmoil that arises when power is misused in the classroom.

Set in Czechoslovakia, the story follows Mária Drazdechová, a newly appointed suburban school teacher whose position stems from her strong political ties. Instead of nurturing her students, Drazdechová exploits her authority, wielding significant control over both students and parents.

She singles out and bullies students based on their family backgrounds, while the school administration feels powerless to intervene. The situation takes a tragic turn when one student, driven by relentless torment, attempts suicide as a result of her actions.

Now, the school's principal must decide whether to take a stand against this toxic environment. Yet, the looming threat of the communist party’s influence makes the journey to justice uncertain and fraught with risk.

With tensions rising, the film leaves viewers questioning: how far can the system go to protect its students, and for how long can it keep such destructive forces at bay?

"Matilda" is a beloved film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children's novel. The story follows Matilda, a gifted young girl who discovers extraordinary psychic abilities and uses them to overcome the many challenges in her life.

Neglected by her family, Matilda Wormwood finds solace and friendship after joining elementary school. There, she builds a close bond with her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey, and several classmates.

Their lives are overshadowed by the cruel principal, Mrs. Trunchbull, who ruthlessly abuses her authority. When Matilda realizes the full extent of her telekinetic powers, she bravely stands up to Mrs. Trunchbull to protect her friends and bring peace to their school.

During production, Mara Wilson, who plays Matilda, tragically lost her mother to cancer. While her mother underwent treatment, Mara received heartfelt support and care from Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, who looked after her during this difficult time.

"Akeelah and the Bee" is a critically acclaimed 2006 drama directed by Doug Atchison. The film follows Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old with an exceptional gift for spelling, as she navigates the challenges of her young life.

With support from her community and her dedicated coach, Dr. Joshua Larabee, Akeelah overcomes obstacles and doubts to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Through her journey, Akeelah discovers the true value of perseverance, friendship, and the power of believing in herself, making her story relatable and inspiring.

The heartfelt narrative resonated strongly with audiences, especially among young viewers and families, thanks to its uplifting themes and positive message.

Praised for its standout performances and engaging storyline, "Akeelah and the Bee" effectively blends entertainment with important social commentary about determination and the significance of education.

This combination has solidified the film's reputation as a beloved and influential work within the genre of teacher and student-centric movies.

A Beautiful Mind is a powerful biographical drama that chronicles the extraordinary life, challenges, and achievements of renowned mathematician John Nash.

Inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s 1998 biography, the film follows Nash's journey from earning a scholarship to Princeton University to study mathematics, where his unique mathematical genius is quickly recognized.

While Nash is given opportunities to collaborate with leading minds in the field, his initial arrogance and self-confidence gradually give way to a sense of disconnection and boredom.

As an MIT professor, Nash begins to experience disturbing hallucinations, believing he is involved in top-secret work for the Pentagon and is being pursued by Soviet spies.

Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Nash endures immense personal struggles before learning to distinguish illusion from reality.

Ultimately, Nash overcomes his battles, returns to teaching at Princeton, and is honored with the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking contributions.

"To Sir, with Love" is a British drama inspired by E.R. Braithwaite's autobiographical novel. It explores themes of racial and social challenges in a tough inner-city school. Mark Thackeray, an engineer-in-training, takes a teaching job at an East End high school while seeking employment in his field.

Thackeray faces a class of unruly and undisciplined white students. As a black teacher, he must work hard to earn their respect and bring order to the classroom.

Through his firm yet respectful approach, Mr. Thackeray encourages his students to value both themselves and one another. Over time, their attitudes shift, and they come to deeply admire him.

Columbia Pictures underestimated the film's potential success in the United States. Extensive market research later revealed that Sidney Poitier's outstanding performance was key to its popularity.

"The Great Debaters" is a powerful biographical film that tells the inspiring story of the Wiley College debate team from Texas. The movie draws its inspiration from an article by Tony Scherman, originally published in American Legacy magazine.

Wiley College, located in Houston, Texas, is a historically black institution. Professor Melvin B. Tolson plays a pivotal role, dedicating himself to forming and coaching the debate team, ultimately leading them to remarkable success.

Set in the 1930s—an era marked by racial segregation and frequent acts of violence against Black Americans—the film portrays the struggles and triumphs of the team. In the movie, the Wiley College debaters defeat the reigning champions from Harvard. In reality, however, their famous victory was over the University of Southern California.

Notably, after the film wrapped, director and star Denzel Washington contributed $1 million to help reinstate the Wiley College debate team, ensuring their legacy would continue.

"Blackboard Jungle" is a powerful social drama adapted from Evan Hunter's 1954 novel of the same name. Featuring a talented ensemble cast destined for future acclaim, the film explores the challenges and rewards of teaching in a troubled New York City high school.

Richard Dadier, a former serviceman, steps into his first role as an English teacher at an inner-city school known for its unruly and hard-to-reach students. Despite warnings from his colleagues, Dadier believes in his teaching abilities and is determined to bring order to his classroom.

Encountering fierce resistance, Dadier takes a stand against disruptive behavior, nearly facing disaster. Through persistence, he distinguishes between troublemakers and those genuinely looking for guidance, ultimately winning the respect of his students.

The film is notable for its groundbreaking use of rock and roll music and its authentic cast portraying both adults and high school students, making it a memorable entry in cinematic history.

"Freedom Writers" is an inspiring biographical drama based on the 1999 book, "The Freedom Writers Diary," authored by Erin Gruwell and her students.

Written and directed by Richard LaGravenese, the film follows the story of Erin Gruwell, a determined English teacher who strives to connect with her students at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.

Once a well-regarded institution, the school struggled with rising tensions and division after forced integration. Gruwell took extraordinary steps, such as teaching about the Holocaust, to overcome racial disparities and foster unity among her diverse students.

Adding authenticity, the film features appearances by actual Holocaust survivors who share their powerful stories with the class.

Finding Forrester is a drama directed by Gus Van Sant with a story from Mike Rich. The story is about an aging author, who is living life as a recluse with only a young black writer for the company.

Jamal Wallace is a young black kid who grew up in an underprivileged neighborhood. Yet, he manages to earn a prestigious scholarship for a literature course.

While he is playing ball with his friends, Wallace meets the reclusive author Forrester who is living in isolation.

They both become friends, and Forrester agrees to mentor him. However, Wallace’s professor at school does not take kindly to the rapid progress in his work and suspects foul play.

The role of Sean Connery was rumored to be based on the life of J. D. Salinger, who was a famous recluse.

Mr. Holland’s Opus is an inspiring tale of a young musician and composer who takes up a job as a music teacher so that his family does not suffer till he succeeds as a composer.

The film was nominated for multiple awards for screenplay and acting at the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Mr. Holland becomes a music teacher and plans to compose music in his spare time. However, as he starts to teach, he gets more involved in teaching and his students.

His own dream of composing takes a backseat while prioritizing his students. Unfortunately, budget cuts cause the school music program to be discontinued, and he loses his job.

On the last day, he recognizes the impact he has on his students. In the film, all the deaf characters are played by deaf actors.

The History Boys is a comedy film inspired by a British play. The play won an Olivier award in 2005 and a Tony Award in 2006 when it was presented on the West End and Broadway.

The original director of the play was hired to direct the film along with the cast. The film tells us about a batch of gifted high school students who have the capacity to enter any of the topmost and most prestigious institutes in the country.

Yet, they seem to lack the needed motivation. Despite the best teachers, the students refuse to improve, so the principal brings in an unconventional teacher to fill the creative gap, and this helps both the students and the teaching staff.

The Chorus is a French film based on another film titled A Cage of Nightingales. The Chorus was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The story starts with two men reading the diary of their old music teacher who had taught them through their most difficult years.

In the diary, the two ex-students read about how their behavior was viewed by the teacher who decided to reform them using music as a tool and the risks he took to ensure they were cared for.

The lead actor Gérard Jugnot also financed the film by mortgaging his apartment in Paris. As the film was a huge success, he earned back his investment and some extra.

Lean on Me is a biographical film about an unconventional teacher who is brought in to handle a dire situation.

The movie is the story of Joe Louis Clark, whose radical measures have often put him in conflict with the administration but achieved success.

Eastside High School was once a good and well-performing school, but the recent years have degraded the quality of students due to drug abuse, gang wars, and indiscipline.

Joe Louis Clark is brought in to rescue the school after the state administration threatens the school’s future for not achieving basic skills scores.

Clark implements several controversial changes that infuriate the administration, parents as well as teaching staff. In real-life, Clark was suspended from school after this film was released.

He later managed a juvenile detention center using the same radical decisions.

Remember the Titans is a biographical film about an African-American football coach who comes to coach a team. The twist in the plot is that the team is an integrated team of black and white kids, and this team was created as part of the newly implemented policy of desegregation.

In the movie the coaches employ a blend of discipline, teamwork, and cultural understanding to transform a racially divided high school football team into a unified force. Coach Herman Boone, a stern and demanding leader, instils discipline through rigorous training and strict rules, emphasising the importance of personal accountability and collective effort. 

He challenges the players' racial prejudices by forcing them to interact and respect each other, fostering a sense of unity that transcends racial divisions. The coach not only teaches them lessons that help on the team, but also in life.

In the film Coach Carter (2005), Coach Ken Carter employs a transformative approach to coaching, emphasising academic achievement as the foundation for success, both on and off the basketball court. He instils discipline and accountability in his players by implementing a strict academic contract, requiring them to maintain a minimum GPA and attend all classes. 

This unwavering commitment to academics challenges the players' perceptions of their priorities, emphasising the importance of education for their future success. Carter also fosters a culture of teamwork and respect, requiring his players to address each other as "sir" and demonstrating respect for their teachers and coaches. 

He believes that these values extend beyond the basketball court, shaping their character and preparing them for life beyond high school. 

The Man Who Knew Infinity is a biographical tale about the life of the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. The film is based on the biography of the same name by Robert Kanigel.

The film takes a look at the brilliant and gifted mathematician Ramanujan who is selected to study at the prestigious institute of Cambridge.

The film chronicles his struggle with cultural change and his relationship with his mentor G. H. Hardy. He lives under dismal conditions, which leads to his poor health and his untimely death.

Most of the dialogue of G. H. Hardy in the monologue and in his eulogy was used from the writings of Hardy himself.

They were his own words and thoughts.

Detachment is a film about the work and struggles of a substitute teacher. It is based on a story by Carl Lund and stars Oscar winners Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Bryan Cranston, Lucy Liu, etc.

Henry Barthes is a gifted teacher who can make instant emotional connections with his students. Yet, he avoids any emotional bonds by working as a substitute teacher.

At his latest job, he meets with a challenge where the teachers and the students are burdened by a failing school system.

Only Barthes can bond with them and heal them. Through this, he also learns to heal himself and find love.

Phoebe in Wonderland is a drama written and directed by Daniel Barnz. The script was ready for many years before it was picked up by producers.

It is a story about the struggles of a child who cannot understand the logic and reasoning of the world around her.

Phoebe Lichten is a nine-year-old, who has trouble with bullies, rules, and social interaction. While at home, Phoebe and her sister are free to express themselves, her school life is the opposite.

It is discovered that she suffers from Tourette Syndrome and severe OCD. Finally, her drama teacher is able to get through to Phoebe and help her.

The reviews of the film were mixed, and the cast and performances were praised but the direction was not on par.

Music of the Heart is an inspirational biography made by Wes Craven. The film is a biography based on a documentary film about the work of Roberta Guaspari.

Roberta Guaspari is a recent divorcee with two sons, and in a bid to restart her life, she takes up the job as a replacement violin teacher.

Despite her lack of teaching experience, with sheer hard work and dedication, Guaspari encourages her students and their parents to learn violin.

As her work is bearing fruit, the funding for music studies is canceled so she has to fight the system to continue the program and show its benefits.

This is the only Wes Craven movie that deviates from the horror or thriller genre and is his only movie to get Oscar nominations.

Like Stars on Earth is a Hindi drama film titled Taare Zameen Par. The film was made by Aamir Khan based on a script from Amole Gupte.

It received critical and commercial success in India. Ishaan is an artistically gifted child who has trouble with his education.

Disappointed with his inability to improve his grades, Ishaan’s parents send him to a boarding school. This further causes anxiety and depression.

A new art teacher comes to the boarding school and identifies Ishaan's problem. He helps him overcome his learning disability using art.

Eventually, Ishaan’s grades and his mental health improve. All the artwork made by Ishaan in the film was the work of the creative director and writer Amole Gupte’s works.

The Browning Version is a British drama based on the play of the same name by Terence Rattigan. The play was written in 1948, and the remake of the film was made in 1994.

The movie starts with news of Andrew Crocker-Harris resigning his post as the classics teacher at an English public school.

He is in failing health, his wife is unfaithful to him, and his students are not particularly attached to him either.

The staff also treats him badly because of the stern and strict nature of Mr. Crocker-Harris. As he contemplates his life and what he achieved till now, Crocker-Harris feels depressed.

But one of his students gives him a parting gift that opens his eyes to a new perspective and chance at redemption.

The original play by Terence Rattigan ended with a gift from the student. However, for the movie, he extended the screenplay to include a farewell speech that shows his reformed attitude.

The Emperor’s Club is a film about a Classics professor’s strength of character and his teachings that inspire future emperors.

The movie is based on the short story The Palace Thief by Ethan Canin. Mr. Hundert is a professor at a prestigious prep school for boys.

He is an honorable man with high ideals and integrity. One of his students, the son of a US Senator, is a difficult student.

Mr. Hundert invests his time and effort to change and teach the child some character, but it is all for naught as he remains an incorrigible cheater.

The character of Mr. Hundert was modeled after a classical history teacher, Robert Nowe, who taught at the Town School for Boys in San Francisco.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips is an acclaimed drama based on the novella of the same name by James Hilton. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and it won the Best Actor award for Robert Donat.

Mr. Chipping entered Brookefield public school as a Latin teacher at the young age of 25 years. In his initial years, he was a strict disciplinarian, highly respected but not loved.

On a chance encounter while holidaying in Austria, he meets with Kathy Ellis and falls in love with her warm, cheery, and kind personality.

She changes him into a loving teacher, who is remembered by generations of students until his retirement and ultimately his death.

This classical story was a huge success at the start of the war, but its story takes place between 1870 and 1933.

The Ron Clark Story is a television movie that depicts the work of real-life educator Ron Clark. The film was released directly on television and aired on the TNT channel.

It stars Matthew Perry as Ron Clark, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work. Ron Clark is a well-respected teacher in his hometown in North Carolina.

His elementary school job is fulfilling as his students and fellow staff love and respect his work. However, Clark feels that his effort is more needed in the rough inner-city schools in New York, and he moves there.

Initially, Clark has to make a lot of effort to connect with his students and gain their trust. His efforts were often canceled out by outside influences but he persevered.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a British drama based on the novel of the same name by Muriel Spark.

The film was first adapted as a play where Dame Vanessa Redgrave played Miss Brodie. However, in the film version, the character was played by Dame Maggie Smith.

Miss Jean Brodie is an eccentric schoolteacher with an agenda of her own. She teaches middle school students about life, love, politics, etc., topics that are far from the curriculum.

The views are fascist and stubborn. She continues on her path until one of her students rebels and calls her out on her teachings that inadvertently led to the death of one of their friends.

The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival. It was also nominated at the Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Actress, winning the latter.

Pay It Forward is a drama loosely based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

The film received mixed reviews for its concept of kicking off a social revolution from a school project. Trevor McKinney is a sweet and conscientious 11-year-old.

His new social studies teacher gives the class a project to start a small social gesture that will create a big impact on society.

For this project, McKinney thinks of the concept of ‘Pay it forward.' Instead of paying back for any kindness or help, he suggests that we help three strangers and ask them to do more kind deeds.

During the filming of the movie, Haley Joel Osment, who plays Trevor, celebrated his birthday on the same day as his character in the film.

Dangerous Minds is a drama based on the autobiography of retired U. S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who wrote My Posse Don't Do Homework.

The film stars Michelle Pfieffer as the retired marine Johnson. Johnson is offered the job as an English teacher at a high school in a tough multiracial high school.

The place is fraught with gang wars, teenagers from low-income families, drug pushing, etc. The teacher changes the attitude of the students with a caring hand and her teaching that suits their attitude.

Michelle Pfeiffer was pregnant while filming the movie, so through most of the movie, she is shown in bulky clothing or carrying large objects that hide her physique.

Mona Lisa Smile is a film set in the 1950s at Wellesley College. The film is about a professor who encourages her students, for the first time, to be independent of inane social boundaries.

However, this ruse fell apart when the alumna of Wellesley claimed historic inaccuracy. Katherine Ann Watson is an art history professor who takes up the post at Wellesley College, hoping to shape future women.

However, at the college, she sees that it is nothing more than a finishing school that encourages women to be good housewives.

As her teachings do not align with the social norms of the day, Prof. Watson faces backlash from the college board and the student body.

Yet, she perseveres and manages to change the mindset of her batch.

The Wave is a German film, Die Welle, based on the socio-political experiment described in the novel of the same name by Todd Strasser and Ron Jones' social experiment, The Third Wave.

The film was considered a success in Germany after 2.3 million watched the film in the first ten weeks.

Rainer Wenger is a history teacher who believes and espouses the ideology of anarchy over autocracy. However, in his class, he is required to teach his students the concept of autocracy.

So, as an experiment, he starts to condition his students to follow certain rules that lead up to fascist thinking.

The experiment garners a life of its own and leads to disastrous outcomes. The creator of the experiment, Ron Jones, praised the movie as being much closer to the experiment.

Song for a Raggy Boy is an Irish drama based on true events as recounted in the book of the same name by Patrick Galvin.

The film received some positive and some negative reviews that called the story formulaic. The story is set in 1939 when the reformatory school for boys is run like a prison camp by the head, Brother John.

He doles out cruel and sadistic punishments for any or every misstep. A new teacher joins the school and tries to help the students.

The church continually ignores the behavior of its members, but when a student is beaten to death, matters come to the fore.

Conrack is an autobiographical tale about the experiences of a young school teacher, Paul Conroy, at the isolated Daufuskie Island.

The film cast had a twenty-year reunion where Jon Voight was happy and surprised to learn that three of the actors became teachers in real-life.

Paul Conroy was born and brought up in South Carolina and became a teacher there. He was assigned to teach at an isolated and backward school on Daufuskie Island.

Conroy is shocked to learn about the level of backwardness of the black community on the island. They are unaware of basic language skills or any modern comforts like TV, music, sports, etc.

Conroy goes against the school administration to teach his students basic skills like brushing their teeth, personal hygiene, movies, baseball, swimming, etc.

The Blackboard is an Iranian film shot entirely in Kurdish. It was co-written and directed by Samira Makhmalbaf and Mohsen Makhmalbaf.

The movie is an international production between Iran, Italy, and Japan. The film follows the situation during the Iran-Iraq war when Saddam Hussein used chemical bombs.

Many Kurdish people were displaced and became homeless. They were trying to escape the armies, bombing, and in this melee, there were teachers with blackboards on their backs who tried to continue teaching children while on the run.

It is a poignant look at the realities of war and the continuation of life.

School of Life is a TV movie about the life of a teacher and how he impacts his class.

The film is a comedy-drama starring Ryan Reynolds and David Paymer as two feuding teachers. The movie was met with good and positive reviews from most critics.

Mr. Warner is a biology teacher who needs to keep his father’s record of 23 consecutive teachers of the year awards alive.

However, he is not up to the task, and to make matters worse, he has competition from a young and seemingly perfect replacement teacher.

This new teacher makes all the teachers, students, and the principal see the best in them. In the end, who wins and what they win is the best part of the movie.

The Corn Is Green is an American drama based on a play of the same name by Emlyn Williams.

The film is set in the Welsh coal mining region in 1895, when miners' lives were hard, unsafe, and riddled with illiteracy, poverty, and hardships.

L. C. Moffatt is an Englishwoman who dreams of bringing education to poor coal miners. Despite stiff opposition from the town squire and the villagers themselves, Moffatt manages to encourage a bully, Morgan, into taking up education.

Morgan turns out to be a bright prodigy, and his success could encourage other children to study. All of Moffatt’s hard work is payback when Morgan wins a scholarship to Oxford University.

The story is about the relationship between Emlyn Williams and his schoolmistress Miss Cooke.

Front of the Class is a true story of the work of Brad Cohen, a teacher and motivational speaker who suffers from Tourette Syndrome.

The film is based on the book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had by Cohen and Lisa Wysocky.

The film starts with Brad Cohen as a 12-year-old student who is often singled out by teachers for being disruptive.

His mother, Ellen, researches extensively and discovers that Brad Cohen suffers from Tourette Syndrome and takes him to a support group.

Luckily, at school, the principal is understanding and supportive of Cohen’s situation. This encourages him to become a teacher and help others like him.

The ending epilogue of the film shows the real Brad Cohen teaching in school and also earning his Master's degree.