Sometime in 2016, I came up with the idea to do a Best Teaching Movie Page.  Since I work at a school, I figured I would do two pages.  One would be the standard UltimateMovieRankings.com page that would be the best statistical Teaching Movies using box office grosses, reviews and award recognition as the criteria for the rankings.

The second page would be a survey/vote/poll of what actual teachers thought were the best Teaching Movies.  That was the plan.  I started collecting data almost 15 months ago.  I would ask the teachers….”What is the best Teaching Movie?”  Any movie they named, I wrote down regardless of the order of preference they named. 

In the end, I collected 74 different movies that got 1,449 votes.   Clearly there are more than 74 teaching movies…this is just the Teaching Movies that they named.  So what follows is a countdown to their Top Teaching Movie.   Some of the movies have “quotes” by teachers that are paraphrased by me.  I apologize in advance if I did not properly articulate some of these quotes.  I wish now I had written down those thoughts.  To see the sister site of this one….check out Best Teaching Movies Statistically.

Teaching Movies Receiving One Vote

Matilda (1996) Plot Summary –  Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.  M. Eason thoughts: – “This might be an unusual pick…. but I love Matilda….Matilda is so sweet…and that principal!”

World’s Greatest Dad (2009) Plot Summary – When his (Robin Williams) son’s body is found in a humiliating accident, a lonely high school teacher inadvertently attracts an overwhelming amount of community and media attention after covering up the truth with a phony suicide note.   Our thoughts: – One of four Williams’ movies to make list….don’t worry; not many people have heard of this movie either.

The Graduate (1967) Plot Summary – A disillusioned college graduate (Dustin Hoffman) is taught the ways of the real world by his girlfriend’s mother (Anne Bancroft).  J. Ewart thoughts: – “One of the biggest box office hits of all-time. Bancroft does teach Dusty some great lessons.”

The Gambler (1974) Plot Summary – Axel Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, then his mother, and finally talks one of his students into throwing a basketball game. Our thoughts: – One of James Caan’s best performances.

Gross Anatomy  (1989) Plot Summary – A smart first-year med student takes nothing seriously, except the pursuit of his Gross Anatomy (human dissection) lab partner. Our thoughts: – I own this on DVD….it has been sitting unopened and unwatched for years.

To Be and To Have (2002) Plot Summary – A documentary portrait of a one-room school in rural France, where the students (ranging in age from 4 to 11) are educated by a single dedicated teacher. Ryan T. thoughts: –  “This is an amazing movie….the teacher, Mr. Lopez, is awesome and my personal role model.”

Take The Lead (2002) Plot Summary – The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids. Jeffrey M. thoughts: – “Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine, teaching the kids in detention, in a room in the school’s basement, how to dance!.”

Entre Les Murs/The Class (2008) Plot Summary – Teacher and novelist François Bégaudeau plays a version of himself as he negotiates a year with his racially mixed students from a tough Parisian neighborhood. Kendall B. thoughts: – “The main character (the teacher) isn’t perfect, he makes some serious mistakes, but it’s still a good watch.”

Teaching Movies Receiving Two Votes

Conrack  (1974) Plot Summary – A teacher is assigned to an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina populated mostly by poor families. He finds that the basically illiterate, neglected children there know so little of the world outside their island that they have virtually developed their own language, and, in fact, don’t have much interest in learning about anything outside the island. Our thoughts: – One of Jon Voight’s best roles.

The Song Of Bernadette  (1943) Plot Summary – In 1858 France, Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl, has a vision of “a beautiful lady” in the city dump. She never claims it to be anything other than this, but the townspeople all assume it to be the Virgin Mary. Elizabeth Rohr’s thoughts: – “Jennifer Jones won the Oscar® but Gladys Cooper as Bernadette’s envious teacher is what I remember the most”.   Elizabeth Rohr was a school teacher from the late 1930s to the 1970s….and was my grandmother.

Detachment (2011) Plot Summary – A substitute teacher who drifts from classroom to classroom finds a connection to the students and teachers during his latest assignment. Our thoughts: – Got great reviews but I did not like the movie.

The Cider House Rules (1999) Plot Summary – A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.   Erin Hughes thoughts: – “Loved Cider House Rules.” – no complaints here…. anytime somebody likes a Michael Caine movie…I am a happy camper.

Up The Down Staircase (1967) Plot Summary – The experiences of a young female English teacher in an inner-city New York high school. Our thoughts: – I admit it….I know nothing about this movie.

The Substitute (1996) Plot Summary –  An ex- CIA/Marine becomes a substitute teacher to track down a gang that is terrorizing his friends and family.  Our thoughts: – Been years since I have seen this one.

Teaching Movies Receiving Three Votes

A Beautiful Mind (2001) Plot Summary – John Nash (Russell Crowe), a brilliant but asocial mathematician, accepts secret work in cryptography, and his life takes a turn for the nightmarish. Our thoughts: – Won the Best Picture Oscar®.

Billy Madison (1995) Plot Summary – In order to inherit his fed up father’s hotel empire, an immature and lazy man (Billy Madison) must repeat grades 1-12 all over again. S. Underwood thoughts: – “…..and there is always Billy Madison!” 

Chalk (2006) Plot Summary – An improvisational take on the high school experience, told from the educators’ point-of-view.  L. Hancock thoughts: – “The Office of teaching movies”

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) Plot Summary – A headstrong young teacher in a private school in 1930s Edinburgh ignores the curriculum and influences her impressionable 12-year-old charges with her over-romanticized world view. Our thoughts: Maggie Smith won the Best Actress Oscar® for her role as the teacher.

Teaching Movies Receiving Four Votes

The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) Plot Summary – The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), and his friendship with his teacher, Professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons).   Our thoughts: – Good but more than a little depressing.

Major Payne (1995) Plot Summary – A recently discharged Major finds himself teaching a group of mismatched Cadets. Our thoughts: –  A surprise addition….this was first mentioned by a married couple (Jeff R. & Amber R.) at my school and then it managed to pick up two more votes.

Teaching Movies Receiving Five Votes

Goodbye, Mr. Chips  (1969) Plot Summary – A shy, withdrawn English schoolteacher (Peter O’Toole) falls for a flashy showgirl. Our thoughts: – O’Toole received a Best Actor Oscar® nomination for this one.

Spare Parts  (2015) Plot Summary – Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club. With no experience, $800, used car parts, and a dream, this ragtag team goes up against the country’s reigning robotics champion, MIT.  Our thoughts: – Based on a true story.  This is a wonderful movie that did not reach theaters in North America.

Light It Up  (1999) Plot Summary – A group of teens is bent on improving the run-down conditions of their high-school. Our thoughts: – Judd “Breakfast Club’s John Bender” Nelson plays a teacher in this one.

Heaven Help Us  (1985) Plot Summary – A new transfer student to St. Basil’s Boys’ Prep School tries to fit in while romantically pursuing a troubled young girl. Jennifer L. thoughts: – “Donald Sutherland and John Heard play some really cool teachers in this one.”

The Rookie  (2002) Plot Summary – A Texas high school science teacher makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.  Our thoughts: – Based on a true story. The dream most teachers have….at least it came true once!

Rushmore (1998) Plot Summary – The extracurricular king of Rushmore preparatory school is put on academic probation. Our thoughts: – Quirky movie, but a scene stealing Bill Murray makes this a must watch.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012) Plot Summary – An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. Our thoughts: – I guess Paul Rudd’s teacher registered with teachers.

Teaching Movies Receiving Six Votes

The Faculty  (1998) Plot Summary – Students suspect that their teachers are aliens after bizarre occurrences.   Our thoughts: – Love the tagline….”Think your teachers are aliens? You could be right.”

Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999) Plot Summary – The story of a girl who is willing to do anything to become Valedictorian, even if it means murdering the teacher that stands in her way. Our thoughts: – Helen Mirren is a blast to watch as Mrs. Tingle.

Gifted (2017) Plot Summary – Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother.  K. Gilchrist thoughts: – “Loved Gifted. It’s an amazing movie!”  I have been asking teachers…”What is the best teaching movie?” for almost 15 months……as far as I know, the only time I forgot that I had already asked a teacher the question was when I asked K Gilchrist for the second time.  Not too bad for multiple schools and the hundreds of teachers I talked to.

Easy A (2010) Plot Summary – A clean-cut high school student relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. Our thoughts: – A fun movie.  And it stars now-Oscar® winning-actress Emma Stone.

Sky High (2005) Plot Summary –  The son of the Commander and Jetstream tries to find a balance between being a normal teenager and an extraordinary being while attending high school. George Vandross thoughts: –  “School and superheroes! What more could you want? Kurt Russell’s returned to a Disney movie after 30 years”.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) Plot Summary – Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Our thoughts: – OK…the Harry Potter movies were mentioned 6 times…and all 8 movies were mentioned together…so we picked the first Harry movie to represent all the HP movies.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016) Plot Summary – High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.  Kimberly A. thoughts: –  “Woody Harrelson’s Mr. Bruner is the teacher all students should be lucky enough to have.”

Teaching Movies Receiving Seven Votes

The Man Without A Face  (1993) Plot Summary – Chuck wants to leave home, but can’t make the grade for boarding school. Then he finds out the disfigured recluse living nearby, is an ex-teacher. Our thoughts: – Mel Gibson’s directorial debut.

Fist Fight  (2017) Plot Summary – When one school teacher unwittingly causes another teacher’s dismissal, he is challenged to an after-school fight. Our thoughts: – This movie did not even exist when I started collecting this data.

Teaching Movies Receiving Eight Votes

Patch Adams (1998) Plot Summary – The true story of a heroic man, Hunter Patch Adams, determined to become a medical doctor because he enjoys helping people. He ventured where no doctor had ventured before, using humor and pathos.   Our thoughts: Numerous times this movie was described as…..”the one with Robin Williams and the red nose”.

The Principal (1999) Plot Summary – A teacher is assigned to be the principal of a violent and crime-ridden high school. Our thoughts: – Typical conversation when this movie was mentioned.  Teacher – “The one with the principal and the bat”.  Me – “Lean on Me?”  Teacher -“Not that one….the one with Louis Gossett, Jr. and Belushi.”

The Breakfast Club (1985) Plot Summary – Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought. Our thoughts: – One of our all-time favorite movies!  Now that I am older and wiser, I now associate myself with the late Paul Gleason, who played the vice-principal.

Educating Rita  (1983) Plot Summary – A young wife decides to complete her education and take her exams. She meets a professor (Michael Caine) who teaches her to value her own insights while still being able to beat the exams.  Our thoughts: – Caine got an Oscar® nomination for the role.  Caine has said that this is his finest performance.  I actually work with a Michael Caine….and he surprisingly did not pick this movie.

Teaching Movies Receiving Nine Votes

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) Plot Summary – An aged teacher and former headmaster of a boarding school recalls his career and his personal life over the decades. M. Stephens thoughts:  “I love black and white movies….so I will have to go with Goodbye, Mr. Chips.”  After a slow start, this movie really starting picking up some votes near the end of our survey.

Precious  (1999) Plot Summary – In New York City’s Harlem circa 1987, an overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. Our thoughts: – Not a happy movie at all…but the performances are stellar….and the teachers are awesome in this one.

October Sky (1985) Plot Summary – The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes. Caitlyn S. thoughts: –  “A wonderful story….and it is a true story….even now when I think of Miss Riley….I start to tear up.  Talk about a teacher making a difference!”

Teaching Movies Receiving Ten Votes

The Miracle Worker  (1962) Plot Summary – The story of Anne Sullivan’s struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate. Our thoughts:  The only movie in which the teacher (Anne Bancroft) and the student (Patty Duke) won Oscars®.

Half Nelson  (2006) Plot Summary – An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret. Anonymous thoughts: – “I am so in love with Ryan Gosling!  Him playing a teacher only made the movie better.  I was so rooting for him to win the Oscar® for this movie.”

Blackboard Jungle (1955) Plot Summary –A new English teacher at a violent, unruly inner-city school is determined to do his job, despite resistance from both students and faculty. Our thoughts: – One of two Sidney Poitier movies on the list.  In this one he was a student…..in the movie further up the rankings he was a teacher.

Renaissance Man (1994) Plot Summary – A failed businessman is hired by the army to teach a group of underachieving recruits in order to help them pass basic training. Tony C. thoughts – “….very moving because enjoying works of art, lets us enjoy our time on Earth”.   Sorry, Tony….if I did not quote you 100% correct.

Teaching Movies Receiving Twelve Votes

Summer School (1962) Plot Summary – A high-school gym teacher has big plans for the summer but is forced to cancel them to teach a “bonehead” English class for misfit goof-off students. Our thoughts: Remember when Mark Harmon was a movie star and not a television star?

Hoosiers (1986) Plot Summary –  A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small-town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the championship. Michael W. thoughts – “Yes it is more of a sports movie,  Hackman is hired to be a coach AND a teacher.  Any time Hoosiers is included on a list, that list just got better.”

Monsters University  (2013) Plot Summary – A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University — when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends. Our thoughts: – The only computer-animated movie on the list.

Teaching Movies Receiving 13, 15 & 16 Votes

To Sir, With Love (1967) 13 Votes.  Plot Summary – Idealistic engineer-trainee and his experiences in teaching a group of rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London’s East End. Vandross thoughts:  Me – “To Sir, With Love is rarely getting mentioned in the teacher survey.” Vandross – “WHAT! How can that be?….that is a great movie….that makes no sense at all.” Julia H. thoughts:  ” I think To Sir, With Love is one of the best. It is about teaching graduating students life skills, cooking, appreciation for art, and more about accepting diversity. Timeless movie.” Alan Stell thoughts:  “This is a great classic movie.  Sidney Poiter is at the top of his game in this one.”

Kindergarten Cop  (1990) 15 Votes. Plot Summary – A tough cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to locate a dangerous criminal’s ex-wife, who may hold the key to putting him behind bars. Karl Uebersohn thoughts – “Arnold and kindergarten…. fun movie……but way too violent for a kid’s movie”.

The Emperor’s Club (2002) 16 Votes.  Plot Summary – An idealistic prep school teacher attempts to redeem an incorrigible student. Our thoughts: – Kevin Kline is outstanding as the teacher.

Teaching Movies Receiving 18, 19 & 21 Votes

Teachers  (1984) 18 Votes. Plot Summary – A well meaning but burned-out high school teacher tries to maintain order against the backdrop of a pending lawsuit against his school district when it comes to light they gave a diploma to an illiterate student. C. Embler thoughts:  “It is a really old movie, but I really liked Teachers.   The way the movie was set up was very memorable.”

McFarland USA (2015) 19 Votes. Plot Summary – Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach to a new school. He becomes a cross-country coach and helps seven students with no hope, turn into one of the best cross-country teams in the nation. Our thoughts – Yet another quality sports movie on Kevin Costner’s movie resume.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (2002) 21 Votes. Plot Summary – Showgirl Deloris Van Cartier returns as Sister Mary Clarence to teach music to a group of Catholic students whose run-down school is slated for closure.   Our thoughts: – I was shocked how many times people picked this movie….I have not even seen it.

TOP 20 FAVORITE TEACHERS’ TEACHING MOVIES

20th Place – Mean Girls (1984) 24 Votes. Plot Summary – Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Our thoughts:  I was shocked how often this movie got picked.  I do not even remember the teachers in this one…..but 24 votes is good enough for 20th place.

19th Place – Finding Forrester (2000) 25 Votes. Plot Summary – A young writing prodigy finds a mentor in a reclusive author. Our thoughts – Did you know this was Sean Connery’s second to last movie appearance that he made?  Well, it was.  It has been almost 20 years since his last movie.

18th Place – Remember The Titans (2002) 28 Votes. Plot Summary – The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. Our thoughts: – The first of two Denzel Washington movies to make the list.  Look for a very young Ryan Gosling in this one.

17th Place – Music of the Heart (1999) 30 Votes.  Plot Summary – Story of a schoolteacher’s struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids. A. Glasco thoughts:  “Gotta go with Music of the Heart….I just love that movie”….and yes she is a music teacher.

16th Place – Coach Carter (2006) 31 Votes. Plot Summary – Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him. Our thoughts: – Really surprised that Coach Carter topped Hoosiers and Remember the Titans…I did not see that coming.  Look for a young Channing Tatum in this one.

15th Place – Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)  35 Votes. Plot Summary –A group of Southern California high school students are enjoying their most important subjects: sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. Craig Daniel thoughts: – “How can you not go with Fast Times?……Pizza, Mr. Hand and  Jeff Spicoli.”

14th Place The Karate Kid (1984) 37 Votes. Plot Summary – A martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager.  Our thoughts – Wax on…wax off.  Not your typical teaching movie…..but Mr. Miyagi certainly taught young Daniel lots of stuff.

13th Place – The Ron Clark Story (2006) 38 Votes. Plot Summary – A small-town teacher relocates to one of the toughest classrooms in the country.  Deana Edwards thoughts: – “love this movie….it is so well done…. Matthew Perry is great in movie”.  The only made for TV movie on the list.

12th Place – The Great Debaters (2007) 40 Votes. Plot Summary –A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school’s first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Wendy Chatman thoughts: – “Denzel has two great teaching movies….but I like this one more than Remember the Titans.”

11th Place – Pay It Forward  (2000) 41 Votes. Plot Summary – A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance.  Jodi Howell thoughts – ” I don’t watch many movies, but Pay It Forward is one that I really liked.”

TOP 10 FAVORITE TEACHERS’ TEACHING MOVIES

10th Place – Dangerous Minds (1995) 44 Votes. Plot Summary – An ex-Marine turned teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner-city school. Our thoughts: – Rarely was Dangerous Minds listed as someone’s favorite…but whenever somebody started listing other favorite teaching movies…this one got lots of shout outs.  Though many times it was referred to as “that Michelle Pfeiffer marine teaching movie.”

9th Place – Mona Lisa Smile  (2003) 48 Votes. Plot Summary –A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles. Our thoughts: – WoC (Wife of Cogerson) is a huge fan of Julia Roberts…not thinking she has watched this one a second time….but she is not a teacher.

8th Place – Bad Teacher (2011) 51 Votes. Plot Summary – A lazy, incompetent middle school teacher who hates her job, her students, and her co-workers is forced to return to teaching to make enough money for breast implants after her wealthy fiancé dumps her. Our thoughts – When we started this project last year….Bad Teacher was easily the movie that got the most votes….which is probably why we stopped the project.   Not many comedies about teaching…..so this one gets lots of votes.

7th Place – School of Rock (2003) 52 Votes. Plot Summary – After being kicked out of a rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of a strict elementary private school, only to try and turn it into a rock band. Our thoughts – How can this movie already be 15 years old?

6th Place – Good Will Hunting (1997) 66 Votes. Plot Summary – Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at M.I.T., has a gift for mathematics but needs help from a psychologist (Robin Williams) to find direction in his life. Jessica E. thoughts: –  “You realize that Robin  was Damon’s psychologist and not his teacher in Good Will Hunting?”  This was after I, the supposed movie guy, told her, that this was one of three times Robin played a teacher in a movie.  Sadly, I have been telling people that error for the last 18 months.  Maybe it is time to see that movie again.

5th Place – Dead Poets Society (1989) 75 Votes. Plot Summary – English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) inspires his students to look at poetry with a different perspective of authentic knowledge and feelings. Melanie D. thoughts -“One year, I got permission to show this movie to one of my 8th-grade classes.  They loved the movie and called me O Captain my Captain, the rest of the year.”

4th Place – Lean On Me (1989) 82 Votes. Plot Summary – The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school and he is determined to improve by any and all means. Our thoughts: – This Morgan Freeman movie was actually looking like a challenger for the Top Spot…..but it faded as we got close to the finish line.

3th Place – Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) 101 Votes. Plot Summary – A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher. Kambar K. thoughts: – “I have actually used scenes from that movie to help teach.  There are so many great examples of how to use different teaching approaches.”

2nd Place – Freedom Writers  (2007) 112 Votes. Plot Summary – A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. B. Wasenius thoughts: – “My favorite teaching movies are Mr. Holland’s Opus, Freedom Writers and Stand and Deliver.”  Wow! That turned out to be the Top 3 movies in our poll/vote/survey.  I could have saved a lot of time and effort if I had known B. Wasenius had the answer the entire time.

1st Place – Stand and Deliver (1988) 126 Votes. Plot Summary – The story of Jaime Escalante, a high school teacher who successfully inspired his dropout prone students to learn calculus. Our thoughts: –  Not only was this movie named the most, it was normally named first.  The adjectives used to describe this movie were sensational.  One of the disadvantages of our voting system is that it was not weighted to take into account the teacher’s preference.  If it had been weighted….then Stand and Deliver would have doubled the 2nd place movie, Freedom Writers. 

Thank you, teachers, everywhere!  Lots and lots of teachers were nice enough to spare a few minutes to talk to me about movies:  Special thanks to:  Kimberly A., Katie A, Jennifer B., Kendall B., Ali B., Ginny C., Sherri C., Cameron C., Michael C., John C., Wendy C., Amy D., Craig D., Dave G., Melanie D., Shay D., Chip E., Deana E., Susan E., Mallory E., Jessica E., Jeanette F., Kristy G., Alice G., David G., Anita G., Philena H., Natonda H., Lisa H.,  Jodi H., Erin H., Julia H., Justin S., Katie J., Kambar K., Kyle C., Isabel K., Jennifer L, Sharon M., Alan S., LaJeanne M., Karen O., Beth P., Elizabeth Rohr, Amber R., Jeff R., Claire R., Parnell S., Richard S., Caitlyn S., M. Stephens, Tammy S., Ryan T., Kimberly T., Linda T., Shane U., Richard W., George V. –   I get the privilege of working with most of these teachers everyday.