Bet you never thought exams and homework could be funny, let alone cool, did you? Here we come to shatter your illusions. Not only can these films be fun and cool, but they can also be inspiring and motivating. Just think about:

  • Good Will Hunting: a genius prison parolee solves complex maths problems while working as a janitor at MIT
  • The Great Debaters: the debate coach of a historically Black college levels the playing field
  • 3 Idiots: free-thinking experimentation butts heads with classical education norms
  • The Theory of Everything: if you've a mind, you can achieve anything, even when your body doesn't cooperate
  • The Pursuit of Happyness: one major exam will make or break a life
  • Half Nelson proves that teachers are people, too
  • Precious: an abused inner city school student discovers kindness for the first time (warning: you'll need a strong stomach for this one)

But wait a minute: aren't you in school all day? So why would you want to come home and watch a film about school and learning? That, you'll have to find out for yourself. We now count some of the greatest teaching and learning moments in film history. Funny or insightful, they'll give you a whole new definition of homework. But then again, what is homework if not a part of learning?

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Focus on Students and School

What makes a film satisfying? That's subjective, of course. What you like might not thrill others and those movies you'd have no problem watching again and again... Well, they might just bore your mates silly.

Some of our fav films revolve around silly mistakes that turn into stunning wins. Others draw on some of our most painful moments - getting bullied, feeling isolated and alone. And then, there are those that depict some of the more absurd aspects of school today. Whatever your tastes, here are some of the best films that talk about students' triumph over school.

A wrong way sign topped by an amber flashing light on a deserted street on a sunny day.
Many films in this genre revolve around coming back from making silly mistakes. Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

The Ron Clark Story (2006)

Sickeningly upbeat rags-to-riches story starring Matthew ‘Chandler’ Perry as real-life character Ron Clark. He turned around a class of no-hopers into the (spoiler alert) best performing class in school with his charismatic teaching style. A heart-clogging cheese-fest, but worthy of a mention. 

Exam (2009)

Express √108 in the form a√3, where a is an integer…” Have you ever been flummoxed by an exam question so tough it seems carefully crafted to baffle your brain?! Well, imagine an exam paper where you have to work out the question as well as the answer. ‘Nuff said. 

The Art of Getting By (2011)

Imagine facing this choice – being expelled or doing every piece of homework for the school year in double quick time (tough choice eh?) Well, that’s what happens to George (Freddie Highmore) after he decides everything is meaningless and gives up on homework.

The Karate Kid - Both Versions

How many of us spent a large portion of our childhood waxing on, waxing off and practising the Crane?! The 1984 Karate Kid’s homework is the coolest on the planet. And it’ll wash cars.

And then, along come Jaden Smith as The Kid and Jackie Chan as the master. This 2010 remake only alludes to the previous film. In some instances, quite amusingly. But the message is the same; just not told quite as sappily as in the original.

Cheats (2002)

Four friends devise some ingenious and hilarious ways of cheating their way through high school exams in this film based on real-life cheeky chappies. Oh, the antics that ensue! You might want to mark this one down as ‘research’.

Leon (1994)

Mathilda’s rooftop homework takes the form of a sniping lesson in Luc Besson’s best film to date. It features one of the meanest-looking paintball guns known to man. Awesome. “Let’s practice – it’s the best way to learn.”

The Bad Teacher (2011)

Every despairing teacher has had days where they wish they could write what they really think. A bit of escapism here for those at the end of their tether, imagine marking homework without having to tiptoe around using flowery language like ‘tried your best’ or ‘a good effort’ – check out the scene in the first half of this trailer.

Star Wars (1977)

The geek in me couldn’t overlook Luke Skywalker’s light-sabre training in fighting techniques on board the Millennium Falcon at the hands of Obi-Wan. Who wouldn’t want a go at that? The force is strong with this homework.

School of Rock (2003)

Man, how cool would it be to get a homework assignment that rocks as much as this? Being handed a bunch of Led Zeppelin CDs and told to go home and study would really make homework worthwhile. Should be compulsory.

Monty Python, Life of Brian (1979)

One of my favourite all-time movie moments, Brian’s on-the-spot grammar lesson at the hands of the Roman Sentry is a timeless piece of cinema. “ROMANES EUNT DOMUS”.

Why not put a few of these titles on your watchlist? They'll give you something to do while you wait for your exam results. Or, if you haven't yet sat exams - if you're still in the homework and revision stage, you can give yourself a night off from your studies. Pop that popcorn and charge your earbuds. Things are about to get great!

A person wearing jeans and a grey jumper sitting with one leg tucked under themselves and picking from a wooden bowl of popcorn.
Grab your popcorn before you start watching these movies. Photo by Mc Jefferson Agloro on Unsplash

Intermission: Film Benefits

So far, we've featured 10 films that deal directly with school and learning. Further in this article, you'll find 10 more. What is it about school that makes for such great storytelling? You'll note, also, that these titles were all fairly popular, if not blockbusters. What makes them so compelling?

One reason for these titles' popularity is that school is a universal experience. No matter how old you get, you always remember your school years, particularly if something remarkable happened. Another reason is that education lies at the very heart of our survival.

We're not talking about mastering the Three Rs - reading, writing and arithmetic. Besides, that's not what these films show us. No, each and every one contains a lesson on humanity. With comedy, strength and courage, facing down challenges and succeeding against great odds... that's why we love these movies. But don't they all tell more or less the same story?

That might be true in some cases. But that rationale cannot prevail. Sure, there may be common themes and elements but they're all presented differently. Strangely, most of these movies don't feature students supporting one another. Usually, they're in competition; often there's more than a bit of bullying involved. And we see division, too; by race, by social class, by gender. In almost every one, except for...

Korean school films and dramas, for example. If you're riding the Hallyu Wave, you've surely seen titles like The Dude in Me (2019), Morning Grave (2014) or Hot Young Bloods (2014). For some reason, Korean dramas have a completely different take on the school film genre. Some feature zombies or students with ghost-seeing abilities. Others revolve around body-swapping. In other words, far from the standard 'triumph over adversity' narrative so common in Hollywood films.

Know Your Teacher

Films meant to appeal to students often mock and/or stereotype teachers as inept, out of touch or far too rigid to reach the like of us. Such a setup makes for an infinite source of comedy but, pragmatically, it sets up an unhealthy dynamic. When you think about it, school isn't an us-versus-them proposition. Believe it or not, you and your teachers are on the same side... most of the time. These films bear that idea out.

Mr Holland's Opus (1995)

An epic sweep through mid-20th-Century America and an intimate look into a reluctant teacher's life. He really wanted to be a musician; he was always working on his great symphony. But 'Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans', as the John Lennon song goes. After 30 years in the classroom, Mr Holland finally realises his magnum opus.

Freedom Writers (2007)

In the wake of the Rodney King beating and the ensuing Los Angeles riots, an idealistic teacher starts her career. She's confronted with pure hostility as 'the tribes' battle for status and position. Ms G forces her students to confront their biases and, along the way, teaches them far more than Freshman English. This film is based on a true story.

Stand and Deliver (1988)

This film is also based on a real teacher, Jaime Escalante. It contains many of the same elements as Freedom Writers does. Also set in Los Angeles, the plot revolves around gang violence, race hatred and class warfare. Mr Escalante's innovative teaching style and warm humanity break through the kids' barriers. In the end, the students all go on to... no spoilers here!

Lean on Me (1989)

Another movie based on a real-life character. This school was in such poor shape that it was slated for receivership. Gangs, drugs, students running amok... Until one not-particularly-likeable but certainly tough principal took over. Soon, Mr Clark has all the kids dressing like they cared about themselves and learning like they had a future.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Unorthodox teaching methods seem to be a running theme through all of these extraordinary teacher-focused films. This story is not based on a real teacher... but don't we wish there were teachers like John Keating? Robin Williams delivers a tour de force performance in this boys' school drama.

A galaxy shot on the diagonal, surrounded by many stars.
Dark Matter's film title refers both to the physical phenomenon and the film's darker themes. Photo by Max McKinnon on Unsplash

Dark Matter (2007)

This is the type of teacher nobody wants. Professor Jacob Reiser is egocentric and arrogant. He welcomes Chinese students into his graduate program but only mentors them if they stick to his research and support his thesis. When Liu Xing shows himself to be more intuitive than the professor... let's just say that this film depicts all the wrong ways of coping with failure. This film is loosely based on actual events.

 Dangerous Minds (1995)

It's a cool premise: a former Marine teaches class in a racially segregated high school. It's also true; the film is based on LouAnne Johnson's memoirs. She describes using music to connect with her students; she keeps them engaged with treats and other rewards. This film was widely panned for its many clichés and stereotypes. But it created enough of a stir that producers saw fit to make a television series about it. (It wasn't well-reviewed, either.)

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

Who participates in spelling bees? Lots of kids. Who wins them? Kids whose parents have the time and money to cultivate their children's vocabulary to excessive extent. Naturally, that doesn't include inner-city kids, until one Dr Larabee recognises one pupil's talent. A bit formulaic and trite, this movie is nevertheless quite uplifting. Even if it does rely on stereotypes, occasionally.

Educating Rita (1983)

Susan is tired of her life. She's 10 years out of school already and, though employed, feels her prospects are far too limited. She decides on more education, enroling in an Open Course. Her professor is a raging alcoholic, bitter about his life and the way things all turned out. It's a coming-of-age story set far outside the boundaries when such tales normally take place.

Not One Less (1999)

This story, about China's mid-90s education revolution, shows 13-year-old Wei Minzhi contracted to substitute-teach a country school for a month. She's warned that, if even one student leaves school to find work in the city - a common practice at that time, she would lose her 10 Yuan bonus. Filmed in documentary style, using citizens instead of actors, this slice-of-life story will keep you glued to your seat. It's an absolute must-see for anyone fed up with school.

Could we go on? Of course, the film industry is rich in this genre. Do we need to? Probably not. You likely have your own faves you're just dying to tell us about. Do you have any titles we should add to our list? Feel free to pipe up. Use the comment box to join the discussion.

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Joseph

Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, language enthusiast, and blogger.