Best Movies About Education

From Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

Good Will Hunting is a drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams. The movie follows the story of Will Hunting, a genius who is working as a janitor at MIT. Will is a troubled youth from a broken home in South Boston, and he is extremely intelligent but has no ambition. When two of his professors discover his talent, they encourage him to use his intelligence to better himself. With the help of his therapist, Sean Maguire, Will begins to take control of his life and overcome his personal challenges. As he begins to find his place in the world, he discovers love and friendship, and challenges himself to become the person he was always meant to be.

From Peter Weir, starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles
Rated PG

Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman. Set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative Vermont boarding school Welton Academy, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry. The film stars Robin Williams as John Keating, a new English teacher who stands out from the rest of the faculty due to his reluctance to conform to the traditional rules and curriculum of the school. He encourages his students to make their own paths in life, to be creative, and to think for themselves. The story follows the lives of the students in Keating's class, who are inspired by his teachings and form their own club, the Dead Poets Society, to practice their own version of poetry. Throughout the film, Keating and the students are met with resistance from the school's headmaster and faculty, who are concerned about the students being exposed to such progressive ideas. Ultimately, however, Keating's influence leads the students to experience a level of personal growth and freedom.

From Arthur Penn, starring Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory, Inga Swenson
Rated Approved

The Miracle Worker is a 1962 biographical film based on Helen Keller's autobiography, The Story of My Life. The film follows the story of Keller, a deaf-blind and mute girl (played by Patty Duke) who is taught how to communicate by her teacher, Anne Sullivan (played by Anne Bancroft). The film follows their journey as Anne Sullivan is determined to break through Keller's isolation and create a way for her to communicate with the world around her. With persistence, patience, and love, Anne Sullivan eventually succeeds in teaching Keller to communicate by spelling words into her hand and with sign language. The film is both a heart-warming and inspirational story of the impact one dedicated teacher can have on a student's life.

From Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe
Rated PG-13

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith. The film is based on the true story of entrepreneur Chris Gardner, a single father struggling to make ends meet and take care of his young son, Christopher. Faced with mounting debts and eviction, Chris is desperate to find a way to provide for his son and keep their dreams of a better life alive. He takes a chance on an unpaid internship at a brokerage firm, and through sheer determination and hard work, manages to turn the internship into a highly successful brokerage career. Along the way, Chris and his son must overcome homelessness and poverty, as well as the struggles of single parenthood. Through the power of love and resilience, the pair eventually find happiness and success.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. It follows five teenagers—all from different cliques—who spend a Saturday in detention together. As they get to know each other in the library, they discover how they are all misfits in their own ways and begin to form a bond with each other. Despite their differences, they come together to confront the issues they face in their lives. Through the course of the movie, they learn that they have far more in common than they initially thought. In the end, the group have developed a new understanding and appreciation for each other, and have come to accept themselves for who they are.

From Yimou Zhang, starring Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao
Rated G

The Road Home is a Chinese romantic drama film directed by Yimou Zhang. It tells the story of a young man who returns to his rural Chinese village to find his father's former fiancée, and to fulfill his father's dying wish to have her buried in the ancestral home. The young man soon discovers the unique bond between his father and the woman, and must overcome his own prejudices in order to fulfill his father's request. Along the way, he learns about his family's history and his father's life, and ultimately develops a deep understanding of their love. The film is a heartfelt exploration of the power of love and family, and features stunning cinematography of the rural Chinese landscape.

From Nicolas Philibert, starring Georges Lopez, Alizé, Axel Thouvenin, Guillaume
Rated Not Rated

To Be and to Have is a 2002 French documentary film directed and written by Nicolas Philibert. It explores the life of a rural one-room schoolhouse in the Auvergne region, and the teacher and students who attend it. The film follows Georges Lopez, the teacher, as he teaches students of all ages, from children as young as four to teenagers. We watch as Georges encourages his students to learn, laugh and grow, as well as helping them to tackle the challenges of everyday life. The film explores the importance of education in a rural community, as well as the love and care that Georges has for his students. Throughout the film, we are reminded of the powerful bond between a teacher and his students, and how important this bond is for both the teacher and the students.

From Tony Kaye, starring Adrien Brody, Christina Hendricks, Marcia Gay Harden, Lucy Liu
Rated Not Rated

Detachment is a 2011 American drama film written by Carl Lund, directed by Tony Kaye, and starring Adrien Brody. The plot follows Henry Barthes, an emotionally detached substitute teacher who becomes little more than an observer in the lives of the students and faculty at the high school where he works. Over the course of a single semester, he strives to create meaningful connections with the troubled teenagers and faculty members he meets, struggling to make sense of his own mysterious past. Along the way, Henry must confront his own demons, ultimately teaching the students, and himself, a valuable lesson about the importance of human connection.

From Yimou Zhang, starring Minzhi Wei, Huike Zhang, Zhenda Tian, Enman Gao
Rated G

Not One Less is a 1999 Chinese drama film directed by Zhang Yimou. It tells the story of Wei Minzhi, a 13-year-old schoolgirl who is sent to teach in a remote village school. With only one teacher for forty students, Wei Minzhi must quickly learn to manage her class and fight for the students' attention. After the teacher leaves to seek better-paying work in the city, Wei Minzhi is left in charge. When one of her students runs away to the city in search of work, Wei Minzhi sets out to find him and bring him back to the village. Through her journey, she learns the importance of education and discovers the strength of her own character.

From James Clavell, starring Sidney Poitier, Judy Geeson, Christian Roberts, Suzy Kendall
Rated Approved

To Sir, with Love is a 1967 British drama film that follows Mark Thackeray, a disillusioned engineer-turned-teacher who takes a job teaching a class of rowdy, undisciplined working-class students at an East End school in London. Initially, Thackeray finds it difficult to control the class and gain their respect, but eventually they come to love and respect him. Through his dedication and patience, Thackeray teaches his students important life lessons, such as the importance of education, responsibility, respect, and self-determination. The film follows Thackeray and his students on their journey of growth and self-discovery, as well as his own personal journey of learning to care for and accept others.

From Richard LaGravenese, starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn
Rated PG-13

Freedom Writers is a 2007 drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese, starring Hilary Swank as a young teacher, Erin Gruwell, who inspires her class of high school students from racially divided backgrounds to believe in themselves and overcome their prejudices. The film takes place in Long Beach, California in 1994, during the aftermath of the Rodney King riots. It follows Gruwell as she takes on the challenge of teaching a group of at-risk students in a largely white, affluent school district. Gruwell discovers that her students, who are mostly black and Latino, have little to no knowledge of the world outside their own neighborhood, and are highly prejudiced against each other regardless of race. Through her unconventional teaching methods, Gruwell encourages her students to write their own stories and to use their own experiences to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Despite heavy opposition from the school district and society, Gruwell and her students eventually succeed in overcoming their differences and building meaningful relationships with one another. In the end, the students are accepted into college and pursue diverse paths in life.

From José Luis Cuerda, starring Manuel Lozano, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Uxía Blanco, Gonzalo Uriarte
Rated R

"Butterfly" is a 1999 Spanish drama film directed by José Luis Cuerda. It follows the story of Moncho (Manuel Lozano), an intelligent, imaginative 8-year-old boy growing up in a small Galician village during the turbulent 1930s. He befriends an elderly anarchist, Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernán Gómez), who teaches him to explore the world around him with an open mind and an insatiable curiosity. Moncho begins to question the world's injustices, including the repressive regime of Francisco Franco, and the harsh realities of life in a constantly-changing society. Through his friendship with Don Gregorio, Moncho learns to make his own choices, discovering the power of his independent spirit. Along the way, he finds friendship, understanding, and the courage to make his own destiny.

From Bertrand Tavernier, starring Philippe Torreton, Maria Pitarresi, Nadia Kaci, Véronique Ataly
Rated Not Rated

It All Starts Today is a 1999 French drama directed by Bertrand Tavernier. The film follows Bruno Davert (Philippe Torreton), the director of a rural elementary school in France, as he struggles to turn around the lives of the poverty-stricken children in his school. Davert is determined to make a change, and despite the opposition from the parents and teachers, he implements reformative changes in the school's curriculum, and stands up for the children's rights. Through his efforts, Davert is able to make a difference in the lives of the children, inspiring them to dream bigger and strive for a better future. Ultimately, Davert's hard work and dedication to the children's education makes a lasting impact on the school, allowing the children to believe that their lives can be changed for the better.

From Laurent Cantet, starring François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel
Rated PG-13

The Class is an acclaimed French film directed by Laurent Cantet and set in a low-income, multi-ethnic junior high school in Paris. It follows a year in the lives of a group of students and their teacher, François Marin. As the students grapple with adolescence, they must also overcome the challenges of life in a school system that has failed them. François must balance his desire to connect with his students and help them learn with the demands of a curriculum that often seems arbitrary and out of touch with their lives. Through the course of the year, the film follows the students as they learn to make their own decisions and navigate the difficult path of growing up. The film ultimately celebrates the power of education to transform lives and help make the world a better place.

From Philippe Falardeau, starring Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx
Rated PG-13

Monsieur Lazhar is a 2011 Canadian drama film written and directed by Philippe Falardeau. The film stars Mohamed Fellag as an Algerian immigrant named Bachir Lazhar who takes a job as a substitute teacher in a Montreal elementary school after the tragic death of an adored teacher. His unorthodox methods initially cause friction with the staff, but he soon wins the children over with his compassion and understanding. He helps the children work through the trauma of the teacher’s death, as he deals with his own personal issues. The film explores the complexity of emotions and the universality of grief, as well as the power of education and self-discovery.

From Davis Guggenheim, starring Charles Adams, Jonathan Alter, Robert Balfanz, Harriet Ball
Rated PG

From Pedro Almodóvar, starring Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Javier Cámara, Daniel Giménez Cacho
Rated NC-17

From Richard Brooks, starring Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern, Margaret Hayes
Rated Approved

From Ramón Menéndez, starring Edward James Olmos, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan, Virginia Paris
Rated PG

From Lee Daniels, starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
Rated R

From Lone Scherfig, starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams
Rated PG-13

From Gus Van Sant, starring Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin
Rated PG-13

From Stephen Herek, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas, Olympia Dukakis
Rated PG

From James Bridges, starring Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman, Graham Beckel
Rated PG

From Lewis Gilbert, starring Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael Williams, Maureen Lipman
Rated PG