--- title: "Bad Apples: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bad-apples/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bad-apples" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bad Apples (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 13 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics come away pleased with Jonatan Etzler’s black comedy, and almost all of them say the same thing first: Saoirse Ronan is the reason it works. Her teacher, who locks a disruptive pupil away, is described as grounded, underplayed and sincere, and more than one review ranks it among her strongest work. The premise itself draws admiration for how far Etzler pushes it while keeping the satire on a strained school system in view, and the young cast, Eddie Waller in particular, earns notice alongside her. The reservations gather around the later stretches, where a number of critics find the plotting pushed past what they can believe. The spread is wide. Screen Daily thinks the early promise fizzles and the film offers little insight for the effort, while The Guardian, the one outright dissenter, finds it heavy-handed and neither shocking nor funny enough, with Ronan its main credit. Variety, otherwise warm, feels the title metaphor is played too broadly. ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2026. The critic praises the film as a wicked, winking black comedy and satire on the rigid education system that pressures both teachers and vulnerable children. Etzler and the script are commended for finding an edgy sweet spot, with particular praise for Saoirse Ronan's expressive performance as the teacher navigating sticky situations. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/bad-apples-saoirse-ronan-this-black-comedys-secret-weapon) ## Empire — Iana Murray Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2026. Jonatan Etzler’s school satire is darkly hilarious and politically sharp, as satisfying as a crisp Granny Smith. Saoirse Ronan has never been better walking its riveting moral tightrope. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bad-apples/) ## Little White Lies — Katherine McLaughlin Rating 4/4/4. 14 September 2026. The critic finds the film a funny, unsettling satire with a morally complex story. She singles out Jess O’Kane’s compelling screenplay and praises the child actors’ performances. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bad-apples) ## Time Out — Zara Dosanjh Rating 4/5. 9 September 2026. The critic calls it a bleak comedy with absurdist twists and an unexpected pivot into dark territory that gets the balance of satire and wit just right. Ronan is singled out as the best thing in the film for her performance as the teacher. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bad-apples-review-2025) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2025. Festival review. The critic calls it a deliciously dark comedy that highlights the pressures of a broken school system through an extreme teacher-student scenario. Ronan delivers a fresh, funny turn in this wild premise about community benefits from drastic measures. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan-1235149752/) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2025. Festival review. The critic calls it the best of three TIFF films, a dark comedy that will provoke relatable laughter and conversations about education systems, highlighting Saoirse Ronan's grounded performance amid the crazy premise of a teacher kidnapping a disruptive student. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/tiff-2025-bad-apples-eternity-sacrifice) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2025. Festival review. The critic views the film as a nifty ethical puzzle about balancing individual needs against the community in a sharp dark comedy format. Ronan shines in an unsympathetic role alongside a revelatory child performance, though the story leans into implausibilities in its later acts. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan-1236363893/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2025. Festival review. The critic describes a daringly discomfiting black comedy with a subversive mean streak that initially sympathizes with the adult teacher before allegiances shift, praising Saoirse Ronan's sincere performance and the young cast while noting it sometimes goes too broad with its title metaphor. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan-1236525985/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the nervy dark comedy premise intriguing thanks to Ronan's performance but ultimately too difficult to sustain plausibly, with the story stretching to extremes without offering meaningful insights. The early promise fizzles out despite the star power. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan-is-a-teacher-driven-to-extremes-in-nervy-uk-thriller/5208646.article) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2026. The critic finds the black comedy heavy-handed and unpersuasive, crediting its limited success mainly to Saoirse Ronan's engaging lead performance as the teacher. The film is faulted for insufficient shock or comedy and for its implausible plotting, especially in the later stages. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/17/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronans-suffering-teacher-best-thing-about-school-horror-satire) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2025. Festival review. The review calls the film a witheringly funny and searing satirical thriller that cleverly exposes societal failures. It singles out Saoirse Ronan's fiercely funny, multilayered performance as the standout element. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan/) ## Collider — Therese Lacson Rating 8/10. 8 September 2025. Festival review. The critic finds Jonatan Etzler's debut irresistibly funny despite its grim premise of a teacher locking up a student. Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Eddie Waller deliver standout performances in this black comedy. [Read the review](https://collider.com/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film a very dark comedy that grows funnier as its absurd premise sinks in. He singles out Saoirse Ronan's underplayed performance and the pitch-perfect ending for praise. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/09/bad-apples-review-saoirse-ronan-black-comedy-toronto-fest-1236510361/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bad-apples.md