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Poster for The Substitute

The Substitute

Seen it?

1996 | 114 min | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but a box office flop and middling reviews (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
What might put you off
Rated R: expect drug use.

When an inner-city Miami schoolteacher gets her knee broken after standing up to the school's gang leader, her mercenary combat specialist boyfriend goes undercover as a substitute teacher to take down the punk. Soon he discovers a conspiracy of criminals at work, and must reassemble his team from his last jungle raid to stop them.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $15 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 322K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Robert Mandel

  • Tom BerengerJonathan Shale
  • Raymond CruzJoey Six
  • Marc AnthonyJuan Lacas
  • William ForsytheHollan
  • Luis GuzmánRem
  • Diane VenoraJane Hetzko
  • Ernie HudsonClaude Rolle
  • Richard BrooksWellman
  • Glenn PlummerDarrell Sherman
  • Cliff DeYoungMatt Wolfson