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Poster for The Kindergarten Teacher

The Kindergarten Teacher

Seen it?

2018 | 96 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 36 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Lisa Spinelli is a Staten Island teacher who is unusually devoted to her students. When she discovers one of her five-year-olds is a prodigy, she becomes fascinated with the boy, ultimately risking her family and freedom to nurture his talent.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.5 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    1 win and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 50K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Sara Colangelo

  • Maggie GyllenhaalLisa Spinelli
  • Parker SevakJimmy Roy
  • Gael García BernalSimon
  • Michael ChernusGrant Spinelli
  • Rosa SalazarBecca
  • Ajay NaiduNikhil Roy
  • Anna BaryshnikovMeghan
  • Daisy TahanLainie Spinelli
  • Sam JulesJosh Spinelli
  • Samrat ChakrabartiSanjay Roy