BAD APPLES (2026) ~ Saoirse Ronan Plays a Teacher Driven to a Shocking Breaking Point

By Mango Sorbet - August 20, 2026

“BAD APPLES” is a 2026 dark comedy film to be released in theaters nationwide on September 18, 2026. The movie is based on “De Oönskade” (“The Unwanted”), a debut novel by Rasmus Lindgren / Rasmus Andersson.

Memorable Quote (from trailer): “A stressed-out teacher makes one very bad decision.”

IMDb Rating: (no rating)

STORYLINE:

“BAD APPLES” (2026) follows Maria Spencer, a dedicated and idealistic primary school teacher in Somerset, England/ Her passion is to nurture young minds, but she is pushed to her breaking point by one extraordinarily disruptive 10-year-old student: Danny Carter. His violent, chaotic behavior destabilizes the entire classroom, injures classmates, and the school administration refuses to intervene. With parents in denial and institutional support nonexistent, Maria becomes trapped in an impossible situation. Suddenly, there are news reports on the telly.

“Investigations continue into the disappearance of Danny Carter.”

Danny Carter is missing? Where on earth could he be?

After a particularly harrowing incident, the school teacher makes a panicked, catastrophic choice: she takes her student home and locks him inside her basement.

Danny’s absence unexpectedly transforms the classroom—students thrive, parents celebrate, and Maria’s professional reputation improves. She becomes torn between confessing her crime or maintaining the illusion of a newly harmonious environment.

The story blends pitch-black humor with psychological tension, creating a satirical portrait of a school system stretched to its limits. “BAD APPLES” will likely stand out as one of the most unhinged dark comedies of the year.

CAST BIO & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Saoirse Ronan

A four-time Academy Award–nominated Irish actress known for her versatility across drama, period films, and psychological thrillers. She signed on to lead Bad Apples in October 2023, with director Jonatan Etzler stating she was the only actor he envisioned for the role, praising her as “one of the greatest actors of her generation.”

Ronan’s career includes Oscar-nominated, acclaimed performances in:

Atonement
Brooklyn
Lady Bird
Little Women

Her work often centers on emotionally complex women navigating intense personal or societal pressures—making her casting as Maria Spencer a natural fit. Critics have praised her comedic timing in Bad Apples, noting the film showcases a new facet of her range within dark satire. This is her darkest role yet in a morally twisted classroom thriller.