Comedy · Thriller · English
Bad Apples (2026) Review: Watch & Download Online
★ 7.8 / 10
| Director | Jonatan Etzler |
|---|---|
| Cast | Saoirse Ronan, Eddie Waller, Nia Brown, Jacob Anderson, Rakie Ayola, Robert Emms |
| Runtime | 1h 41m |
| Released | 18 September 2026 |
| Music | Chris Roe |
| Box office | About $2.2 million |
Watch the official trailer
Synopsis (spoiler-free)
Maria, a primary-school teacher in Somerset, England, is worn down by one violently disruptive 10-year-old pupil, Danny. After an accident leaves Danny locked in her home, she hesitates to undo it when her class suddenly starts to flourish in his absence — trapping her in an impossible moral predicament.
Our detailed review
Story — 7.5/10
Based on Rasmus Lindgren's novel De Oönskade, Bad Apples takes a premise that sounds like a horror film and plays it as satire: what happens when removing one impossible child makes everything better? The script by Jess O'Kane finds the sweet spot between grim laughs and genuine moral unease — every time Maria's life improves, the audience is forced to ask what that says about them. The final act wobbles, with an ambiguous ending that hints at more disruption, but the film earns its discomfort.
Acting — 8.5/10
Saoirse Ronan is the film's secret weapon: wide-eyed, trembling, resourceful, she builds Maria from wretched to dangerously capable in a single performance, registering a welter of emotions in a single shot. Eddie Waller is terrifyingly believable as Danny, the 10-year-old who derails an entire class, and the supporting cast — Jacob Anderson, Rakie Ayola, Robert Emms — grounds the satire in a recognisable school world.
Direction — 7.5/10
Jonatan Etzler, making his English-language debut, directs with a confident, slightly queasy touch: the camera stays close on Ronan's dazed face as she wriggles out of one sticky situation after another, and the film's perky montages — Maria feeding and clothing Danny, playing games with him — are played straight, which makes them funnier and darker at once. The film loses a little steam towards the end, but Etzler never loses his nerve.
Music — 8.0/10
Chris Roe's score is a character in itself: a wildly inventive fusion of classical precision and experimental chaos, all grinding brass, children's bells and frenetic strings. The 'A Is For Apple' montage, where the score merrily chirps along against the darkness of months passing with Danny locked away, is the film's best joke — music that undercuts a happy moment with a layer of 'this isn't going to turn out well'.
What works
- Saoirse Ronan's terrific, funny, unsettling central performance.
- A sharp satire of target-obsessed school culture that earns its discomfort.
- Chris Roe's inventive score — classical precision meets experimental chaos.
- Critics liked it: 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a tart, humane consensus.
What doesn't work
- The final act stretches believability and ends ambiguously.
- The satire of the education system occasionally feels muddled.
- Limited release means most audiences will wait for digital.
- No reported budget or opening figures, so its commercial fate is unclear.
Final verdict — 7.8/10
A tart, twisted classroom satire carried by a terrific Saoirse Ronan. Funny, uncomfortable, and impossible to shake off afterwards.
Rating breakdown
Where to Watch
In cinemas in the UK, Ireland and the US (limited release, since 18 September 2026). Available to buy or rent digitally from 3 November 2026. No subscription-streaming platform has been announced yet.
After buying or renting it digitally, you can download it in that store's official app to watch offline legally — see our guide on how to download movies legally.
Box Office
| Budget | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Opening day | Not reported (limited release) |
| Opening weekend | Not reported (limited release) |
| Worldwide total | About $2.2 million |
| Verdict | Not yet reported |
A limited release by design: the film earned more than $2.2 million in global ticket sales in limited release (Media Play News), but no budget or opening figures have been reported, so no honest Hit/Flop verdict can be assigned yet. Its second life has been as a trending title, climbing 2,044 places on US streaming charts in late October.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bad Apples worth watching?
Yes — Ronan is terrific and the satire is tart, funny and unsettling. Critics gave it 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Our rating is 7.8/10.
Is Bad Apples based on a true story?
No — it is based on Rasmus Lindgren's 2020 novel De Oönskade (The Unwanted). The story of Maria and Danny is fictional.
Is Bad Apples suitable for kids?
No — despite the school setting, this is a dark adult satire with disturbing themes and an impossible moral dilemma at its centre.
How much did Bad Apples earn at the box office?
About $2.2 million worldwide in limited release. No budget or opening figures have been reported, so no Hit/Flop verdict can be assigned yet.
Where can I watch Bad Apples (2026) online?
It played in cinemas in the UK, Ireland and the US in limited release, and is available to buy or rent digitally from 3 November 2026. No subscription-streaming platform has been announced yet.
Can I download Bad Apples (2026) legally?
Yes — after buying or renting it digitally from 3 November 2026, you can download it in that store's official app to watch offline legally.
Hindi FAQs
Bad Apples movie kaisi hai?
Bad Apples aik dark comedy satire hai — Saoirse Ronan ki acting kamaal hai, aur kahani funny bhi hai aur uncomfortable bhi. Hamari rating 7.8/10 hai.
Bad Apples kahan dekh sakte hain?
Bad Apples UK, Ireland aur US mein limited cinemas mein lagi, aur 3 November 2026 se digital rent/buy par available hai.
Bad Apples ne kitna kamaya?
Bad Apples ne limited release mein duniya bhar mein $2.2 million kamaye — budget report nahi hua, is liye Hit/Flop verdict abhi nahi diya ja sakta.
Bad Apples download karke dekh sakte hain?
Ji haan — 3 November 2026 se digital rent/buy ke baad us store ki official app mein download karke offline dekh sakte hain, legally.