The 15 most inspiring teachers in films

In life, there are good teachers and bad ones. The same goes for the movies. After all, there’s no comparison between Robert Donat’s exquisite Mr Chips and Paul Gleason’s boorish Mr Vernon, the principal, and Saturday detention setter, in the Breakfast Club.

But who is the most inspirational teacher you've seen on the big screen, and which teachers from the movies would you actually like your children to be taught by? Here’s the School Gate top 15.

1) Charles (Mr Chips) Chipping in Goodbye Mr Chips
The original, and the best. Robert Donat’s Oscar-winning performance (he beat Clark Gable for Gone With The Wind) portrays a teacher who learns so much through teaching generations of boys. As the years pass, they become his family.

2) Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) in Mr Holland’s Opus.
Somehow even thirty years of band practice doesn’t detract from the truly special teacher Mr Holland turns out to be. We still get a tear in our eye during this one.
Watch his first band practice.

3) Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) in To Sir with Love
This teacher makes a different not just in the classroom but to his pupils’ personal lives too. A brilliant performance by Sidney Poitier.
Watch this emotional clip, as Sir is serenaded (by Lulu, no less).

4) Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) in Harry Potter
Yes, he does turn out to be a werewolf, which is not always the biggest plus point when it comes to the classroom, but this defence of the dark arts teacher is brave and brilliant.
Watch this Lupin tribute.

5) Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) in The Miracle Worker
Sometimes tough love works.
Watch the final scene when Helen speaks and understands. It's remarkable.

6) Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) in Dangerous Minds
This English teacher takes on a tough inner-city school and proves a huge success.
Watch a clip.

7) Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in School of Rock
He may not actually be a proper teacher, but the kids wouldn't complain. And lessons would be so much fun.
Watch a clip.

8) John Keating (Robin Williams) in Dead Poet’s Society
Yes, Robin Williams can be incredibly annoying, but in this Oscar-nominated performance as an out of the ordinary English teacher, he’s also incredibly inspiring – except to the school’s staff, who sack him!
Watch a clip.

9) Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) in Stand and Deliver
Now this is teaching. Jaime Escalante aims high and gets his apparently hopeless bunch of students to understand maths for the first time.
Watch the "What's calculus?" clip.

10) Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) in the Blackboard Jungle
The magnificent Glenn Ford plays yet another English teacher. This one finds his ideals challenged when he joins a rough school. Eventually he earns the respect of the juvenile delinquents he's supposed to be teaching. A great film with excellent performances (including a young Sidney Poitier).
Watch a clip of Ford meeting Poitier

11) Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams) in Rushmore
Williams is a delightful first-grade teacher, and an insightful friend too. It's easy to see why anyone would have a crush on her...
Watch an uncomfortable dinner date.

12) Yoda (Frank Oz) in the Star Wars films.
The greatest teacher of all time? Possibly. Decide you if is he.
Watch a clip of some Yoda fight scenes.

13) John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenneger) in Kindergarten Kop
You're right, this shouldn't work, but somehow Arnie's performance as an undercover cop working in a pre-school does. Perhaps it's the kids and the way Arnie interacts with them, while showing his softer, comedic side.
Watch a clip from the film.

14) Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) in Good Will Hunting
Lambeau goes beyond the call of duty to help Will (Matt Damon) discover his fantastic mathematic ability.
Watch a clip.

15) Paul Verrall (William Holden) in Born Yesterday
The magnificent Holden is the journalist brought into tutor dumb blonde Judy Holliday. They get on so well, that Holliday turns out not to be quite so dumb after all.
Watch a clip.

Read our post on the 15 worst teachers in films

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Comments

[Parli Singh]

What about Coach Carter played by Samual L Jackson (True Story)
(though being a coach, is that the same as being a teacher?)

[newjerseygirl]

Kindergarten Cop? The really boring Mr Holland's Opus? (shudder) What about Dennis Quaid in The Rookie (and it's true), Laura Dern as Miss Riley in October Sky, Julie Walters in Billy Elliot, Debbie Allen in Fame or William Hurt in Children Of A Lesser God (okay, he does sleep with a pupil which is a bit of a no-no) -
and for sheer entertainment value, college professors Donald Sutherland (Animal House) and Michael Caine (Educating Rita)...
And worst has got to be Jeffrey Jones' principal in Ferris Bueller's Day Off...

[e skelton]

Please remember that they are movies. Otherwise lets send James Bond and Rambo after Bin Laden and Torchwood to the next atomic spill.
Being 'inspirational' is not the same as being any good. Over the years I have witnessed numerous enthusiastic (even charismatic) colleagues teaching children factually innacurate drivel. Many will remember them fondly forever without ever finding out.

[Snuffy]

E Skelton
Really? I find that hard to believe. Normally the enthusiastic teachers make it their business to get it right. And what exactly is inaccurate drivel?

Was the film Freedom Writers mentioned? That's a good one...

[Dana Huff]

I wrote a post some time ago evaluating the Hogwarts teachers, and my feeling was that Lupin was the best teacher Harry had in that he asked students to apply their learning and he was encouraging. However, my thinking was based more on Lupin from The Prisoner of Azkaban.

I liked Erin Gruwell from The Freedom Writers and Mr. Keating from Dead Poets Society, too.

[Dana Huff]

Sorry -- I should clarify -- Lupin from the BOOK The Prisoner of Azkaban.

[e skelton]

Snuffy (bravely anonymous. Please dont critiscise me without your real name, unless you really are a bloodhound) Many Christians find evolution 'hard to believe'. As Dawkins said "Argument from personel incredulence is the weakest form of all". Innacurate drivel is "The peak voltage output from a generator is entirely independent of its angular velocity". Perhaps you have a humanities backgound where all comments have equal value(lessness)?

[Alex]

Where on this list is Richard Griffiths' lovably pervy, obese history teacher from The History Boys? And he dies at the end, that ought to count for something!

[anon]

chuckle..when I saw the header I naively thought I was going to see some films of the top 15 REAL teachers in UK in action..now that WOULD be interesting!

[Nick_MX]

aha! Yes! Arnie!

"Now tell me, who is your Daddy, and what does he do?"

"Shut-up! Quit whining!"

Classic.

[Dom O'Reilly]

Whoa, E Skelton, no need for a scrap - I don't think Snuffy's comments warranted that response.

What has Christians' views on evolution got to do with it?

And leave the humanities alone - that's an inaccurate generalisation about 'all comments having equal value'.

[steve]

Educating Rita?

[CatSylv]

Woeful error in missing out Hector from The History Boys.

[Katy]

You are missing my favourite - Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

[Dom]

Are you all mad? The coolest teacher of all time is Prof Dave Jennings - Donald Sutherland - in National Lampoons Animal House.

[S Chappell]

and what about Miss Honey From Matilda???

[Sarah Ebner]

You are completely right about Miss Honey. I can't believe I didn't think of her. Thanks for the post (and thank you everyone else for all the others so far.)

[j]

what about the nice men in etre et avoir and la chorale (the choir)?

[Steve Heseltine]

What about the greatest sports teacher of them all? Brian Glover in Kes.

[cameron allen]

What about Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting?
nice one guys

[cameron allen]

Sorry, I didnt even realise 'School of Rock' was a movie. Well actually I did, but not a movie anyone watched!

[Jeremy Isaacs]

What about the teacher in ferris bueller's day off?? Ed Rooney!!

hillary swank in freedom writers awesome movie

[James Lear]

No Sidney Poitier..To Sir with love?
No Maggie Smith as Miss Jean Brodie?
Oh..Go away and do some research.

[j]

How about Fagin?

"shut up and drink your gin". That's the way to sort out little boys ;)

[Sarah Ebner]

Hello James,
Sidney Poitier is at number 3!

[Shaun]

This is really quite a hilarious list. Many of these inspiring teachers are men, yet the majority of teachers are women. Only about a quarter of teachers overall are men and about 1 in 10 at the primary level. Why would this list be so skewed as to be thoroughly unrealistic, albeit Yoda is included, but he's a guy, right?

[Lisa]

Jaime Escalante was the REAL teacher in this list and having worked with him for my first 5 years of teaching,the movie didn't begin to tell the world what a great teacher and person he was. He was an inspiration to young teachers, as well, despite the jealousy others showed.
Judd Hirsh in Ordinary People was a shrink but he was a teacher, as well.

[hazzah]

Brian Glover, Kes

[Andrew Woollatt]

Miss Honey in Matilda was a good teacher

[Ramone LeHane]

Come on guys..What about some of these gems; Elizabeth Hurley in her tartan skirt in Bedazzled, Sam Kinison with Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School, Mr Strickland in Back to the Future "Your a slacker", Tina Fey in Mean Girls,Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and Drew Barrymore in Donnie Darko.

[MOVIEBABE]

Sam Jackson in One Eight Seven. Don't forget your homework for that guy!

[Scott Benowitz]

How about Elliot Gould as Harry Bailey in the 1970 film "Getting Straight?"
Okay, the main character of the film was really a student teacher who decides at the end of the film that he is no longer interested in becoming a teacher at all, but still how can this film be overlooked in this list?

[Dan]

Check out these Hollywood celebrities talking about which of their teachers inspired them - http://www.inspiredbyeducation.com/share.html

[The Scylding]

What about Danny deVito in Rennaissance Man?

[Wayne Johnson]

You've missed another gem! How about Richard Mulligan as Herbert Gower in "Teachers"?

[Debbie]

John Voight in "Conrack". He's wonderful. It's a great movie that will make you laugh and cry.

[PaulineB]

I immediately thought of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid...

[louiscbrooks]

John Keating should be a lot closer to the number 1 spot.

[Uncle Pablo]

What about Roberta Guaspari played by Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart, William Hundert played by Kevin Kline in The Emperor's Club, Erin Gruwell played by Hillary Swank in The Freedom Writers, Norman Dale played by Gene Hackman in Hoosiers and Herman Boone played by Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans?

[Thomas B]

WHAT ABOUT MISS JEAN BRODIE? MAGGIE SMITH IN THE PRIDE OF MISS JEAN BRODIE! FANTASTIC.

[e skelton]

Dear Dom. Point taken: I apologise for being aggressive towards your dog. All credit for teaching him to type. I would like to put you forward here.

[nick bustos]

what about Mr Miyagi in the KARTATE KID!!!!! sheesh. this list is null and void.

[helen]

Please do not forget Ken Loach's 'Kes'...that horrid gym teacher. That was a powerful film.

[A Reader]

What of Sandy Dennis in "Up the Downstair Case"? And,yes, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" is a classic.

[John Loft]

Has everybody forgotten the opening scene of 'All Quiet on the Western Front." Don't know the name but THERE was an inspiring teacher if ever there was !

[Jeremy]

I learnt more about music from Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music than I ever did from 9 years of school music lessons.

[Snuffy]

E Skelton
Sorry? I really don't understand what you have said. Why are you so offended? I find what you said hard to believe. That is an invitation for you to explain it more thoroughly. I also didn't understand your use of the phrase 'inaccurate drivel', and I still don't. Had I wanted to criticise or insult you, I might have pointed out that you repeatedly spell 'inaccurate' incorrectly, which is rather ironic. I merely invited you to expand your argument.

Take a pill.

[Kat]

Mary Clarence from Sister Act, I love her. Although not an actual teacher, I still think she's brilliant.

[termite]

Who was the teacher in 'The Corn is Green"?

I have to 'third' the vote for Jaime Escalante in 'Stand and Deliver'. Truly inspiring story, especially since so many people in the movie-making business consider anything to do with mathematics is nerdy.

Nice to hear from Lisa that it wasn't exaggerated.

[Dako Lobot]

Georges Lopez in "Etre et Avoir" - no contest

[Sean]

Hector - History Boys
Dr Frank Bryant - Educating Rita

[JR]

What about Morgan Freeman in "Lean On Me" that was good, I think, its been so long since I saw it.

[Schlomo]

I second Hillary Swank in the Freedon Writers, a great, but not very well-known movie based on a true story. Watch it, you'll love it.

[Anon]

You guys forgot coach carter!!! and he was actually a real person, true story and an inspiation to his students.

[Richard Scotney]

E Skelton: Your arguments are all nonsense padded out with a healthy dose of pomposity!

On another note: I have some really amazing, inspiring teachers who are a cut above their profession. Why is there no way of recognising them formally? They're dynamic, knowledgable and passionate and no, E Skelton, they do not forfeit their subject knowledge to gain their enthusiasm. You imply that the two seem to be inversely proportional. Quite the converse, in my experience - a passionate teacher is always much better than one who lacks passion. A doctorate in your field is no good without the ability to deliver it in the classroom. Plus if teachers are passionate and dynamic, they will have a natural aptitude to explore and know their subject.

[Michael]

Not a movie, but Mr Bergstrom from the Simpson's, played by Dustin Hoffman, is the greatest teacher.

[Joep de Graaff]

My personal choice: "Professeur Lopez" in "Etre et Avoir." In this clip you can see why: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTKSVrPUY0&feature=related

[Vicki Davis]

I love Mrs. Riley in October Sky -- especially because it is based on a true story and not overly unrealistic. It is one of my favorite movies!

[Adam Carson]

Barbra Streisand in The Mirror Has Two Faces

[Judy]

Julia Roberts as Miss Watson in Mona Lisa Smile.

[Travis]

#8 is a strong one for me, John Keating (Robin Williams) in Dead Poet’s Society. I like for what he stands--learning and the love of learning. His character inspired youth to learn. Sadly, and so similar to real life, this inspiration was disliked, and punished.

There are far too few chances for teachers to do this. Too many penalties thrust upon risk taking, vibrant teachers (People who do not push the scripted curriculum).

[Reg Aubry]

What the other commenter said: "Georges Lopez in "Etre et Avoir" - no contest." Absolutely.

[Dorit Arazi]

I vote for Kevin Spacey in "Pay it Forward". He was wonderful

[accidie]

What about Liam Neeson in Lamb? OK, so he kills the kid at the end, but even so ...

[Anna]

A previous poster said Harrison Ford in the "Indiana Jones" movies. I'll admit it's a good choice, but I wouldn't really consider him inspiring.

[E White]

No offence, but I am a humanities student and all comments don't have equal value. Primary and secondary sources anyone? Some are just your 'inaccurate drivel' and others happen to be real. Like Freedom Writers and Coach Carter...?

[Joe Place]

you've missed out the english teacher in donnie darko!!

[Ellen in FL]

Laura Dern playing Frieda Riley in OCTOBER SKY, based on the real Miss Riley....

Noriyuki (Pat) Morita as Mr. Miyagi in THE KARATE KID....

Denzel Washington as the coach in REMEMBER THE TITANS.

Anne Bancroft, Sandy Dennis, Sidney Poitier, Maggie Smith....

And Anne Shirley's second teacher after she moves to Green Gables, Miss Stacy....

[kevin]

I think Hillary Swank in Freedom writers was a good teacher.

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kevin

[Emily King]

Miss Honey - Matilda
Miss Watson - Mona Lisa Smile
The teacher in freedom writers

[alice]

not a film, but 'Prez' Pryzbylewski from The Wire

[Dodgy Geezer]

How about sports teacher Mr Sugden (Brian Glover) in Kes? The way he slaps the little horrors round the ear makes me go weak at the knees...

[Rajnish]

seen Glory Road recently, great movie and Don Haskins is an Excellent teacher/coach who upset american sports by setting up the first all-black basketball team ever. Hillary Swank is AMAZING in freedom writers. samuel jackson as coach carter, robin williams as Oh Captain my Captain. being a teacher myself, i learn so much from such great characters. Rajnish. Mauritius

[Lucy]

Miss Honey in Matilda
the female teacher in "Bridge to Terabithia"
The teacher in School of Rock
The teacher in The History Boys
and of course good old Albus Dumbledore!!!

(sorry, I'm not good with names!!!)

[Tim]

The Emperor’s Club (2002)

[stephen Best]

Dead Poets Society - the best for me
and
Goodbye Mr Chips next

for my money I'd add

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Music of the Heart
Conrack
and
(in French) The best job in the world
(Le Plus Beau Metier du Monde (Depardieu)

[stephen Best]

I'd also add

Renaissance Man

Educating Rita

and concur with

Mr Hollands Opus

and

The Miracle Worker

I agree with the reference to the early scene in
All's Quiet on the Western Front
merits a mention

not yet included

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

finally

two great films (sequential as in Jean de Florette / Mann des Sources))
autobiographical story of his youth (Marcel Pagnol)
and his school teacher father
. La Gloire de Mon Pere
. Le Chateau de ma Mere

[Robert]

I rather warmed to Rattigan's Crocker-Harris ("The Browning Version") when he conveyed to his class the context and emotion of Aeschylus's Klytemnestra on trial, relating how she avenged the death of her daughter by killing Agamemnon.

It made the neck on the back of my hairs stand up.

[Robert]

On a lighter note, I thought that Mr Strickland in "Back to the Future" made quite an impact.

[M Johnson]

The top 10 surely has to be;

1 - To sir, with love
2 - Dead Poets Society
3 - Remember the Titans
4 - Top Gun (it's a school...!)
5 - 187
6 - Ferris Buellers' Day Off
7 - Dangerous minds
8 - Harry Potter
9 - Billy Elliott
10 - The Freedom Writers

[JN]

I think the omission of Miss Jean Brodie is very valid. While an excellent film, and Maggie Smith's performance is terrific, I think the point of that story is that Miss Brodie is not a positive role model - she teaches her students the wrong things, and even uses two of them as pawns in her rather pathetic love life.
That said, I think Conrack ought to be included - certainly over the Dangerous Minds teacher.
What about Morgan Freeman in Lean on Me? Surely he's a more positive force, than, say, the Harry Potter teacher?

[Paris]

Miss Honey from Matilda
All three teachers from the History Boys
Miss Jean Brodie
Albus Dumbledore
Proffesor Snape (although not positive he's definetly inspiring!)

[Hannah]

1. All the teachers in the History Boys
2. Miss Watson in Mona Lisa Smile
3. The Emperors Club - Kevin Kline's character
4. Zooey Deschanel's character in Bridge to Terabitha
5. Erin Gruwell by Hilary Swank in Freedom Writers
6. Michael Caine in Educating Rita
7. Miss Honey in Matilda
8. Professor Lambeau in Good Will Hunting
9. Finally, Dewey Finn in School of Rock

Definitely.

[gwynhafar]

Some of these are quite notable, but I think #1 should be Miss Dove (Jennifer Jones) is "Good Morning, Miss Dove". Truly inspiring. I also agree with Conrack and others moving up the list.

[katy]

are you kidding? John Keating (robin williams in dead poet's) didn't exactly achieve great educational outcomes!! a kid died as a direct result of his heedless advice!! that character was NOT a great teacher - he negligent! it was a great film - no contest, but there is no way he was a great teacher. no way.

[Prashad]

I vote for the teacher in American History X.

[Simon Levene]

Without any doubt at all, Gérard Jugnot (Clément Mathieu) in The Chorus should head the list - way ahead of "Etre et avoir". (And can we also have a list of Creepy School Janitors?)

[teacherninja]

Yeah, but those "real" Dangerous Minds/ Freedom Writer teachers aren't still teaching. Burned themselves right out. The best movie teacher--no contest!--is Mr. Arnold Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
I defend this choice further here: http://www.teacherninjas.com/2008/05/movie-teachers.html

Burgess Meredith is a close second for being Rocky's coach AND Perseus' teacher in Clash of the Titans! Now that's teaching my friends.

[Al]

The teacher from Ciao Professore! By Lina Wertmuller. A northern Italian posted to southern Italy by accident - the ensuing culture clash teaches him about the reality of the south as he inspires his completely feral but utterly charming students.

[Donald]

How can you not mention John Housman in Paper Chase?

[D]

surely the teacher from "les choristes" rates a mention - at least if you go beyond English language films...

[me]

err hello..Finding Forrester.. Anyone? ANYONE?
Though he wasn't strictly a a teacher.

[Giles Hayward]

Mattew Perry as Ron Clarke in 'The Ron Clarke Story'? True Story as well...

[Mr.Dee]

what about Jaime Escalante on Stand and Deliver????

[Mr.Dee]

and Ron Clark still teaches

[almost milena]

How about:
- Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver
- Morgan Freeman (as the principal) in Lean on Me
- Laurence Fishburne in Higher Learning