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Helen Mirren, Katie Holmes, Jeffrey Tambor, Barry Watson, Marisa Coughlan ... see more see more... , Liz Stauber , Michael McKean , Molly Ringwald , Vivica A. Fox , John Patrick White , Lesley Ann Warren , Brian Klugman

After the success of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and television's Dawson's Creek, screenwriter Kevin Williamson made his directorial debut with this screwball thriller in which an honor r... read more read more...oll student and two friends kidnap their witchy teacher. Although her single mom (Lesley Ann Warren), a waitress, struggles to make ends meet, aspiring writer Leigh Ann Watson (Katie Holmes) works hard, avoids sexual temptation, and focuses on her studies. She hopes to make valedictorian and earn a scholarship to college -- and get away from her dead-end hometown. As her senior year draws to a close, however, she's dogged by harsh grades from her vituperative history instructor, Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren). On the same day she finds out that she's still in second place behind fellow valedictory candidate Mary Beth Carter (Liz Stauber), Leigh Ann must endure Mrs. Tingle's fierce criticism of the final project into which she's poured her heart. After commiserating with her best friend, aspiring actress Jo Lynn Jordan (Marisa Coughlan), and hunky stoner Luke Churner (Barry Watson), Leigh Ann runs even further afoul of Mrs. Tingle; Luke stashes an advance copy of the teacher's final exam in Leigh Ann's backpack and Tingle discovers it, promising to turn Leigh Ann in for cheating and ruin her chances of a better life. When the three teens turn up at Tingle's house to try to reason with her, Luke and Jo Lynn manage to accidentally kidnap Mrs. Tingle. Soon the three students are keeping their teacher a prisoner, trying to figure out how to blackmail her into silence while maintaining the illusion that nothing strange is going on. Teaching Mrs. Tingle was filmed under the name "Killing Mrs. Tingle," but the title was changed after a rash of real-life high school killing sprees made the headlines. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

34% liked it

44,272 ratings

Critics

19% liked it

69 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Kevin Williamson

Release Date: August 20, 1999

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DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999

Stats: 945 reviews

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Teaching Mrs. Tingle Teaching Mrs. Tingle Teaching Mrs. Tingle Barry at Teaching Mrs. Tingle premiere Barry Watson stars in "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" as "Luke." Barry Watson in the movie, "Teaching Mrs. Tingle." Teaching Mrs. Tingle
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Flixster Reviews (945)

  • stormyweather980
    September 11, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren) is a teacher who is hated by almost everyone, including students and even most of the other faculty members. Mrs. Tingle seems to have a dislike for everyone, even if they're super smart, such as Leigh Ann (Katie Holmes). Leigh Ann must be the valedicto... read morerian in order to get a scholarship and have a chance to attend college. It seems like the only obstacle in her way is Mrs. Tingle's judgement.
    "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" wasn't a bad movie at all. Helen Mirren does a spectacular job playing as the dreaded Mrs. Tingle, and the movie is very interesting, especially after you find out what Leigh Ann's and two of her friends' plans are to do with Mrs. Tingle.

    Just as long as you like interesting movies that don't get boring, give "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" a chance! It just might teach you a lesson. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Never expected to like this one much, a surprise.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 14, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    this was an alright movie, helen mirren is playing the teacher who is basically a bitch and is trying to ruin thiis student whose working hard for scholarship played by katie holmes and even though it has some comiic value they are short and fair between so its an watchable movie!
  • kiriyamakazou
    September 16, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Teaching Mrs. Tingle is never really funny enough, thrilling enough or even consistent to be considered a great success. It is however a damn entertaining ride. Like a less serious version of Swimming with Sharks. It's the little guy getting their own back on a corrupt system. Mi... read morerren is absolutely fantastic as a supposed victim who is incredibly deceptive and manipulative. She's scene stealing and a great villain. The film fails due to the sudden escalation of events and I'm not talking about the hostage scenario. It turns from Holmes wishing to explain she wasn't going to cheat to her actually cheating and changing her grades. This would be okay if there was some punishment or at least a deeper exploration into the consequences. The ending is far too light as well, a more tragic ending would have worked out so much better for the film as a whole. Still a fun watch, especially for those oppressed students.
  • deano
    August 31, 2008
    deano
    This film panders shamelessly to the whining of spoiled mall rats (parents are clueless, teacher are evil, teenagers are pure, decent, and loyal). Helen Mirren easily outacts her callow costars, literally with her hands tied.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 11, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Kids capture their hated schoolteacher Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren). There's some good interaction once Mrs. Tingle is tied to a bed and they can reason with her; she isn't such a monster after all - or is she only pretending? The movie mostly takes place in one house. There are a ... read morefew twists and tricks before the movie is over. Enjoyable to watch once, but not a keeper.
  • superclerk25
    January 26, 2007
    superclerk25
    A poor adaptaion of an ok book.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Very well done.
  • mrbungle7821
    February 23, 2006
    mrbungle7821
    [font=Arial][color=darkred]The directorial debut from 'Scream' scribe [/color][/font][font=Arial][color=darkred]Kevin Williamson is in a dire identity crisis no marketers would want to handle. Is it trying to be a teen drama? Is it trying to be a thriller? Is it trying to be a co... read moremedy? Whatever it's trying to be it most certainitely isn't entertaining. Maybe they should've tried that first.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Williamson, the man who made self reflective pop culture references a career and the puppeteer over 'Dawson's Creek', takes a stab at directing his own movie he wrote embittered over an unpleasent English teacher of his long ago. The normal sharp writing and wit found in most of Williamson's trademark slash-and-dash-and-instant-cash pictures are completely absent in this outing and we are replaced with dull cardboard characters, predictable plotting, and poor direction.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]The movie is bubbling over to the brim with every high school cliche you can think of. The characters aren't even people, or even grossly overdone cartoons, they're basically cut-outs of real people. It's like every person phoned in a performance and had cut-outs stand in their places. Let's see there's the good girl hero who's falsely accused(Katie Holmes), the good girl's rival who kisses up to teacher (Liz Stauber), the bad boy without a cause that the good girl hates but just can't help herself to fall in love with later (Barry Watson), and the good girl's best friend who serves for the purpose of comic foil (Marisa Coughlan). Have we got everything covered, okay greenlight it![/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]One of the pleasent things in 'Tingle' is Helen Mirren's wonderful over-the-top performance as the misanthropic title villain. She shows how she can out-act any WB pretty teen star that dares vie for her creed. Though for the latter part of the movie she's mainly reduced to clawing and hissing, this pussycat has some bite along with a tongue of acid.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]This effort comes off as a juvenile fantasy to exact revenge upon all those in the educational system that have ever done wrong. Notice that this same idea was used in last winter's 'The Faculty' to much better results. Ultimately when it comes down to, 'Teaching Mrs. Tingle' has a few funny parts, mostly revolving around 'The Exorcist' in some way, and a lot of predicatbly dull parts. Williamson doesn't have the visual prowess to keep a career as a director, and the entire horror world has moved on from the post-irony movement he himself forged. While I do think there is a place for this man's talent, I hope he sticks behind a typewriter more than a camera.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Now what did we learn class?[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: C [/color][/font]
  • SunilJawahir
    October 15, 2008
    SunilJawahir
    A little silly but still fun. I love Helen Mirren as Mrs. Tingle.
  • leekyle1968
    March 5, 2008
    leekyle1968
    so-so but i wouldnt rent it again

View All Teaching Mrs. Tingle Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Antonucci
January 1, 2000
Mike Antonucci, San Jose Mercury News

Insipid and thick!

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Depressing! Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

Slow-moving.

Andrew O'Hehir
January 1, 2000
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A wildly uneven and sloppily directed movie, full of clashing tones and undigested bits of superior films. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Newly benign, and noticeably clumsy. Full Review

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

The movie needs a few more ideas and a lot more thrills to excite viewers, whether young or old. Full Review

Kevin Maynard
January 1, 2000
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz

Wholly predictable and implausible plotting, thin characterizations, and stilted dialogue!

January 1, 2000
Dallas Morning News

Dismal. Full Review

Ernest Hardy
January 1, 2000
Ernest Hardy, Film.com

Teaching Mrs. Tingle is funny, smart and full of unpredictable twists and turns.

Jay Boyar
January 1, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Deadly dull!

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Teaching Mrs. Tingle Trivia

  • Disturbing Behavior, Teaching Mrs. Tingle and Pieces of April.. if u dont got it can Dawson's Creek refresh your memory??  Answer »
  • This movie stars Katie Holmes, Barry Watson, an unfortunate string of events, and a crazy woman  Answer »
  • In which movie does Jo Lynn, Marisa Coughlan, impersonate the movie 'The Exorcist'.  Answer »
  • Who was the main charector in teaching mrs tingle.  Answer »
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