Being an instructor in any discipline is no easy task. Whether a licensed teacher, a sensei, musician, or professor of higher education,passing on your knowledge to the next generationtakes guts even more so when the audience would rather be anywhere else. Educators in television and film play an important role in the development of the main characters, the villains, and the plot itself.
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From mentor to mentee, these characters have unconventional methods for getting their lesson taught. These characters play a pivotal role in their respective stories, all with compassion and selflessness. While their classrooms only exist in the cinematic world, that doesn’t stop fans from wanting to step through their doors and take a seat to learn.
Sister Mary Clarence - ‘Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit’
Reprising her iconic role,Whoopi Goldbergas Sister Mary Clarence AKA Deloris Van Cartier provides audiences with another teacher that would entice audiences back into the classroom. In the sequel, Sister Mary Clarence is tasked with stepping into a music classroom to revitalize a Catholic school doomed to close.
She passes on her passion for music to the troubled teens who need guidance and structure from someone who’s been there. No matter how much work the choir needed, she didn’t back down and her admirable dedication to the students makes her an alluring educator for viewers.
Johnny Lawrence - ‘Cobra Kai’
He’s no Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), but the former All Valley champ is a dynamic instructor that would make any karate lesson one to remember. Aiming for redemption inNetflix’sCobra Kai, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is out to make his success no matter how many times he has to find a new dojo.
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His unorthodox style might deter away some students, but his dedication and passion to not repeat the past with today’s generation are admirable qualities that any pupil needs in a teacher. While his ability to understand pop-culture references lacks a bit, his determination to be a better man is a quality that resonates with viewers.
This drug lord takes high school chemistry to another level, dangling the allure of science and money-making to audiences.Bryan Cranston’s impeccable Walter White is one instructor fans would be desperate to enroll in school for. Pre-cancer, Walter was less than appealing for students to pay attention to, but as Heisenberg, his class would be on high alert.
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His ability to comprehend basic chemistry and apply it to a world so foreign to him captivated viewers for five intense seasons. Walter’s intelligence and dedication to providing for his family at all costs recruited his former student into a business partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). If he can start a business empire with just one student, image what he could have done with a whole classroom.
Annalise Keating - ‘How to Get Away With Murder’
College general education and introductory courses hold a reputation for boring first-year students unless you take “Criminal Law 100” or as the professor calls it “How To Get Away with Murder.” Embodied by the exquisiteViola Davis, Professor Annalise Keating is a powerhouse of an educator.
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For six seasons, audiences took a seat in Keating’s course where the rules are meant to be twisted. The intelligence and tough exterior that she brings to the table would have viewers on semesters-long waiting lists to get into her course for a shot at being hired.
Remus Lupin - ‘Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Like a friend audiences have known for ages, Professor Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) is one magical instructor we’d want to learn from. His year ofteaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, like so many otherHarry Potterprofessors,had fans sighing in relief that Hogwarts found someone who had a good heart to take over the course.
While his werewolf condition would prevent him from staying, Lupin made an impression on audiences (especially those who may not have read the books) as a teacher who would have their back by teaching them real skills to protect themselves. His kind demeanor and realistic life lens are qualities that would attract viewers into his classroom.
Mr. Kulkarni - ‘Never Have I Ever’
In a world of by-the-book high school teachers, there’s always room for the “cool guy” likeNever Have I Ever’sMr. Kulkarni (Utkarsh Ambudkar). Mr. K’s style of bringing a modern twist on classic literature like a trial of Gatsby characters is what makes his classroom one we’d want to sit in.
Being Devi’s (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) favorite teacher, audiences hope to see him inupcoming seasons ofNever Have I Ever.His delivery and well-timed wit create a strong rapport with his students, making viewers wish they had him as a teacher during their teen years.
Mr. Holland - ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’
Transforming many students’ lives throughout multiple decades, Mr. Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) is a music man whose door is always open. A composer waiting for his musical epiphany, Holland takes a teaching job as a temporary fix that ends up becoming his life’s work.
This educator turned around a music program not just by instructing students to play their instruments well, but by teaching them the history and passion that comes with the art form. Working with students from a variety of backgrounds, Mr. Holland demonstrates his ability to transfer the beauty of music to anyone that sets foot in his room.
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