Ronan Bites Into Dark Comedy as Bad Apples Opens to Mixed Reviews but Universal Praise for Its Star
Saoirse Ronan, the four-time Oscar-nominated actress from County Carlow who has become one of the most acclaimed performers of her generation, has opened in Irish cinemas this week in Bad Apples — a dark comedy thriller directed by Swedish filmmaker Jonatan Etzler in which she plays Maria, an idealistic primary school teacher whose life unravels catastrophically after she accidentally imprisons a violent and disruptive student in her basement, in a role that represents one of the most striking departures of her career to date.
Background
Saoirse Ronan's career has been defined by a series of performances of extraordinary range and depth, from her Oscar-nominated turn in Atonement at the age of 13 to her acclaimed work in Brooklyn, Lady Bird, Little Women, and Mary Queen of Scots. She has consistently chosen roles that challenge her and her audiences, and her willingness to take risks has made her one of the most interesting actors working in English-language cinema today.
Bad Apples, which is based on the 2020 Swedish novel De Oönskade (The Unwanted) by Rasmus Lindgren, represents a significant departure from the period dramas and literary adaptations with which Ronan has most often been associated. The film is a dark, satirical comedy set in the contemporary English West Country, and its tone — dry, unsettling, occasionally very funny — is quite different from anything Ronan has done before. The screenplay was written by Jess O'Kane, and the film was shot over 32 days in Bristol and Bath in 2024.
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 and subsequently screened at the San Sebastián and BFI London Film Festivals before receiving its wide theatrical release in Ireland, the UK, and the United States on September 18, 2026. It arrives in Irish cinemas at a moment when Ronan's profile is at its highest, following a period of sustained critical acclaim that has made her one of the most bankable Irish names in international cinema.
Key Developments
The film follows Maria Spencer, an Irish expat teacher working in a primary school in the English West Country, whose carefully constructed professional life begins to disintegrate when she is assigned a class that includes Danny, a violent and chaotic student played by newcomer Eddie Waller. After a disastrous school trip during which Maria accidentally renders Danny unconscious, she finds herself in possession of an unconscious child and makes a series of increasingly catastrophic decisions that culminate in his imprisonment in her basement.
The critical response has been divided, but the consensus on Ronan's performance is unambiguous: she is extraordinary. RTÉ's film critic described her as "incapable of delivering an uninteresting performance," while The Guardian noted that she "anchors the film's bizarre premise with sincerity and depth, even when the script fails to provide her character with sufficient development." Her chemistry with Waller, who makes an impressive screen debut, has been particularly praised.
The film itself has received more mixed notices. Critics have described it as "heavy-handed," "laborious," and "tonally uncertain," with the satirical intent — a commentary on the under-resourced state of the English education system — not always landing with the precision that the premise demands. The third act, in particular, has been identified as a weakness, with the introduction of a secondary student character muddying the central dynamic between Maria and Danny.
Why It Matters
Bad Apples matters for Irish cinema for reasons that go beyond the quality of the individual film. Ronan's continued willingness to take risks — to choose projects that challenge her and that might not succeed commercially — is one of the things that makes her such a significant figure in Irish cultural life. She could, at this stage of her career, make safe choices and still have a very successful career. The fact that she does not is a reflection of an artistic integrity that is rare at her level of the industry.
The film also raises interesting questions about the representation of Irish characters in international cinema. Maria is explicitly Irish — her nationality is a significant element of her character, shaping her relationship with the English community in which she works and the assumptions that others make about her. The film uses her Irishness not as a source of comedy or stereotype but as a genuine element of her identity, and Ronan's performance gives it weight and specificity.
The broader context of Irish cinema is also relevant. The Irish screen industry has been in a period of remarkable growth, with Irish-made films and television series attracting international audiences and critical acclaim. Ronan's success — and the success of other Irish actors, directors, and writers in the international market — is both a product of that growth and a driver of it, creating a virtuous cycle of investment, talent development, and cultural visibility.
Local Impact
In Ireland, where Ronan is a figure of genuine cultural significance, the opening of Bad Apples has been an occasion for celebration and debate. Cinema audiences across the country have been turning out in significant numbers, with the film performing particularly well in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. The Irish Film Institute in Dublin, which has been a champion of Ronan's work since her early career, is hosting a special screening with a post-film discussion on the themes of the film and its place in her body of work. In County Carlow, where Ronan grew up, local pride in her success remains intense, and the county council has indicated that it will mark the film's release with a special event in October.
What's Next
Bad Apples is currently in cinemas across Ireland and the UK, with a US release also underway. The film is expected to be available on streaming platforms in early 2027, following its theatrical run. Ronan has several projects in development, including a new film with director Greta Gerwig and a television project that she is developing through her own production company. She is also expected to be a significant presence at the awards season events later in the year, with her Bad Apples performance already generating early Oscar conversation despite the film's mixed critical reception. The Dublin Theatre Festival, which opens on September 24, will include a special screening of the film as part of its cultural programme, with Ronan expected to attend for a post-screening discussion.
