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Horror thriller

The Substitute (2007): Cast, Box Office & Plot

The Substitute (2007) movie poster

The Substitute is a 2007 horror thriller directed by Ole Bornedal, starring Ulrich Thomsen as Jesper, Sonja Richter and Sofie Gråbøl. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $2.3 million worldwide.

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The Substitute (2007) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Ole Bornedal
Genres
Thriller , Horror , Comedy
Original language
Danish
Studio
Thura Film
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Substitute About?

The premise of The Substitute without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The sixth‑grade class receives a substitute who pushes them toward an international competition in Paris. Yet something feels off: she reads the students’ thoughts, behaves cruelly, and somehow convinces every parent she’s outstanding—while the children know she’s actually an alien, a fact the class quietly accepts.

The Substitute Themes & Keywords

· 42 tags
  • substitute teacher
  • alien
  • teenager
  • junior high school
  • little sister
  • evil teacher
  • class trip
  • bullying
  • female police officer
  • group
  • teacher
  • liar
+30 more
  • 13 year old
  • teenage boy
  • teenage girl
  • middle school
  • extraterrestrial
  • punched in the face
  • child driving a car
  • child driving a bus
  • weirdo
  • villain as protagonist
  • talking to one's dead mother
  • single mother
  • single father
  • shotgun
  • seduction
  • nerd boy
  • lie
  • hen
  • father son relationship
  • eaten alive
  • dead mother
  • cult film
  • child psychologist
  • chicken
  • bus trip
  • bicycle
  • ball
  • killing an animal
  • ghost house underground
  • scene during end credits
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Cast & crew

The Substitute Cast & Characters

Ulrich Thomsen leads the cast as Jesper, with Sonja Richter as Maria and Sofie Gråbøl as Carls Mor. Directed by Ole Bornedal; 44 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Substitute

· 40 more
Show all 44 cast members
From the director

More from Ole Bornedal

More films directed by Ole Bornedal, best-rated first: The Bombardment, Just Another Love Story, Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever and Nightwatch.

Full filmography
Plot

The Substitute Plot Summary

What happens in The Substitute from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Jonathan Shale, a Vietnam War veteran and mercenary, returns to Miami after a botched covert operation in Cuba that cost three of his fellow soldiers their lives. He is greeted with warmth by his girlfriend, Jane Hetzko, who teaches at Columbus High School, a downtown institution struggling under a heavy gang presence. The sudden homecoming sets the stage for a tense clash between Shale’s hardened, tactical training and the gritty realities of inner-city life.

Full summary

The whole story of The Substitute, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Substitute Box Office

The Substitute grossed $2.3 million worldwide.

2007 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.3M

International
$2.3M
Videos

The Substitute Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Substitute.

The Substitue Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Substitute?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Jonathan Shale's profession before he becomes a substitute teacher?
Details

The Substitute Also Known As

11 alternative titles, including “La sustituta” and “La Remplaçante”.

Also known as
  • La sustituta
  • La Remplaçante
  • Alien Teacher
  • 선생님은 외계인
  • Vekil Öğretmen
  • Min fröken är en utomjording
  • A helyettesítő
  • מורה מחליפה
  • Замена
  • Заместничката
  • Učitelka

Seen The Substitute?
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Movies Like The Substitute

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Class of 1999 II: The Substitute, School of the Damned and The Faculty.

FAQ

The Substitute FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of The Substitute, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Substitute?

The Substitute runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was The Substitute released?

The Substitute was released on March 13, 2007.

Who directed The Substitute?

The Substitute was directed by Ole Bornedal.

More films by Ole Bornedal

Who is in the cast of The Substitute?

The Substitute stars Ulrich Thomsen as Jesper, Sonja Richter as Maria and Sofie Gråbøl as Carls Mor, among 44 credited actors.

How much did The Substitute make at the box office?

The Substitute grossed $2.3 million worldwide.

Does The Substitute have a post-credit scene?

No. The Substitute has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Substitute in?

The original language of The Substitute is Danish.

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