Steve
A psychologically exposed headteacher fights to save a fragile reform college while one volatile student struggles to escape his own destructive future.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- compassionate
- visceral
- serious movie night
- social issue drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly view the film as a brisk, thoughtful and visceral ensemble drama about educational pressure and mental health.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Steve's reform college faces closure while staff manage the needs of aggressive and vulnerable students.
The film interweaves Steve's struggle to preserve the school with Shy's conflict between violent behavior and future prospects.
Steve's battle with his mental health and self-medication gives the drama an intense, matter-of-fact emotional register.
The principal location is Steve's reform college, where teachers confront unruly teenagers and institutional collapse.
Films like Steve, and why
The Class
social realism, institutional pressure, and emotionally volatile school environments
Half Nelson
teacher student relationships, troubled adolescents, and compassionate educational drama
Detachment
mentally strained educators, ensemble tension, and grounded institutional drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Tim Mielants
- Release Date
- 2025-09-19
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (318)
Cast
- Cillian Murphy
- Tracey Ullman
- Jay Lycurgo
- Little Simz
- Douggie McMeekin
- Youssef Kerkour
- Roger Allam
- Emily Watson
- Archie Fisher
- Araloyin Oshunremi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Steve about?
- A psychologically exposed headteacher fights to save a fragile reform college while one volatile student struggles to escape his own destructive future.
- What is Steve like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Steve as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Steve violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Steve as moderate.
- What did critics think of Steve?
- Critics broadly view the film as a brisk, thoughtful and visceral ensemble drama about educational pressure and mental health.
- Which films are like Steve?
- Films with a similar feel include The Class, Half Nelson, and Detachment.
- How long is Steve?
- Steve runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Steve?
- In United States, Steve streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
