| Kontrabida Academy | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Chris Martinez |
| Written by | Chris Martinez |
| Starring | |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Tagalog |
Kontrabida Academy is a 2025 Philippine comedy film written and directed by Chris Martinez. The film stars Barbie Forteza and Eugene Domingo in a story about a woman who enters a school designed to train villains. The film was released globally on the streaming platform Netflix on September 11, 2025. Critics have described the film as a campy homage to Philippine soap operas.
Gigi is a woman who faces difficulties in her personal and professional life. [1] She works as an assistant manager at a Korean barbecue restaurant, where she is treated poorly by her manager, Jingo. [2] Gigi also struggles with debt caused by her mother, Betty, and discovers that her boyfriend of seven years, Abet, is cheating on her. [2] She feels like a "pushover" at work and in her home. [3]
Gigi wins a television set in a raffle and begins watching a soap opera titled Batas ng Api (transl. Law of the Oppressed). [2] The show features a villain named Mauricia, who speaks to Gigi through the screen. [2] Mauricia invites Gigi to enroll in the "Kontrabida Academy" to learn how to fight back against those who mistreat her. [4] Mauricia promises that the curriculum will help Gigi reach her full potential. [5] [6]
At the academy, Gigi attends classes taught by various villains. [7] The subjects include facial expressions, insults, and physical confrontation. [2] Gigi adopts a new, confident persona named "Gia." [8] She eventually returns to the real world to confront her problems using the dirty tricks she learned. [9] The film also depicts a "San Bida University," a school for heroes that contrasts with the villain academy. [2] [10]
The film features two lead actresses. [5]
The supporting cast includes: [10] [2] [9]
The film features cameo appearances by veteran actors known for playing antagonists, who portray the academy's faculty: [2]
Netflix announced the project on January 31, 2025. [11] Early promotional photos showed the lead actresses in formal dresses with the tagline, "Bida or kontrabida, you decide." [12] The film was written and directed by Chris Martinez. [13] [9] This marked a collaboration between Martinez and Domingo, who had previously worked together on the Kimmy Dora series and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank . [2] [4] The film has a runtime of one hour and 48 minutes. [9]
Eugene Domingo stated that the film highlights the contributions of "kontrabidas" (villains) to the industry. [14] She noted that Filipino audiences might be evolving to root for characters who are assertive rather than just underdogs. [14] To prepare for her role, Barbie Forteza used lessons she learned from an online acting masterclass she took with the late Cherie Gil during the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] Forteza stated that the film explores how a "villainous" influence can change a person's life. [8] The film includes a tribute to late actors known for villain roles, including Gil, Bella Flores, and Zeny Zabala. [2]
The official trailer was released in August 2025. [3] To promote the film, Netflix held a launch event called the "Kontrabida Ball" at The Peninsula Manila. [15] The event featured gothic decor, including crimson drapes and candlelit chandeliers. [15] Attendees included the cast and iconic Philippine screen villains. [16]
The film began streaming on Netflix on September 11, 2025. [17] [18] It was made available in over 200 countries. [16]
Kontrabida Academy reached the number one spot on the "Top 10 Movies in the Philippines Today" list on Netflix shortly after its release. [19]
Fred Hawson of ABS-CBN News gave the film a positive review, praising Eugene Domingo for embracing the "villainy" of her role. [2] He also complimented Barbie Forteza for her acting range during her character's transformation. [2] However, Hawson criticized the scenes set at the "hero school," describing the fashion and subjects there as cliché. [2] Rolling Stone Philippines called the film "camp with a capital K" and noted it as an ode to teleserye villains. [6] Ica Hontiveros-Cheng of BusinessMirror wrote that the film is a "call to change." [20] She interpreted the plot as a message that people should stand up for their rights against oppression. [20]