Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option

  • Video
  • 20012001
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
ActionCrimeThriller
Former mercenary Karl Thomasson returns once again as a substitute teacher, this time to infiltrate a military school's faculty to cease the actions of white supremacists.Former mercenary Karl Thomasson returns once again as a substitute teacher, this time to infiltrate a military school's faculty to cease the actions of white supremacists.Former mercenary Karl Thomasson returns once again as a substitute teacher, this time to infiltrate a military school's faculty to cease the actions of white supremacists.
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Radler
  • Writers
    • Roy Frumkes(characters)
    • Dan Gurskis
    • Alan Ormsby(characters)
  • Stars
    • Treat Williams
    • Angie Everhart
    • Patrick Kilpatrick
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Radler
  • Writers
    • Roy Frumkes(characters)
    • Dan Gurskis
    • Alan Ormsby(characters)
  • Stars
    • Treat Williams
    • Angie Everhart
    • Patrick Kilpatrick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos16

    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    Treat Williams and Tim Abell in The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)
    Patrick Kilpatrick in The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Treat Williams
    Treat Williams
    • Karl Thomassonas Karl Thomasson
    Angie Everhart
    Angie Everhart
    • Jennyas Jenny
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    • Brackas Brack
    Bill Nunn
    Bill Nunn
    • Lutheras Luther
    Tim Abell
    Tim Abell
    • Devlinas Devlin
    Grayson Fricke
    • Ted Teagueas Ted Teague
    Simon Rhee
    Simon Rhee
    • Limas Lim
    Scott Thomas
    • Buckneras Buckner
    • (as Scott Miles)
    Brian Beegle
    Brian Beegle
    • Freyas Frey
    Samantha Thomas
    Samantha Thomas
    • Harmonas Harmon
    John Michael Weatherly
    John Michael Weatherly
    • Maukas Mauk
    • (as Michael Weatherly)
    Lori Beth Sikes
    Lori Beth Sikes
    • Cunninghamas Cunningham
    • (as Lori Beth Edgeman)
    Moe El Emam
    Moe El Emam
    • Robsonas Robson
    • (as Mohamed T. El Emam)
    J. Don Ferguson
    J. Don Ferguson
    • Colonel Teagueas Colonel Teague
    K.C. Powe
    • Sissyas Sissy
    Lonnie R. Smith Jr.
    • Yuleeas Yulee
    • (as Lonnie Smith)
    Laura-Shay Griffin
    • Dixieas Dixie
    Alton Glass
    • Cadetas Cadet
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Radler
    • Writers
      • Roy Frumkes(characters)
      • Dan Gurskis
      • Alan Ormsby(characters)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Substitute 2: School's Out
    5.2
    The Substitute 2: School's Out
    The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All
    4.7
    The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All
    The Substitute
    6.0
    The Substitute
    Sniper 3
    5.3
    Sniper 3
    The Substitute
    5.4
    The Substitute
    Strike Commando
    5.2
    Strike Commando
    A Man Apart
    6.1
    A Man Apart
    Marked for Death
    6.0
    Marked for Death
    Deadly Target
    5.3
    Deadly Target
    I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
    4.7
    I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
    The Principal
    6.3
    The Principal
    Halftime
    Halftime

    Storyline

    Edit
    A former mercenary joins a military academy as a teacher. He soon discovers a neo-Nazi group, code-named Werewolves, formed among the cadets. He also quickly finds that they have military leadership among the officers at the Academy. —John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
    time bombposing as a teacherundercovermilitary academymercenary77 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for violence, sexuality and some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally premiered on HBO much like its previous two sequels.
    • Goofs
      Treat Williams is supposed to be a uniformed teacher/officer in a military academy. Yet his haircut is clearly not within US Army standards.
    • Quotes

      Karl Thomasson: Whine usually makes me tired.

      Jenny: [Kisses Karl] Still tired?

      Karl Thomasson: No, I'm wide awake now!

      [He and Jenny passionately kiss]

    • Connections
      Follows The Substitute (1996)

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    bad sequel
    I dont get it. We have a very good movie, with a good sequel, a fair second sequel but Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option is just plain stupid. The only thing good in this movie is Treat Williams because he is an awesome actor and knows his role very well. Basically this storyline is just like any other action movie, white suprimicists taking over a military base or whatever and the hero comes in to whipe the whole mess free. Like I said, Treat Williams is the only thing in this movie that actually makes this movie worth watching. Well I guess I give this movie some credit since how the acting isn't so bad... five out of ten stars.
    helpful•2
    4
    • the_last_shadow_2000
    • Jul 7, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not an Option
    • Filming locations
      • Georgia, USA
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    IMDb's 2022 TV Guide
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    6 Sundance Award-Winning Movies to Stream Now
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.