Teaching Mrs. Tingle is a 1999 American teen black comedy thriller film written and directed by Kevin Williamson in his directorial debut, and starring Helen Mirren, Katie Holmes, Marisa Coughlan, Barry Watson, and Jeffrey Tambor.

It follows a trio of high school seniors who must prove their innocence to their vindictive history teacher, who accuses them of cheating on their final exams.

Released in the United States on August 20, 1999, the film was originally titled Killing Mrs. Tingle and had a darker tone.

It was delayed, re-edited and retitled due to the uproar over teen violence in films after the Columbine High School massacre.

In Grandsboro, California, Leigh Ann Watson is a high school student living with her single mother, Faye, who works as a waitress.

However, her grade in history class is threatened by her teacher, Mrs. Eve Tingle, who has a special dislike for Leigh Ann and downgrades her well-designed project due to a minor historical inaccuracy.

Fellow student Luke Churner makes a copy of Tingle's final exam and offers it to Leigh Ann, but she declines.

Tingle immediately heads to Principal Potter's office, but he has left for the day so she decides to tell him in the morning.

Meanwhile, Tingle plays mind games with Jo Lynn, concerning her jealousy about Leigh Ann's supposed relationship with Luke.

Later that day, the plan goes awry when Coach Richard Wenchell, the school's married gym teacher and Tingle's secret lover, visits the house.

However, Trudie was protected by the thick textbook she was holding to her chest and is completely unharmed, which Leigh Ann already knew.

Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver and Sally Field were considered for the role of Mrs. Eve Tingle, the antagonist.

[citation needed] Katie Holmes, who then had a principal role on Kevin Williamson's TV series Dawson's Creek, was cast as Leigh Ann in February 1998.

Remembering back to the ages of Leigh Ann, Luke, and Jo Lynn, fear of the future is the most powerful thing driving you on.

[2] Owing to the Columbine High School massacre that occurred on April 20, 1999—and the ensuing public outcry over the portrayal of violence in the media—the re-titled film was pushed back to August, with certain scenes being reshot or re-edited to earn a PG-13 rating.

[14] The film was a box-office bomb; it made US$3.3 million in its opening weekend, debuting at number 10 at the North American box office.

[17] The album features music from Eve 6, The Moffatts, Stretch Princess, Tara MacLean, Duncan Sheik, Kendall Payne, Sozzi, Bree Sharp, Radford, and Eman.