Kontrabida Academy


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.

Plot

Gigi is a woman who faces difficulties in her personal and professional life. She works as an assistant manager at a Korean barbecue restaurant, where she is treated poorly by her manager, Jingo. Gigi also struggles with debt caused by her mother, Betty, and discovers that her boyfriend of seven years, Abet, is cheating on her. She feels like a "pushover" at work and in her home.
Gigi wins a television set in a raffle and begins watching a soap opera titled ''Batas ng Api. The show features a villain named Mauricia, who speaks to Gigi through the screen. Mauricia invites Gigi to enroll in the "Kontrabida Academy" to learn how to fight back against those who mistreat her. Mauricia promises that the curriculum will help Gigi reach her full potential.
At the academy, Gigi attends classes taught by various villains. The subjects include facial expressions, insults, and physical confrontation. Gigi adopts a new, confident persona named "Gia." She eventually returns to the real world to confront her problems using the dirty tricks she learned. The film also depicts a "San Bida University," a school for heroes that contrasts with the villain academy.

Cast

The film features two lead actresses.
The supporting cast includes:
The film features cameo appearances by veteran actors known for playing antagonists, who portray the academy's faculty:

Production

Development

Netflix announced the project on January 31, 2025. Early promotional photos showed the lead actresses in formal dresses with the tagline, "Bida or kontrabida, you decide." The film was written and directed by Chris Martinez. This marked a collaboration between Martinez and Domingo, who had previously worked together on the Kimmy Dora series and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank. The film has a runtime of one hour and 48 minutes.

Casting and themes

Eugene Domingo stated that the film highlights the contributions of "kontrabidas" to the industry. She noted that Filipino audiences might be evolving to root for characters who are assertive rather than just underdogs. 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. Forteza stated that the film explores how a "villainous" influence can change a person's life. The film includes a tribute to late actors known for villain roles, including Gil, Bella Flores, and Zeny Zabala.

Release and marketing

The official trailer was released in August 2025. To promote the film, Netflix held a launch event called the "Kontrabida Ball" at The Peninsula Manila. The event featured gothic decor, including crimson drapes and candlelit chandeliers. Attendees included the cast and iconic Philippine screen villains.
The film began streaming on Netflix on September 11, 2025. It was made available in over 200 countries.

Reception

Kontrabida Academy reached the number one spot on the "Top 10 Movies in the Philippines Today" list on Netflix shortly after its release.
Fred Hawson of ABS-CBN News gave the film a positive review, praising Eugene Domingo for embracing the "villainy" of her role. He also complimented Barbie Forteza for her acting range during her character's transformation. However, Hawson criticized the scenes set at the "hero school," describing the fashion and subjects there as cliché. Rolling Stone Philippines called the film "camp with a capital K" and noted it as an ode to teleserye villains. Ica Hontiveros-Cheng of BusinessMirror wrote that the film is a "call to change." She interpreted the plot as a message that people should stand up for their rights against oppression.