Real Genius (1985)

74% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(33,243 ratings)

Martha Coolidge directed this comedy taking place at fictional Pacific Tech, concerning incoming freshman Mitch (Gabe Jarret), a high school student whose Science Fair project made important inroads into laser beam technology. Mitch has been recruited by famed physics professor Hathaway (William… More Martha Coolidge directed this comedy taking place at fictional Pacific Tech, concerning incoming freshman Mitch (Gabe Jarret), a high school student whose Science Fair project made important inroads into laser beam technology. Mitch has been recruited by famed physics professor Hathaway (William Atherton), who asks Mitch to work in his laboratory. On campus, Mitch becomes roommates with the brilliant Chris Knight (Val Kilmer), legendary as the smartest freshman in the history of the college; but now, as a senior, he is less interested in his studies and more interested in having fun. It turns out that Hathaway is enlisting his students, unbeknownst to them, as a slave labor force to do research in developing a state-of-the-art laser device for the Defense Department (he uses his government grant funds to build a house). But Chris and Mitch begin to suspect that something is amiss with Hathaway's project. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Martha Coolidge
Written By: Neal Israel, Pat Proft, Peter Torokvei
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 1, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jun 11, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The humor is relentlessly cruel, smug, and disconnected from any sense of how human beings might behave in similar situations.
, Variety
What lifts the production above the run-of-the-mill is swift direction by Martha Coolidge, who has a firm grasp over the manic material.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
What the film needs, instead of these familiar teen-movie trappings, is a cleverness and eccentricity to match that of its characters. For the most part, these are qualities that it lacks.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Real Genius contains many pleasures, but one of the best is its conviction that the American campus contains life as we know it.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This disappointing teen comedy from director Martha Coolidge is another entry in the rash of teens-goofing-with-science films.
, Film4
The movie gets stuck as a run-of-the-mill teen revenge comedy.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It does make you wonder if the drive of the US education system is ultimately to develop better weapons of mass-destruction, though Coolidge's movie is too hazily good-natured to capitalise on the tougher aspects of the material.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
great fun and full of 1980s relics, from the now-antiquated computers to the box of Donkey Kong cereal to a finale set to Tears for Fears...
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
goofy and very funny
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Young Kilmer in no-brainer comedy
Brian J. Arthurs, Beach Reporter (Southern California)
Supreme guilty pleasure
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
See it. If you have seen it, see it again. It's a moral imperative.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A guilty pleasure....ooodles of fun
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Pure '80s genius.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Like Risky Business, this not only rose above the 1980s teen comedy genre, but stuck it to the Reagan administration as well.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Classic 80's movie!!
Alexander D

REAL GENIUS is a ridiculous, barely funny "teen flick" wannabe that makes John Hughes toss in his grave. If you want a real funny, real genius teen comedy that has the true comical power of Hughes (R.I.P), watch WEIRD SCIENCE. It's better delight.
Unknown H

This is one of those movies that I wake up one morning and just want to watch, an old faithful if you will. Val Kilmer gives one of his best performances, whether he wants to admit it or not, as Chris Knight, a once was child prodigy who has all the social graces of a man who really… More
This is one of those movies that I wake up one morning and just want to watch, an old faithful if you will. Val Kilmer gives one of his best performances, whether he wants to admit it or not, as Chris Knight, a once was child prodigy who has all the social graces of a man who really does know too much. Hilarious and heartfelt, if this film is not on your shelf at home I suggest it gets there soon!
AJ V

A funny movies about nerds, I like it better than Revenge of the Nerds, except that it has Kilmer, who's not that good an actor, but overall, it's a funny movie and I enjoyed it.
Leigh R

Pretty crazy. Hard to keep focused on it, but it was pretty good still.
Tim S

Cliche'd to the core, but I enjoyed this little flick.
Manu G

Quite funny and I just wanted to see this movie because it reminded me alot from my childhood. Young Val Kilmer and the young japanese guy from Karate Kid 2 jeje. Mitch is one of the youngest students ever accepted to a university known for its programs for geniuses. He's… More
Quite funny and I just wanted to see this movie because it reminded me alot from my childhood. Young Val Kilmer and the young japanese guy from Karate Kid 2 jeje. Mitch is one of the youngest students ever accepted to a university known for its programs for geniuses. He's partnered up with his roommate, science club legend Chris Knight, on a project to develop a high-powered laser. Together with their hyper-kinetic friends, they employ their intellects in the pursuit of bigger blasts, practical jokes, and a deeper understanding of what real genius is. When their final, functional laser is stolen by their teacher for a military weapon, they decide to get even.
Curtis L

When he makes his house explode with popcorn, you remember why it's so good.
Lafe F

A fun geek science film with girls and gadgets. I like the huge popcorn machine they invented. Val Kilmer is lots of fun as the older student teaching his new 15-year old dorm pal that there's more to life than science. They are unknowingly being used to develop a weapon for the… More
A fun geek science film with girls and gadgets. I like the huge popcorn machine they invented. Val Kilmer is lots of fun as the older student teaching his new 15-year old dorm pal that there's more to life than science. They are unknowingly being used to develop a weapon for the military. There's lots of fun and 80's music.
Ken S

Fairly Genius
Jason S

back before Val Kilmer considered himself too good.
Michael G

Just not as good as I remember it 20 years ago.
Chad R

Val Kilmer looks gay in this one. Watched it many times when I was young. Good stuff! Just watched this again yesterday. Still fair for a quick watch but the corn/cheese factor is off the charts.
shane h

A young man is drafted by a major academic college right out of high school because he is a genius in the field of lazer technology. He is put on a team with Val Kilmer to design a lazer that is more powerful than any other lazer. Kilmer is a loose cannon and likes to joke around and… More
A young man is drafted by a major academic college right out of high school because he is a genius in the field of lazer technology. He is put on a team with Val Kilmer to design a lazer that is more powerful than any other lazer. Kilmer is a loose cannon and likes to joke around and play pranks rather than work. When they find out that the lazer is being built for purposes other than what they thought it was for they band together to stop its use. A fun movie with a solid cast and character development from the 80's in true 80's format.
Leo L

Love this movie.

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Val Kilmer as Chris Knight

            Gabe Jarret as Mitch Taylor

            Michelle Meyrink as Jordan

            William Atherton as Prof. Hathaway

            Jon Gries as Lazlo Hollyfeld

            Patti D'Arbanville as Sherry Nugil

            Dan Ades as Laser Ray Victim

            Penny Baker as Ick's Girl at Party

            Joanne Baron as Mrs. Taylor

            Beau Billingslea as George

            Isabelle Cooley as TV Stage Manager

            Michael Crabtree as Air Force Gate Guard

            Severn Darden as Dr. Meredith

            Dean Devlin as Milton

            Joe Dorsey as Congressman

            Randolph Dreyfuss as Cornell

            Deborah Foreman as Susan

            Sean Frye as Boy at Science Fair

            Louis Giambalvo as Maj. Carnagle

            Corki Grazer as Air Force Sergeant

            Chip Johnson as Darlington Recruiter

            Mark Kamiyama as "Ick" Ikagami

            Marcia Karr as Cornell's Girl at Party

            Monte Landis as Dr. Dodd

            Ed Lauter as CIA Man Decker

            Sandy Martin as Mrs. Meredith

            Jeanne Mori as Laser Technician

            Yuji Okumoto as Fenton

            Charles Parks as Larry

            Peter Parros as Air Force Gate Guard

            Stacy Peralta as Shuttle Pilot

            Robert Prescott as Kent

            Tommy Swerdlow as Bodie

            Paul Tulley as Mr. Taylor

            David Ursin as Engineer

            Lynda  Wiesmeier as Chris' Girl at Party

            Jo Ann Willette as Girl at Science Fair

            John Shepherd Reid as Carter

            Andres Aybar as Bartender

            Michael Backes as Air Force Controller

            James Carrington as Air Force Major

            Ed Garrabrandt as TV Makeup Man

            Ina Gould as Old Lady

            Martin Gundersen as Math Professor

            Kevin Hurley as Air Force Technician

            Will Knox as Laser Specialist

            Marii Mak as Girl at Party

            David Marvit as Student in Hall

            Catherine McNamara as Girl at Party

            Brett Miller as Carpet Man

            Charles Shull as Air Force General

            Robin Stober as Waitress

            Charles Sweigart as Air Force Gate Guard

            Ronald Taylor as Computer Technician

            Johnny Vasily as Student

            Isabelle Walker as Girl at Party

            Cheri Wells as Girl at Party

            Jane Jenkins
            
            Janet Hirshenson
            
See full cast