Real Genius

When he gets mad, he doesn't get even… he gets creative.

1985 • 106 min • Comedy · Romance · Science Fiction

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Synopsis

When teenage geniuses Mitch Taylor and Chris Knight, working on an advanced laser project, learn that the military wants to use it as a weapon, they decide to thwart the plan.

Our family guide

Best from age 10

Movie Knight Score

517 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
67 Audience · 515 · 49%

Two brilliant teenage scientists discover their advanced laser project is being twisted into a military weapon. They team up to thwart the plan, leading to comedic and explosive results.

Violence & peril: 2/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 1/10

Heads up

Some comedic laser destruction
Minor peril and light confrontations
Occasional mild language

What it models well

Ingenuity and problem-solving
Teamwork and friendship
Standing up for what
s right

Talk about it after

The ethics of scientific discovery and its applications
How to handle intellectual property
The importance of challenging authority when necessary

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Real Genius. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Martha Coolidge • Crew: Neal Israel, Pat Proft, Pat Proft, Neal Israel, PJ Torokvei

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Recommended
**After all, it is possible to make a film for teenagers without barracks humor or sexual obsessions.** During the 80s, there was an explosion of films aimed at young audiences, and this is, perhaps, one of the most interesting, although it is as forgettable as almost all of them.…
Filipe Manuel Neto, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
The Big Bang guys when they were in college (not really, but sort of) RELEASED IN 1985 and directed by Martha Coolidge, "Real Genius" is a college dramedy about a 15 year-old genius in laser technology (Gabe Jarret) who’s recruited by physics Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), who has ulterior motives for having the kid work in his personal lab.…
Wuchak, TMDB Community