Real Genius

PG

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1 hr. 46 min.

Comedy

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List

77%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When science whiz Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarret) arrives at Pacific Tech as a freshman, he's paired up with genius senior Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) to work on a laser project. Mitch initially doesn't care for Knight's slacker attitude, but is eventually won over, and their friendship allows them to make new progress on the laser project. It's only when the boys learn that the government intends to use the laser as a weapon that they start to question what they've actually been working for.

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Critics Consensus

It follows college tropes, but Real Genius has an optimistic streak that puts you on Val Kilmer's side all the way.

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Horror fan 4

Val Kilmer is hilarious and the comedy delivers many laughs. The characters and music are great. This is a classic 80's Movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

Full Review

Jay H

I wish Val Kilmer had done more comedies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/20/24

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S B

Better than expected. Worth a watch if you enjoy Kilmer, Meyrink or 80's college comedy movies. Unexpected decent soundtrack also. Which is a bonus.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

Jim S

Almost perfect movie, a rare non-exploitative 80s comedy, with a pitch perfect cast , including an all-in performance by William Atherton, and Val Kilmer in Amadeus-like abandon. Gets better with each watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Gabriel P

cheesy but enjoyable movie

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Steve D

Not genius, not even good.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

Full Review

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Martha Coolidge

Director

Val Kilmer

Chris Knight

Gabriel Jarret

Mitch Taylor

William Atherton

Prof. Jerry Hathaway

Michelle Meyrink

Jordan

Jon Gries

Lazlo Hollyfeld

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Real Genius: Official Clip - A Moral Imperative

2:07

Real Genius: Official Clip - Stop Playing With Yourself

2:09

Real Genius: Official Clip - Jordan Never Sleeps

1:51

Real Genius: Official Clip - File Under "H" for "Toy"

2:11

Real Genius: Official Clip - Lazlo's Lair

2:11

Real Genius: Official Clip - All Brain, No Penis

2:04

Real Genius: Official Clip - Jerry's House of Popcorn

2:13

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Real Genius: Trailer 1

1:58

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Coolidge has gotten onto something here, and the pity is that the story she's stuck with never gets her any deeper into it.

Jan 3, 2018

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The humor is relentlessly cruel, smug, and disconnected from any sense of how human beings might behave in similar situations.

May 30, 2007

Full Review

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.

May 30, 2007

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The mid-’80s were big on teen-oriented sci-coms (scientific comedies), so you may have overlooked this gem with a great early performance by Val Kilmer.

Rated: A

Dec 2, 2022

Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Not only does the film hold up fairly well, but the deeper aspects of the narrative become more obvious some 37 years since its release.

Sep 13, 2022

Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Let’s face it, how can you go wrong with “Smart people on ice!” ?

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

When science whiz Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarret) arrives at Pacific Tech as a freshman, he's paired up with genius senior Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) to work on a laser project. Mitch initially doesn't care for Knight's slacker attitude, but is eventually won over, and their friendship allows them to make new progress on the laser project. It's only when the boys learn that the government intends to use the laser as a weapon that they start to question what they've actually been working for.

Director: Martha Coolidge
Screenwriter: Neal Israel, Pat Proft, Neal Israel, Pat Proft
Production Co: Delphi III Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $130.8K
Sound Mix: Surround

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