Real Genius

1985
15
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

39K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:59

Teen Comedy Comedy Romance Sci-Fi

An uptight teenage prodigy enters a top engineering college, but feels awkward among the freewheeling students. When a professor aims to turn their laser project into a military weapon, he a... Read allAn uptight teenage prodigy enters a top engineering college, but feels awkward among the freewheeling students. When a professor aims to turn their laser project into a military weapon, he and his offbeat roommate plot to ruin the plan.An uptight teenage prodigy enters a top engineering college, but feels awkward among the freewheeling students. When a professor aims to turn their laser project into a military weapon, he and his offbeat roommate plot to ruin the plan.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

39K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,313

273

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Videos3

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Photos95

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Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and director Marc Webb take our Ultimate Disney Quiz.

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When Lazlo Hollyfeld (Jon Gries) sends in a large number of entries to the Frito-Lay contest, he is mirroring the actions of Caltech students Steve Klein, Dave Novikoff and Barry Megdal, who, in 1974, used a similar strategy to win a McDonald's sweepstakes. Their entries came to roughly 1/5th of the total entries and won them a station wagon, $3,000 cash and $1,500 in food gift certificates.

Goofs
They say the ice in the hall would sublimate directly to gas. If that would be true, it would be impossible to skate or glide on this kind of ice as the building of water is essential for gliding/skidding on ice. However, Ick never reveals what the substance is, and it's possible his mystery substance can both sublime and provide for skating.

Quotes
Mitch: You know, um, something strange happened to me this morning...
Chris Knight: Was it a dream where you see yourself standing in sort of sun-god robes on a pyramid with a thousand naked women screaming and throwing little pickles at you?
Mitch: No...
Chris Knight: Why am I the only one who has that dream?

Alternate versions
In one pan-and-scan version, when Jordan looks through the hole the laser made through a tree, the camera stays on her while another pan-and-scan version cuts aside to Chris for his line and to catch him turning his head when she says, "Look!"

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Fright Night/Real Genius/Weird Science/The Coca-Cola Kid (1985)

Soundtracks
You Took Advantage of Me
Written by Richard Rodgers (uncredited) and Lorenz Hart (uncredited)
Performed by Carmen McRae
Courtesy of MCA Records

User reviews160

Featured review

8/10

Terrific '80's Film

I've noticed that some people who've commented on REAL GENIUS do not appear impressed. This must be either because they lack a sense of humor or simply don't know a good movie when they see one. Val Kilmer is hysterical, the script is filled with clever one-liners. William Atherton is THE ego-meniacle bad guy. And Chris Knight and Mitch Taylor have a guy named Lazlow living in their closet. Come on, this film is terrific. I could watch this film every day. It's that good.