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.

| Original Score: A | Dec 2, 2022

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

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

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 13, 2022

...a mostly watchable yet lamentably erratic piece of work...

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 9, 2021

Real Genius is real dumb.

| May 22, 2020

Real Genius isn't just a showcase for a new talent. It's a well-paced, extremely likable film about a number of things that are being beaten to death in the movies these days. It dares to be both intelligent and funny. Shouldn't we all?

| Mar 26, 2020

Friends, the world is a wacky, wonderful tapestry of opinions and taste. However, there is one universal truth that I must insist we all acknowledge: Real Genius is the best movie of 1985. If you disagree, I'll see you in hell.

| Jun 6, 2019

Real Genius shows that nerds have their own games. They don't need to run faster or get more pledges or give themselves makeovers to have fun and prove their worth.

| Jan 9, 2019

'80s college comedy with some sex jokes, cursing.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 21, 2018

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

A witty, whip-smart and wise classic. It checks crowd-pleasing boxes of college-comedy tropes while boasting a cheerful view that optimism in education is not a sucker's bet but one to place over and over to keep things interesting ... and weird.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 17, 2015

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

| May 30, 2007

This disappointing teen comedy from director Martha Coolidge is another entry in the rash of teens-goofing-with-science films.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 30, 2007

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

The movie gets stuck as a run-of-the-mill teen revenge comedy.

| May 30, 2007

What makes it work (and simultaneously cements it as an '80s classic) is Kilmer's appealingly goofy performance -- it's a shame we don't see that side of him much these days.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 9, 2006

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.

| Jun 24, 2006

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...

| Oct 13, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jun 19, 2005

goofy and very funny

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 18, 2005