IMDb > Real Genius (1985)
Real Genius
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Real Genius (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
Real Genius (1985) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   11,639 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Neal Israel (screenplay)
Neal Israel (story)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Real Genius on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 August 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Who ELSE can turn lasers into light shows, aircraft into armchairs, and high-tech into hijinks? more
Plot:
Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities while developing a laser. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Veteran’s Day: Movies Veterans Love
 (From Screen Rant. 11 November 2009, 3:45 AM, PST)

Villains We Love: William Atherton
 (From Cinematical. 28 October 2009, 11:33 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
A High IQ version of Animal House more (114 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Val Kilmer ... Chris Knight

Gabriel Jarret ... Mitch Taylor (as Gabe Jarret)
Michelle Meyrink ... Jordan Cochran

William Atherton ... Prof. Jerry Hathaway

Jon Gries ... Lazlo Hollyfeld (as Jonathan Gries)

Patti D'Arbanville ... Sherry Nugil
Stacy Peralta ... Shuttle Pilot
Daniel Ades ... Laser Ray Victim
Andres Aybar ... Bartender
Louis Giambalvo ... Maj. Carnagle
Ed Lauter ... David Decker
Charles Shull ... Air Force General

Beau Billingslea ... George
Charles Parks ... Larry
Sean Frye ... Boy at Science Fair

JoAnn Willette ... Girl at Science Fair
Ina Gould ... Old Lady
Nadine Vix ... Student at Science Fair
Paul Tulley ... Mr. Taylor

Joanne Baron ... Mrs. Taylor
Chip Johnson ... Darlington Recruiter
Monte Landis ... Dr. Dodd

Sandy Martin ... Mrs. Meredith
Severn Darden ... Dr. Meredith

Randy Lowell ... Cornell (as Randolph Dreyfuss)
Robert Prescott ... Kent
John Shepherd Reid ... Carter
Tommy Swerdlow ... Bodie (as Tom Swerdlow)
Mark Kamiyama ... 'Ick' Ikagami
Martin Gundersen ... Math Professor
Brett Miller ... Carpet Man
Dean Devlin ... Milton
Yuji Okumoto ... Fenton
Lynda Wiesmeier ... Chris' Girl at Party
Penny Baker ... Ick's Girl at Party
Marcia Karr ... Cornell's Girl at Party
Isabelle Walker ... Girl at Party
Marii Mak ... Girl at Party
Cheri Wells ... Girl at Party
Catherine MacNamara ... Girl at Party
John Vasily ... Student
Ed Garrabrandt ... TV Makeup Man
Isabel Cooley ... TV Stage Manager
Robin Stober ... Waitress

Deborah Foreman ... Susan Decker
David Marvit ... Student in Hall
Michael Crabtree ... Air Force SP at Gate
Charles Sweigart ... Air Force SP at Gate

Peter Parros ... Air Force SP at Gate
Ronald Taylor ... Computer Technician
James Carrington ... Air Force Major
Michael Backes ... Air Force Controller
Corki Grazer ... Air Force Sergeant
Jeanne Mori ... Laser Technician
David Ursin ... Engineer
Joe Dorsey ... Congressman Dougton
Will Knox ... Laser Specialist
Kevin Hurley ... Air Force Technician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Helen Kelly ... Party Guest (uncredited)
David Monterosso ... Student In Cafeteria (uncredited)

Joy Michelle Moore ... Party Girl on surfboard (uncredited)
Tom Tangen ... Student on ice skates (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Martha Coolidge 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Neal Israel  screenplay
Neal Israel  story
Pat Proft  screenplay
Pat Proft  story
Peter Torokvei  writer

Produced by
Sam Crespi-Horowitz .... associate producer
Robert Daley .... executive producer
Brian Grazer .... producer
 
Original Music by
Thomas Newman 
 
Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond 
 
Film Editing by
Richard Chew 
 
Casting by
Janet Hirshenson 
Jane Jenkins 
 
Production Design by
Josan F. Russo 
 
Art Direction by
Jack G. Taylor Jr. 
 
Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson  (as Philip Abramson)
 
Costume Design by
Marla Denise Schlom  (as Marla D. Schlom)
 
Makeup Department
Zoltan Elek .... makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Edie Panda .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Billy Ray Smith .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen McEveety .... first assistant director (as Steve McEveety)
Joseph Paul Moore .... second assistant director (as Joseph P. Moore)
Mike Schilz .... third assistant director (as Michael J Schulz)
 
Art Department
Erin M. Cummins .... set designer
David L. Glazer .... assistant property master
Jim Husbands .... leadman
Steven Wolff .... set designer
 
Sound Department
Anna Boorstin .... sound editor
George Budd .... sound designer
David E. Campbell .... sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Virginia Cook-McGowan .... sound editor (as Virginia A. Cook)
Julia Evershade .... supervising sound editor
Roxanne Jones .... sound editor (as Roxanne R. Jones)
C. Darin Knight .... sound mixer (as Darin Knight)
Carl Lewis .... sound editor
John T. Reitz .... sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Christy Richmond .... assistant sound editor
John Roesch .... foley artist
Gregg Rudloff .... sound re-recording mixer (as Greg Rudloff)
John Vigran .... sound recording consultant
Paul C. Warschilka .... assistant sound editor
Marshall Winn .... sound editor
 
Special Effects by
Phil Cory .... special effects coordinator (as Philip C. Cory)
Raymond Klein .... special effects crew (as Raymond J. Klein)
Mike Reedy .... special effects technician
Robert Rowan .... special effects crew
Ray Svedin .... special effects crew
Thomas R. Ward .... special effects crew
Jerry D. Williams .... special effects crew
Hans Metz .... special effects assistant (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Richard Bennett .... visual effects supervisor
Ernie Cervantes .... visual effects crew
Syd Dutton .... special visual effects
Dale Fay .... visual effects crew
Michael Karp .... visual effects crew
Marc Kolodziejcyk .... visual effects crew
David Stipes .... visual effects supervisor
Bill Taylor .... special visual effects
 
Stunts
Kenny Alexander .... stunts
Cynthia Lea Clark .... stunt driver
Shane Dixon .... stunts
Kenny Ferrugiaro .... stunts
Linda Lee Franklin .... stunts
Allan Graf .... stunts
David M. Graves .... stunts (as David Michael Graves)
Marian Green .... stunts
Bernie Pock .... stunts (as Bernhard Pock)
Debby Porter .... stunts
Spiro Razatos .... stunts
Edward J. Ulrich .... stunt coordinator (as Ed Ulrich)
Edward J. Ulrich .... stunts (as Ed Ulrich)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Colin J. Campbell .... electrical gaffer (as Colin Campbell)
John J. Connor .... camera operator
Frederick Elmes .... photographer: second unit
Robert Jason .... electrical best boy (as Robert E. Jason)
Ken Nishino .... first assistant camera (as Kenneth Nishino)
Robert Samuels .... second assistant camera (as Robert B. Samuels)
William D. Barber .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Montoya .... grip (uncredited)
Emmanuel Vouniozos .... on-set techician (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Jill Simpson .... casting assistant
 
Editorial Department
Arthur Coburn .... additional editor
Albert Coleman .... first assistant editor
Alexandra Leviloff .... second assistant film editor
Bill Wilner .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Becky Mancuso-Winding .... music supervisor (as Becky Mancuso)
Michael Papale .... music supervisor
 
Other crew
Joanie Blum .... script supervisor
Ron Cobb .... laser technology
Brad Dechter .... source arrangements
Joan Eisenberg .... unit publicist
Wayne Fitzgerald .... title designer
Judith Gill .... production coordinator
Jan Walker .... assistant to producer
Robert J. Woodhead .... hacking consultant
Craig Miller .... marketing consultant (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial Effects
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
108 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The writings on the walls in the steam tunnels ("light your way", etc) are references to the game "Wizardry" and it sequels, in which clues can be found scrawled on the walls of the dungeon. The ending credits contain: "Thank to Sir-Tech, for Wizardry". Alternatively, assuming that Real Genius is meant to represent Caltech, the writing on the walls of the steam tunnels could be representative of the real writing on the walls of the real steam tunnels at Caltech. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Jordan is showing Mitch her rebreather, she is in some camera viewpoints carrying a diving mask, and in some the mask is missing. more
Quotes:
Chris Knight: Moles and trolls, moles and trolls, work, work, work, work, work. We never see the light of day. We plan this thing for weeks and all they want to do is study. I'm disgusted. I'm sorry but it's not like me, I'm depressed. There was what, no one at the mutant hamster races, we only had one entry into the Madame Curie look-alike contest and he was disqualified later. Why do I bother? more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Spaced: Change (#2.2)" (2001) more
Soundtrack:
I'm Falling more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
A High IQ version of Animal House, 13 June 2003
Author: wally-70 from Los Angeles, California

This movie is in the genre of Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds but features a cast of geniuses working on a laser, with one of the professors and his minions being the opposition.

It is in my top 10 films of all time list.

The humorous dialog goes on between ALL the characters but Val Kilmer has center stage even though the story seems to be about Mitch, the new 15 year old, premature college geek.

It is a magical movie that can truly lift your spirits if you are depressed. You can watch it over and over again because its power is not so much in the story but in the superb and genuinely captivating interaction between Val Kilmer and the rest of the cast.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (114 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Real Genius (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Favorite Scenes! Madness832
How'd they get Kent's car into his dorm room? petekrug17
About 'launch problem or design problem' jsnchen
Tom Hanks uncredited cameo d2-d4
Sarah Jessica Parker is really Mitch? cdogg2001
Sherry's role in RG? nrgmorris
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Nutty Professor A Beautiful Mind Porky's GoldenEye Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.