The Absent-Minded Professor (1961): cast, story & where to watch
1961 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1961, The Absent-Minded Professor is a comedy, family and science fiction film directed by Robert Stevenson, running about 96 minutes. “The most amazing discovery since laughter!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Bumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible material that gains energy every time it strikes a hard surface. It allows for the invention of shoes that can allow jumps of amazing heights and enables a modified Model-T to fly. Unfortunately, no one is interested in the material except for Alonzo Hawk, a corrupt businessman who wants to steal the material for himself.
Who’s in it. The Absent-Minded Professor stars Fred MacMurray as Ned Brainard, Nancy Olson as Betsy Carlisle, Keenan Wynn as Alonzo P. Hawk and Tommy Kirk as Biff Hawk, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, The Absent-Minded Professor has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Disney Plus and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Absent-Minded Professor page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Absent-Minded Professor tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)?
- In US, The Absent-Minded Professor is available to stream on Disney Plus, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Absent-Minded Professor worth watching?
- The Absent-Minded Professor holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, family and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Absent-Minded Professor?
- The Absent-Minded Professor stars Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk and Leon Ames.
- When was The Absent-Minded Professor released?
- The Absent-Minded Professor was released in 1961, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.