Real Genius (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1985, Real Genius is a comedy, romance and science fiction film directed by Martha Coolidge, running about 106 minutes. “When he gets mad, he doesn't get even… he gets creative.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Chris is the top brain who just wants to party, Mitch is the 15-year-old college wiz kid. Supposedly hard at work on a lab project with a mysterious deadline, they still find time to use their genius to discover new ways to have fun.
Who’s in it. Real Genius stars Val Kilmer as Chris Knight, Gabriel Jarret as Mitch Taylor, Michelle Meyrink as Jordan and William Atherton as Professor Hathaway, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Real Genius has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $13M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Real Genius page.
If you liked it. Fans of Real Genius tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Real Genius (1985)?
- In US, Real Genius is available to stream on YouTube TV and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Real Genius worth watching?
- Real Genius holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, romance and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Real Genius?
- Real Genius stars Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink, William Atherton and Jon Gries.
- When was Real Genius released?
- Real Genius was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 106 minutes.