Marking Four Decades of the Quirkiest, Geekiest Movie Event Ever
In the summer of 1985, Hollywood experienced a brief but memorable trend as three movies focusing on nerdy characters using science took the cinematic world by storm. These films — Weird Science, Real Genius, and My Science Project — were all released within a week of each other, creating a wave of teen-science fiction crossover movies that captivated audiences.
Weird Science, directed by John Hughes, was part of Hughes' successful run of teen comedies. Reflecting the appetite for offbeat, science-infused stories, the film grossed almost $40 million worldwide, making it a significant box office success[3]. Real Genius, starring a young Val Kilmer in an unforgettable comedic role, blended college-level science themes with humor and was released alongside the other two movies, fitting into the same cultural zeitgeist of celebrating nerdy brilliance with a lighthearted tone[5]. My Science Project, also falling in this category, contributed to the wave, released in 1985, and introduced an alien device that allows time travel[2].
While no single official explanation documents why all three were released so close together, it was likely coincidence combined with studios capitalizing on the growing popularity of teen- and science-based entertainment in the mid-1980s. The success of one film may have encouraged competitors to release similar-themed movies at the same time to catch audience interest.
The simultaneous release of these movies in August 1985 represents a cultural moment when Hollywood briefly converged on sci-fi comedy stories about "nerdy" kids and science, as part of a broader “Teens & Science” trend in that summer’s movies[1][4].
Real Genius stars Gabriel Jarret and William Atherton, follows a student creating a laser, and was directed by Martha Coolidge. It grossed less than $13 million[6]. My Science Project, on the other hand, was the least directly geeky of the three, grossing just over $4 million and receiving negative critical reviews[2]. Despite mixed reviews, Weird Science was the biggest hit among the three[6].
It's worth noting that a film called "Back to the Future" was released in theaters about a month before the three movies mentioned. These movies were part of the narrative of people who liked those things becoming cool again in 1985[7]. The release of these films happened about a year after the release of "Revenge of the Nerds", which was a hit and likely influenced Hollywood to produce more movies with nerds as heroes[8].
Real Genius is notable for its ending featuring a house filled with popcorn and the song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears[9]. My Science Project was released on August 2, Real Genius on August 7, and Weird Science on August 9, 1985, respectively[10].
Releasing movies was different in 1985, with fewer choices, fewer screens, and more time for movies to get discovered[11]. Despite the competitive release schedule, each of these movies left an indelible mark on the summer of 1985, showcasing the enduring appeal of sci-fi comedy and the power of nerdy heroes.
[1] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/how-hollywood-created-the-80s-movie-geek-1152107 [2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090122/ [3] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090123/ [4] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090124/ [5] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090125/ [6] https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=weirdscience.htm [7] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088507/ [8] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ [9] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090125/trivia [10] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090122/releaseinfo [11] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/how-hollywood-created-the-80s-movie-geek-1152107
Gizmodo might consider writing an article about the cultural impact of the simultaneous release of 'Weird Science', 'Real Genious', and 'My Science Project' in 1985, when these movies about 'nerdy' characters and science-related themes took the cinematic world by storm and ushered in a "Teens & Science" trend in summer movies. The movies, including 'Weird Science', directed by John Hughes, 'Real Genius', directed by Martha Coolidge, and 'My Science Project', were part of the broader popularization of 'nerdy' heroes and sci-fi comedy. Although box office success varied, each movie left a significant mark on the summer of 1985, with 'Weird Science' being the most successful among them. Io9 could also delve into the future implications of this trend, examining how these movies have influenced the portrayal of 'nerdy' characters and science in movies and TV shows today.
