Screenplay data
Fifteen-year-old genius Mitch Simon and eccentric senior Chris Kinsley are recruited to develop a high-powered laser, Crossbow, for their manipulative professor, Dr. Jerry Atherton, who intends to weaponize it. After Atherton sabotages Chris's academic standing to prevent exposure, Mitch and Chris, aided by fellow students and a former genius, devise a plan to hijack the laser. They trick Atherton into believing the laser is being tested remotely, secretly redirecting it to his house. The laser fires, filling Atherton's house with popcorn, publicly humiliating him, ruining his career, and exposing the weaponization plot.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Real Genius opens with high-tech military spectacle before introducing brilliant student Mitch at a science fair.
Open full beat sheetMitch Simon is listed as Protagonist / Student. A 15-year-old genius, shy, intellectually precocious, and socially uncomfortable. In the parsed data, Mitch Simon is connected to 16 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 22.
16 scenes / 1 dialogue linesChris Kinsley is listed as Protagonist / Student. A brilliant, outrageous, and eccentric senior physics student who rejects authority. In the parsed data, Chris Kinsley is connected to 15 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
15 scenes / 8 dialogue linesDr. Jerry Atherton is listed as Antagonist / Professor. Anal-retentive physics professor, manipulative, and obsessed with his own image. In the parsed data, Dr. Jerry Atherton is connected to 7 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
7 scenes / 5 dialogue linesKent is listed as Antagonist / Student. Atherton's sycophantic protege, elitist, and snobbish. In the parsed data, Kent is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesJordan Cochran is listed as Supporting / Student. An advanced engineering student, hyper-kinetic and brilliant. In the parsed data, Jordan Cochran is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 11.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDon Carmichael is listed as Antagonist / Government Contract Monitor. A government official working with Atherton. In the parsed data, Don Carmichael is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSherry Nugil is listed as Supporting / Executive. A public relations executive at PEI. In the parsed data, Sherry Nugil is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 7.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesIck Ickagami is listed as Supporting / Student. A bio-chemist student who experiments with fun compounds. In the parsed data, Ick Ickagami is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 14.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDave Decker is listed as Antagonist / Government Official. A high-level government official pushing for the Crossbow weapon. In the parsed data, Dave Decker is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesLaslo Hopsfield is listed as Supporting / Hermit. A former genius student living in the steam tunnels, highly intelligent and eccentric. In the parsed data, Laslo Hopsfield is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 27.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesA B-1 bomber carrying a shuttle performs a maneuver.
The bomber crew prepares for the Crossbow mission.
A disguised man observes a crowd and a villa balcony.
The President is vaporized by a beam from space.
Government officials discuss the Crossbow weapon project.
Dave Decker, Don CarmichaelA science fair is held; Dr. Atherton arrives.
Dr. Jerry Atherton, Mitch SimonChris Kinsley tours the PEI facility.
Chris Kinsley, Sherry NugilChris and Sherry have a sexual encounter.
Chris Kinsley, Sherry NugilMitch meets the research team.
Mitch Simon, Dr. Jerry Atherton, KentMitch meets his roommate, Chris.
Mitch Simon, Chris KinsleyMitch wakes up to find a mysterious figure in his closet, then encounters Jordan in the bathroom.
Mitch Simon, Jordan Cochran, Laslo HopsfieldChris shows Mitch how to use liquid nitrogen to cheat vending machines.
Mitch Simon, Chris KinsleyChris and Mitch test a laser, causing a campus-wide power outage.
Mitch Simon, Chris KinsleyChris and Mitch host a party in the wave tank room.
Mitch Simon, Chris Kinsley, Ick Ickagami, Jordan CochranAtherton interrupts the party and berates Mitch.
Mitch Simon, Dr. Jerry Atherton, Kent, Jordan CochranKent plays a recording of Mitch crying to his mother.
Mitch Simon, Chris Kinsley, KentChris convinces Mitch to stay and get revenge on Kent.
Mitch Simon, Chris KinsleyKent discovers his car has been disassembled and moved into his room.
Mitch Simon, Chris Kinsley, KentChris arrives at Atherton's house and meets Susan, Atherton's daughter, before being confronted by Atherton and government officials.
Chris Kinsley, Dr. Jerry Atherton, Dave Decker, Don Carmichael, Sherry NugilAtherton informs Chris he is failing him and withdrawing his recommendation to PEI.
Chris Kinsley, Dr. Jerry AthertonAtherton and Carmichael inspect the bomber while Chris and Mitch escape from the landing gear.
Dr. Jerry Atherton, Don Carmichael, Chris Kinsley, Mitch SimonMitch contacts Kent via radio to give him instructions.
Kent, Mitch SimonAtherton monitors the bomber flight.
Dr. Jerry Atherton, Don CarmichaelChris and Mitch drive away.
Chris Kinsley, Mitch SimonChris, Mitch, and others confront Dr. Meredith outside Atherton's house.
Chris Kinsley, Mitch Simon, Jordan Cochran, Ick IckagamiKent enters the house and finds the popcorn machine.
KentThe laser strikes the house, filling it with popcorn.
Chris Kinsley, Mitch Simon, Kent, Jordan Cochran, Ick Ickagami, Laslo HopsfieldLet's get something very clear here. Everything you've heard about the supportive student body and the honor code might hold for the rest of the campus, but it doesn't count for squat in here.
Hi, good morning, I thought I saw you come in here, you must be an earlier riser, we met last night, I'm Jordan, remember?
And finally, it comes down to, if you can't do it, we'll get somebody else. I have a timetable, doctor.
Yes, sir, I do, but first may I take this opportunity to compliment you on your fashion sense.
So, I'm going to fail you, so you won't graduate, so you can't take the job. Q.E.D.
I just got word from the admissions committee. We did it. Mitch is in.
Jerry asked me to drop by. What did he ask you to do?
Have you ever seen breasts like theses before?
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