EPISODE · Aug 8, 2025 · 1H 6M
Real Genius (1985)
from Everything Actioncast · host Zach Sheets
This week on the Everything Actioncast, Zach and Chris enroll at Pacific Tech and talk about 1985's Real Genius for its 40th anniversary.Val Kilmer stars as Chris Knight, a senior who takes physics prodigy Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret) under his wing as the pair work as part of a team developing a powerful laser. The team is unaware that their professor, Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), is secretly working for the CIA and plans to turn over the laser, if it gets completed in time, to be used as an orbital weapons system. Zach and Chris discuss the extent of the damage being done to the Pacific Tech campus, the lack of a unique soundtrack song, how the pranks are based on actual events, why the CIA would outsource a top-secret weapons project to a college science professor, and more.You can watch Real Genius on Philo or rent it from Amazon, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV. Next week, we're getting ready for the return of Hutch Mansell in Nobody 2 by revisiting the first movie from 2021.We want to hear your comments and feedback. Send them all to [email protected]. Also, let us know your suggestions for movies for us to discuss.Please subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. You can also find the podcast on YouTube.Check us out on Twitter (@evaction), Facebook (www.facebook.com/everything.action), and Instagram (@everything.action).
What this episode covers
This week on the Everything Actioncast, Zach and Chris enroll at Pacific Tech and talk about 1985's Real Genius for its 40th anniversary. Val Kilmer stars as Chris Knight, a senior who takes physics prodigy Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret) under his wing as the pair work as part of a team developing a powerful laser. The team is unaware that their professor, Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), is secretly working for the CIA and plans to turn over the laser, if it gets completed in time, to be used as an orbital weapons system. Zach and Chris discuss the extent of the damage being done to the Pacific Tech campus, the lack of a unique soundtrack song, how the pranks are based on actual events, why the CIA would outsource a top-secret weapons project to a college science professor, and more. You can watch Real Genius on Philo or rent it from Amazon, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV. Next week, we're getting ready for the return of Hutch Mansell in Nobody 2 by revisiting the first movie from 2021. We want to hear your comments and feedback. Send them all to [email protected]. Also, let us know your suggestions for movies for us to discuss. Please subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-actioncast/id368044198?ls=1&mt=2)], Amazon Music, [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9f9a5ed7-32c4-4a81-8b70-8df6c7a59c70/Everything-Actioncast] Spotify [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9f9a5ed7-32c4-4a81-8b70-8df6c7a59c70/Everything-Actioncast], or wherever you get podcasts. You can also find the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@everythingaction4636]. Check us out on Twitter (@evaction [https://www.twitter.com/evaction]), Facebook (www.facebook.com/everything.action [https://www.facebook.com/everything.action]), and Instagram (@everything.action [https://www.instagram.com/everything.action/]).
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Real Genius (1985)
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