Character Relationships in Real Genius

Chris Knight (played by Val Kilmer) is a protagonist in Real Genius. Chris is a brilliant Pacific Tech student and former National Physics Club legend who initially appears to be a carefree slacker. He mentors Mitch by explaining the burdens of genius, helps create the laser, and later works with Mitch and Lazlo to prevent it from becoming a weapon. Mitch Taylor (played by Gabriel Jarret) is a protagonist in Real Genius. Mitch is a gifted high school student recruited by Professor Hathaway for the Crossbow project. Rooming with Chris, he becomes his friend and collaborator, endures Kent's humiliation, helps build the laser, and joins the effort to stop its military misuse. Jordan (played by Michelle Meyrink) appears in Real Genius. Jordan is a hyperactive, insomniac Pacific Tech student who befriends Mitch and becomes the object of his romantic feelings. She helps the group expose Kent by planting a transmitter in his braces, enabling Mitch to obtain information about the laser test. Kent (played by Robert Prescott) appears in Real Genius. Kent is Hathaway's graduate student and an eager toady who reports Mitch for attending a pool party and secretly records Mitch's call to humiliate him. He sabotages the students' laser, steals equipment for weaponization, and is tricked into revealing the test date. Lazlo Hollyfeld (played by Jon Gries) appears in Real Genius. Lazlo is a former Pacific Tech student whose genius collapsed after he discovered that his creations were being used to kill. Living secretly in the university tunnels, he advises Chris and Mitch, helps reprogram the laser, and later leaves in an RV he won through mathematics.

Character Relationship Map: Real Genius

Real Genius (1985) Poster

Real Genius (1985) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.

Characters

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

Story Analysis

A group of gifted students turns scientific ingenuity against the secret weapon project exploiting their work.

Plot Progression

  1. A Genius Meets His Idol
  2. Humiliation and Hidden History
  3. The Laser Race
  4. A Scientific Breakthrough Turns Dangerous
  5. Popcorn Against The Weapon

Directed by Martha Coolidge

Real Genius (1985) · 6.7/10 · comedy, romance, science-fiction

Content sources

Plot analysis generated from content on Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related entry on Wikidata (Q1730419), public domain (CC0).