RIP Val Kilmer: Real Genius .. the Film Nerd Culture Deserves (2015)

Emotional reactions & nostalgia

• Many commenters describe Real Genius as a formative, “foundational” movie of their youth, especially for Gen X nerds.
• Several plan re‑watches in tribute, often with their kids; some explicitly thank Kilmer for shaping their view of what their future could be.
• A few had never heard of the movie and are adding it to watchlists now, prompted by the thread and Kilmer’s death.

Depiction of geeks, college, and Jordan

• The film is praised as one of the most accurate and human portrayals of scientists/engineers: idiosyncratic, funny, intense, not caricatured like in Big Bang Theory.
• The “nerdy girl” character is especially beloved; for some she was an early crush and proof that being a geek could be cool.
• The movie’s version of college—late nights, lasers, pranks, weird roommates, co‑ed chaos—is remembered as both aspirational and surprisingly close to reality for some viewers.

Quotability and favorite scenes

• Commenters recall long runs of dialogue from memory, emphasizing how densely quotable the script is.
• Standout scenes include: the silent acceptance of a student’s screaming breakdown in the study lounge, gas‑mask hijinks in the dorm, the over‑caffeinated banter, and Jordan’s manic projects.
• Some still reuse lines in work and life (e.g., the “decaffeinated brands” retort, the “moral imperative” phrasing).

Ethics of technology and weapons

• One view: the film is “marred” by its stance that working on a military laser is bad; the tech itself would be “neat.”
• Counter‑view (strongly supported): that ethical critique is the core of the movie—its lesson is that engineers must consider how their work will be used, not just the coolness of the tech.
• This connects to modern tech: long hours for projects later used harmfully, followed by layoffs; calls to “look up once in a while” and accept responsibility.

Influence on careers and nerd culture

• Multiple commenters credit Real Genius, WarGames, and similar films with nudging them into physics, engineering, or “doing science for a living.”
• It’s repeatedly cited as “geek solidarity” and a counter to the “nerds vs jocks” stereotype, even as some discuss how bullying dynamics really worked in their schools.

Val Kilmer’s broader legacy

• Alongside Real Genius, commenters celebrate Top Secret!, Tombstone, Heat, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and more, noting his range from absurd comedy to intense drama.
• Specific performances (especially Doc Holliday and his late cameo in Top Gun: Maverick) are called out as iconic and deeply affecting.

Early internet & fan connections

• One long anecdote recounts emailing a contributor to the film’s computer graphics in the mid‑80s, then reconnecting ~40 years later, sparking a subthread about UUCP, bang paths, BITNET, and how “email” worked pre‑Internet.
• Commenters see this as an example of the net’s original promise: connecting people over shared niche enthusiasms like Real Genius.