When teenage geniuses Mitch Taylor and Chris Knight, working on an advanced laser project, learn that the military wants to use it as a weapon, they decide to thwart the plan.
Acting
Val Kilmer's unhinged, brilliant comic timing.
Practical Effects
That house of popcorn. Practical effects supremacy.
Writing
Sharp anti-authoritarian humor that still lands.
Director
Martha Coolidge
Val Kilmer
Chris Knight
Gabriel Jarret
Mitch Taylor
Michelle Meyrink
Jordan
William Atherton
Professor Hathaway
Robert Prescott
Kent
Louis Giambalvo
Major Carnagle
Jon Gries
Lazlo Hollyfeld
Ed Lauter
CIA Man Decker
Stacy Peralta
Shuttle Pilot
Daniel Ades
Laser Ray Victim
Beau Billingslea
George
Charles Parks
Larry
Sean Frye
Boy at Science Fair
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The popcorn scene used real unpopped corn and industrial heaters; the house was so damaged they had to rebuild parts of the set.
Director Martha Coolidge fought studio pressure to soften the military critique, making this a rare 80s teen comedy with genuine political teeth.
US
