The 15 Finest Nerd Films of All Time Ranked

Nerd movies, like geeks themselves, have come a good distance in latest a long time. When movies about nerds and geeks started to grow to be fashionable within the Eighties, they portrayed the characters as losers, misfits, and outsiders who needed to face bullies, who had been usually cool, fashionable children. Because the 80s, the roles have remained the identical with regard to their brains and misfit standing, however these characters have grow to be extra prestigious and vital, as brains are extra vital than brawn in right now's society. .

Relating to films about nerds and geeks, they're now not nearly nerds being chased by jocks and having to outlive. They turned films in regards to the smartest children within the class doing issues nobody ever thought they may do. At present's geeks are cool and infrequently have extra in frequent with regular folks than the athletes who used to rule the category. They're the catalysts of science fiction movies, they win love with out being thought of fortunate and find yourself because the boss of the desk, with the previous cool children working for them.

15

Sydney White (2007)

A recount of Snow White With the seven dwarfs as nerds

Launched in 2007, Sydney White was an Amanda Bynes automobile when she was nonetheless on the high of the teenager romantic comedy style. On this movie, Bynes performs Sydney White, a model of Snow White. She goes to school and shortly turns into fashionable because of her pleasant character, and catches the attention of a preferred frat man named Tyler Prince. Nevertheless, Tyler is courting Rachel Witchburn and this younger lady goals to damage Sydney and will get her kicked out of her sorority. She finally ends up befriending the "Seven Idiots", faculty outcasts.

The movie is lighthearted, but it surely's a enjoyable tackle the basic Grimm's Fairy Story (and Disney animated basic). Bynes was in her prime when she made this movie and the “Seven Idiots” had been all charming in their very own approach. There have been additionally some acquainted faces among the many “Dorks,” together with Danny Robust (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Samm Levine (Freaks and Geeks). Though the movie returned to geeks as outsider tropes, it was an excellent return for Revenge of the Nerdsstylized humor.

14

The Bunny Home (2008)

A Playboy Bunny strikes right into a sorority of outcasts

The home bunny has an fascinating premise the place a “sizzling woman” strikes right into a nerd sorority, however finally ends up being virtually as unusual and misplaced because the nerds who're a part of the home. Anna Faris is a Playboy Playmate named Shelley Darlingson who grew up in foster care however now lives with Hugh Hefner within the Playboy Mansion. Nevertheless, on her twenty seventh birthday, she receives a faux notice from Hugh Hefner asking her to maneuver out. Depressed, she decides to grow to be a housewife for a sorority to stay of their stunning homes.

Nevertheless, the one home that accepts her is the Zeta Alpha Zeta home, a home of socially awkward younger ladies who take her in as a result of they assume she is going to entice boys to their residence. There are drawback areas within the story, as the thought is that the sorority ladies imagine they want a prettier lady to get the boys. Nevertheless, the movie stays a candy movie with its coronary heart in the fitting place as the ladies of Zeta Alpha Zeta discover their confidence and carve out their place on the planet.

13

Dynamite Napoleon (2004)

A Second within the Lifetime of a Socially Awkward Excessive College Scholar

Based mostly on a brief movie known as PlushJared Hess directed Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamitea movie about life in a small Idaho city from the standpoint of an ungainly highschool scholar. Napoleon is a nerd who believes he's cooler than the opposite children at collegehowever he additionally faces bullying from fashionable children. Nevertheless, regardless of his delinquent perspective and must incessantly assault these round him, he additionally has a giant coronary heart and units out to assist a fellow nerd, Pedro Sanchez, in his want to run for scholar council.

The movie was an enormous success, grossing simply $400,000 however grossing $46.1 million on the field workplace because of phrase of mouth recommending the unusual and quirky plot. Director Hess stated it was tough to make as a result of folks thought it was "too bizarre or they only didn't just like the character" (through Rolling Stone). The movie has since additionally grow to be a cult basic and celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a particular screening on the Sundance Movie Pageant in 2024, the identical pageant the place it initially screened.

12

Battle Video games (1983)

A nerdy hacker virtually begins World Battle III

Battle video games is a movie that exhibits that not all nerds are bizarre and infrequently criticized by folks greater and extra fashionable than them. This was a film that confirmed how a nerd's mind can't solely trigger numerous issues, but in addition assist resolve them. Matthew Broderick stars as David Lightman, a younger laptop hacker who unintentionally hacks right into a United States navy supercomputer. Pondering it's a online game, he levels a large assault solely to find he's triggered a false alarm that threatens to begin World Battle III.

The movie is a staple of the Eighties and one of the vital fashionable movies of the last decade regarding the period's deal with younger grownup fare, this one standing out because of its real-world but virtually sci-fi really feel. Regardless of its younger grownup leanings, Battle video games in actual fact, it acquired three Oscar nominations, together with one for Finest Unique Screenplay. It's also one of many movies that helped popularize the themes of laptop hacking and cyber actions in cinema, at a time after they had been nonetheless seen primarily as science fiction concepts.

11

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

An underdog story of school nerds

At one time, there was no nerd film extra fashionable than Revenge of the Nerds. Nevertheless, time has not been type to the movie on the subject of the plot and its general fundamental themes. The plot of the movie is a fundamental underdog story. The movie's nerds are Lewis and Gilbert after they enroll in faculty to review laptop science. Nevertheless, they grow to be targets of the Alpha Beta fraternitywhich is generally made up of soccer workforce members who goal the nerds after seeing them obtain success in faculty.

Nevertheless, the issue lies in what nerds do to get revenge. Problematic facets of Revenge of the Nerds features a scene depicting an actual sexual assault, when Lewis pretends to be Stan in a darkish room so he can have intercourse with Betty. There's additionally a contact of revenge porn after they share nude pictures with the school campus. But for all its issues, the movie nonetheless stays a robust story of underdogs overcoming all odds in opposition to the hierarchy of school life, utilizing their brains to beat brawn.

10

Large Hero 6 (2014)

A superhero workforce of nerds

Large Hero 6 is proof that the superhero style doesn't should be a giant, robust powerhouse. Though Tony Stark is a genius, he isn't a nerd. Peter Parker suits the function, however has the ability and energy of a superhero to hold him to victory. Nevertheless, the heroes in Large Hero 6 get a lot of their inspiration from him, however with out superhuman powers. As a substitute, they use their nerdy brains to grow to be superheroes, creating their very own highly effective devices and costumes. It's probably the greatest examples of kids utilizing their brains to grow to be heroes.

The one superpower Large Hero 6 The hero is the robotic Baymax, whereas the remaining are simply tremendous geniuses who created their superhero personas whereas learning science in faculty. The movie was an enormous success, although most followers had no thought it was primarily based on a Marvel Comics workforce. Large Hero Six gained the Academy Award for Finest Animated Characteristic and was the highest-grossing animated movie of 2014 (surpassing Find out how to Practice Your Dragon 2 for each honors).

9

The 40 Yr Previous Virgin (2005)

A 40-year-old nerd on the lookout for love

The 40 yr outdated virgin is an fascinating addition to the thought of ​​nerds in cinema, as these movies usually function youngsters or faculty college students being picked on by members of cliques at their faculties. In that case, exhibits a 40 yr outdated man who remains to be a nerd, and which remains to be largely ridiculed by different males who haven't but grown up inside. That is additionally not a case the place the nerd makes use of his mind to show that there's nothing fallacious with being a nerd. That is only a man who must mature and develop.

Steve Carell performs Andy, the nerdy virgin of the title, a person who stopped making an attempt to have intercourse with ladies after a number of failed makes an attempt. As a substitute, he lives alone in his residence, surrounded by his beloved geek life, together with motion figures and video video games. When his buddies uncover that he's a virgin, they determine to assist him lose his virginity. Nevertheless, this can be a movie about Andy discovering his true place on the planet and real love, and the usage of his nerdy obsessions really helps him lastly come out of his shell.

8

Spider-Man (2002)

Marvel Comics' Finest Superhero Nerd

Spider-Man's massive promoting level in his comedian e-book origin story was that he was a friendless nerd. He was a really clever scholar who most popular science to partying and was known as a bookworm by the college's largest bully, Flash Thompson. Within the three iterations of Spider-Man in cinema, it's Sam Raimi's trilogy that will get this model of Peter Parker proper. Whereas Andrew Garfield was somewhat too cool and Tom Holland was by no means too harsh within the nerd course, Tobey Maguire nailed it.

The second movie was the very best of the trilogy, but it surely was the primary that was the very best in displaying Peter Parker as the last word nerd who had to determine the best way to be a superhero as soon as he gained his powers. The primary two movies had been additionally good to have Spider-Man's largest villains as nerds, with Norman Osborne, a profitable nerdy industrialist, and Physician Octopus, a extra fundamental science nerd. Having Marvel's nerdiest character preventing different tremendous geniuses made these excellent Marvel Comics variations.

7

Unusual Science (1985)

Two nerds create their excellent lady

John Hughes has handled numerous nerds all through his movie profession. Anthony Michael Corridor might have been his biggest nerd creation, with him enjoying the function in The Breakfast Membership and Sixteen candles. Nevertheless, his finest function as a nerd in a movie's lead function got here in 1985. Unusual Science. On this movie, Corridor and Iian Michael-Smith play two highschool nerds named Gary and Wyatt who're picked on by jocks and humiliated after they faint over two cheerleaders.

The 2 determine they wish to win over their jock boyfriends' cheerleaders, and so they determine to create their excellent digital lady. Nevertheless, what they didn't count on was that the experiment would create a real-life excellent lady (Kelly LeBrock), who then helped them each overcome their insecurities and overcome their place as highschool nerds so they may obtain their targets. goals. The movie is a product of its time, with the cheerleaders falling for the nerds like damsels in misery, however its coronary heart is in the fitting place.

6

Booksmart (2019)

Two nerdy ladies determine to have enjoyable on the finish of highschool

Sensible E book It's a movie just like Very dangerous however with some vital variations. The primary characters are younger individuals who wish to finish their highschool profession in model. Not like the boys in Very dangerous who simply needed to have intercourse earlier than commencement, Amy and Molly have a distinct motive for desirous to go loopy at a vacation promenade get together. They spent their complete highschool profession doing every little thing proper and located their reward was acceptance to Ivy League faculties. Nevertheless, different college students partied in highschool and had been admitted to school as effectively.

Amy and Molly determine they wish to have at the very least one evening of enjoyable earlier than they go to school, to at the very least get the expertise. There's much more occurring behind the scenes on this coming-of-age film, with Amy desirous to hook up with a woman named Ryan, and Molly desirous to show to the opposite college students that she's extra than simply e-book good. nerd. Critics liked the movie, giving it a excessive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas Beanie Feldstein acquired a Golden Globe nomination for her efficiency.

5

Ghostbusters (1984)

Nerds save New York from ghosts

Ghostbusters is the definitive Eighties story about nerds who save the world when nobody else has an opportunity to cease the approaching evil. This entire film is about three guys who're insulted, rejected, and despised by society, however nonetheless struggle to show that not solely is the supernatural actual, and Your brains and dexterity are the one issues that may save the world from ghosts that threaten to take over New York Metropolis. The movie even makes use of the last word nerd (Rick Moranis) to make the primary nerds appear cooler by comparability.

The three leads play otherwise, with Invoice Murray, the boastful and overconfident one, Dan Aykroyd wavering because the true believer who's extra geek than nerd, and Harold Ramis as the primary nerd, the neatest of all three. Ghostbusters It's humorous and scary at instances and works on all ranges. There was Ghostbusters sequels, spinoffs and tv cartoons, and they're all profitable because of this authentic movie, the place the nerds are there to avoid wasting the world, even when these accountable don't perceive that they're at risk.

4

The Social Community (2010)

The Nerd turns into a wealthy man because of his mind

The social community is a really totally different form of film about nerds. As a substitute of awkward youngsters or faculty college students who're picked on by the preferred children at school, this film is about nerds in faculty who use their brains to grow to be extremely wealthy and profitable. The movie directed by David Fincher is about Mark Zuckerberg, the person who created Fb whereas attending faculty. His authentic thought was to discover a approach for folks with poor social expertise to speak on-line reasonably than in individual.

The social community It was an enormous success when it was launched. The Oscars honored him with eight nominations, together with the award for Finest Tailored Screenplay. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross additionally gained Finest Unique Rating for the music. It was additionally nominated for Finest Image, Finest Director and Finest Actor for Jesse Eisenberg. The movie can be effectively remembered, because the Library of Congress added it to the Nationwide Movie Registry in 2024, simply 14 years after it hit theaters.

3

The Goonies (1985)

The beloved journey movie for geeks

The Goonies It's the last word "nerds save the day" journey film. The movie options all kinds of bizarre kids's tropesfrom the meek (Mikey) to the insecure (Mouth), to the obese (Chunk) to the pure and clever nerd (Information). Nevertheless, they're buddies and so long as they keep collectively, they're able to reaching something. They face the reality that everybody may lose their residence after which find out about an historical pirate map that might make them treasure so these children can save their properties from being taken from them.

The expertise concerned in that is unbelievable. The story is by Steven Spielberg, the script is by Chris Columbus and The Goonies is directed by Richard Donner. The forged consists of younger stars comparable to Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton and Ke Huy Quan. It has grow to be an enormous cult favourite through the years since its launch and was even added to the Nationwide Movie Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.

2

Again to the Future (1985)

The seminal science fiction movie about time journey

Again to the long run stays probably the greatest time journey movies ever made. The movie follows an ungainly younger teenager named Marty McFly, performed by Michael J. Fox, whose father is a former highschool nerd (Crispin Glover) who remains to be pursued by his teenage tormentor, Biff. Marty appears to be the closest to an odd scientist named Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and it's this friendship that inadvertently will get Marty despatched to the previous the place he meets his mother and father after they had been youngsters and, because of this, practically destroys his personal future.

George McFly is a nerd who wants his son to assist him discover a method to overcome bullying and take management of his life sooner or later. Nevertheless, the movie's largest nerd is Doc Brown, who's so captivated with quantum physics that he usually goes on and on about his theories and experiments to individuals who do not know what he's speaking about. Nevertheless, he's a really totally different nerd than George, as a result of Doc is so certain of himself that he achieves nice issues, just like the scientists in Ghostbusters.

1

Too Unhealthy (2007)

Two highschool losers on the finish of highschool

There are various movies like Very dangeroushowever few of them have the guts and clever writing of this Judd Apatow-produced movie. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera play Seth and Evan (named after screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg). They're highschool finest buddies who notice change is coming, as one in every of them can be leaving after commencement for school, whereas the opposite has no thought what their future holds. They're additionally socially awkward nerdy characters who don't slot in with others.

The primary plot has them desirous to go to a commencement get together with the cool children at college and have an opportunity after they declare they'll get alcohol. Nevertheless, the movie's actual plot is about friendship, distancing, and accepting the thought of ​​change as the 2 attempt to stay buddies regardless of figuring out they gained't be collectively for lengthy. Very dangerous was a extremely regarded movie, with an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a number of critics' awards, thought of one of many seminal coming-of-age movies for millennials.