The Rewatchables ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt
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Nov 18, 2025 Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt dive into the iconic 1985 film, exploring how it reflects the era's quirky teen culture. They compare it to Superbad, dissect the unique portrayal of AI in Lisa, and debate whether Gary and Wyatt are cinema's first hackers. Listeners are treated to hilarious anecdotes, including Robert Downey Jr.'s on-set antics. The hosts highlight memorable scenes, soundtracks, and cast choices while also discussing what has aged well or poorly. Join them for a nostalgic journey through 80s suburbia and its cinematic quirks!
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Weird 1985 Teen-Movie Moment
- Weird Science sits at the peak of a mid-80s run of teen movies that pushed surreal fantasies and horny male wish-fulfillment.
- That era's aesthetic and plots (fast cars, mystical women, bullies) shaped later teen comedies like Superbad.
From Weird Science To Superbad
- Weird Science influenced later teen comedies like Superbad in structure and set pieces (party, mall scenes, buddy reconciliation).
- The film helped codify the template of horny teen duos who bond through disaster and growth.
Computers Were Cinematic Magic
- 1980s films presented computers as magical black boxes because mainstream audiences didn't understand them.
- That ignorance let movies plausibly show teens 'hacking' to change reality, a conceit now transplantable to AI themes.