Charlie Gordon is mentally handicapped and all he wants in life is to be a genius. When he gets picked for experimental surgery it looks like his dream may finally come true. But the surgery has side effects that could could kill Charlie. Can Charlie survive being just plain old "Charlie Gordon" and will his newfound romance survive this test of character?
Directed by Jeff Bleckner
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
2.8 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Matthew Modine
Charlie Gordon
Kelli Williams
Alice Kinian
Ron Rifkin
Dr. Jonah Strauss
Bonnie Bedelia
Rose
Gloria Slade
Faye
Cliff Saunders
Mike
Kathryn Kirkpatrick
Bernice
Carson Durven
Oliver
Cameron Bowen
Young Charlie
Ron Kennell
Bakery Worker
Mo Kelso
Female Neighbor
Crew
Jeff Bleckner
Director
Mark Adler
Original Music Composer
Mike Fash
Director of Photography
Mark Winemaker
Producer
Neil Meron
Executive Producer
Taavo Soodor
Production Design
Linda Muir
Costume Design
Popular Reviews
44 reviews
skylar
7.0★ · 05/13/26
bawling my eyes out over a bo burnham lookalike
bawling my eyes out over a bo burnham lookalike
Caitlyn
4.0★ · 02/04/26
This movie is heavily bogged down by Matthew Modine’s performance and the romance with Miss Kinian is unnecessary. Not as good as portraying the message as the short story. Also the score was dogshit.
This movie is heavily bogged down by Matthew Modine’s performance and the romance with Miss Kinian is unnecessary. Not as good as portraying the message as the short story. Also the score was dogshit.
alex_vibes
4.0★ · 01/25/26
the relationship with the teacher was uhm...
the relationship with the teacher was uhm...
sophie
2.0★ · 10/22/25
TERRIBLE MOVIE this movie barely even scratches the surface about what the book is. there’s SO much more to the story that the book covers that adds so much more to the plot and the characters that the movie completely doesn’t even ACKNOWLEDGE
TERRIBLE MOVIE this movie barely even scratches the surface about what the book is. there’s SO much more to the story that the book covers that adds so much more to the plot and the characters that the movie completely doesn’t even ACKNOWLEDGE
avery
5.0★ · 08/08/25
maybe i’d rate this higher if i never read the book. somewhat apt metaphor. this bastardization speed ran every event and the acting (yes EVERYONE’S sorry papa) was so bad oh my god. also you don’t have to play the score at every moment to prove the movie’s sad
maybe i’d rate this higher if i never read the book. somewhat apt metaphor. this bastardization speed ran every event and the acting (yes EVERYONE’S sorry papa) was so bad oh my god. also you don’t have to play the score at every moment to prove the movie’s sad
