A “nerd” can mean different things to different people, but when it comes to Hollywood movies, they are often portrayed as socially awkward, book-smart (as opposed to street-smart) eccentrics who are often cast aside by their contemporaries and struggle to fit in. Appearance-wise, there’s the stereotype of possessing thick-rimmed glasses, messy hair, and less-than-stylish attire.
That’s not to say that these nerds aren’t some of the most entertaining and beloved characters in cinema history. While a handful may resort to using their intelligence for nefarious activities, the majority are kind-hearted and mean well. While early examples of nerds in TV and movies were often used merely as one-dimensional characters to provide comic relief, they later began to develop these characters further, resulting in some of those characters we grew to have genuine respect for and, in some cases, even adoration for.
The nerd archetype is an important one to film, one that has made people laugh but also touched audiences’ hearts. It has also evolved as the years have passed, particularly as nerd culture has become cool, mainstream, and, in other words, the culture. Traditionally nerdy things like fantasy and sci-fi are now the backbone of some of the biggest franchises in entertainment. So in honor of nerds now being a point of pride, these are the best cinematic nerds of all time.
Update January 14, 2024: This article has been updated with even more great cinematic nerds and where you can stream each title.
10 Wayne Szalinski – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Played by Rick Moranis, everyone’s favorite go-to nerd actor of the ’80s, Wayne Szalinski is the ingenious, albeit rather careless, father of the titular shrunken children in Disney’s 1989 sci-fi comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The socially awkward scientist has spent years working to perfect a working shrink ray gun, and just as he feels he has achieved his goal, the gun falls into the hands of his unsupervised children, who end up shrinking to only a quarter of an inch in height. Accidentally discarded in the trash, they now have to work together to make it through the backyard and overcome the dangers within. Just imagine potentially being over-powered by a single ant, and you’ll get the idea.
What’s Great About Wayne Szalinski
Szalinski ticks all the archetypal nerd stereotypes, including thick-rimmed glasses, messy hair, and a sense of eccentricity. As always, Moranis nailed the role, resulting in him reprising it in Honey I Blew Up the Kids and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. While Moranis would play a lot of roles like this in Ghostbusters and Little Shop of Horrors, the idea of someone being the conventional nerd archetype while still also being able to have a family was an aspirational dream. He’s sweet and wacky, and we all wish we had him for a father. You can stream Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Disney+.
9 Professor Julius – The Nutty Professor (1963)
Jerry Lewis, one of the most celebrated comedic actors in history, couldn’t have been a better choice to play the absent-minded, socially awkward Professor Julius, a scientist whose experiment creates his more attractive and charismatic alter ego, Buddy Love. Unfortunately, not everything works out as well as Julius had initially hoped, as he becomes obsessed with his alter ego, forgetting who he really is.
What’s Great About Julius F. Kelp
Already an established actor and entertainer, Lewis had been building a reputation for flawlessly portraying goofy, childlike, awkward characters. It was The Nutty Professor, though, that cemented him truly as one of the industry’s greats. Sporting buck teeth and an unkempt, scruffy hairdo, the unpredictable Professor Julius is probably Lewis’ greatest character that’s hard not to love. This is also the film that likely created the “nerd” archetype, with many of the character’s visual signifiers becoming part of the pop culture landscape and influential generations of films and many of the characters on this list. You can stream The Nutty Professor (1963) on Kanopy.
8 Egon Spengler – Ghostbusters
Blessed with immense intelligence, Egon is definitely the brains of Ghostbusters. Tall, lanky, laconic, and bespectacled, he is responsible for keeping the team together with his scientific knowledge, which he applies to their paranormal investigations and ghost-hunting operation in ’80s New York City. ​​​Egon was played by Harold Ramis, who also wrote the movie and created the character with Dan Aykroyd. Initially, he had several well-known actors in mind for the role, but the character resonated with him personally, so he decided to take on the role himself, and the rest is history, as they say.
What’s Great About Egon Spengler
His straight man persona next to the antics of his colleagues Peter and Ray (played by SNL alumni Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, respectively), works perfectly. Spengler is charming in his own way and always has something to say, and not necessarily nerdy. Despite not being the main comic relief (which isn’t surprising considering the cast), his comic timing is always on point when riffing with the team. Egon’s legacy carries through the franchise, even after Ramis’s tragic passing, as the main cast of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is his family of characters. You can stream Ghostbusters (1984) on FuboTV.
7 Napoleon Dynamite – Napoleon Dynamite
The perfectly cast Josh Heder plays the titular nerdy high school kid with aplomb in the 2004 low-budget comedy Napoleon Dynamite. In the film, Napoleon is a socially awkward teenager who does everything possible to turn into a charming guy. All he does is get the attention of the newest kid in school, and they become best friends. Luckily, it all works out for them.
What’s Great About Napoleon Dynamite
Interestingly, the movie’s director, Jared Hess, who co-wrote it with his wife Jerusha, has claimed that much of the film is loosely based around real-life situations he found himself in his younger years. Dynamite’s sardonic outlook on life and awkward pursuit of love clearly resonated with fans, with the movie and the character himself becoming somewhat of a cultural icon within geek culture. His iconic mop of red hair, ‘Vote for Pedro’ T-Shirt, and wide-framed glasses have since become a staple of costume parties across the globe. Napoleon has probably the most iconic moment on the list: that unforgettable and improvised dance. You can stream Napoleon Dynamite on Hulu.
6 Dr. Emmet Brown – The Back to The Future Franchise
The rest of society appears to believe that the eccentric nerdy scientist known as Doc Brown (played by character actor Christopher Lloyd, in what is probably his most iconic role to date) is some sort of menace, a dangerous lunatic. But Back to the Future’s lead protagonist Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) sees past the book’s cover, as it were, and develops a close friendship with Doc, as they go back and forth in time throughout the whole franchise.
What’s Great About Doc Brown
Although the origins of the unlikely friendship between a teenage boy and a far older scientist are not fully explored or explained and at times, Doc Brown certainly does come across as a little unhinged, he is definitely one of the most memorable characters of the franchises, if not of all time. As he and Marty travel through time-saving the world, his manic dialogue delivery and his scruffy uncouth appearance mean there’s never a dull moment when he’s on-screen. You can stream all the Back to the Future films on Peacock.
5 Sandy Olsson – Grease
Maybe not as nerdy as their walking stereotype classmate Eugene Felsnic, Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) as she is mockingly referred to by her contemporaries, certainly fits the bill as the ultimate square in Grease. A studious girl who played by the books, she was often ridiculed by her fellow students for not being hip enough, but that didn’t stop the ultimate bad boy greaser Danny Zuko from falling for her when vacationing away from the gang. The problem is when he meets her when they return to school, and he’s the chauvinistic guy she doesn’t know he really is.
What’s Great About Sandy Olsson
Grease might not have necessarily given out the most positive message when its ending showed her transforming into a fellow greaser with the attitude to be accepted and appease Danny, but it was certainly a hit with fans, becoming one of the most successful musical movies of all time. Newton-John’s performance of Sandy was heaped with praise and remained her most iconic role, even after her passing in 2022. Sandy truly meant being a nerd was actually good. You can stream Grease on Max.
4 Andy Stitzer – The 40-Year-Old Virgin
In The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Andy Stitzer is a lovable character everyone can love. He’s genuinely a good soul and has everything we all wished we had in a friend. But Andy is, unfortunately, too innocent, and everyone seems to take advantage of his gullible attitude. He’s not an idiot, he’s just too good. How this is associated with his virginity is the theme of the film, as weird as that sounds today.
What’s Great About Andy Stitzer
Played by Steve Carell in one of his best performances, Andy is a super good dude who complies with every rule in the book. His hobbies, his home, his job. Everything screams “nerd” about him. He’s a virgin, but it’s only because women aren’t able to see him for who he is. The film’s “mission” is clear, and once Andy finds a purpose to abandon his true self, The 40-Year-Old Virgin turns into a less interesting film. This is one of the few characters on the list that we wish we knew how he’s doing today. You can rent The 40-Year-Old Virgin on AppleTV+ and Prime Video.
3 McLovin – Superbad
In 2000s comedy gem Superbad, a trio of friends in their senior year at school try their best to make one night the night. In other words, they want to get drunk and get laid. Evan, Seth, and Fogell will desperately try anything on the best night of their lives, where nothing will turn out the way they planned. McLovin, the nickname conjured up in the mind of the ultra-nerdy highschooler Fogell (played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse in his breakthrough role), might not be the cool dude he thinks he is or tries to be, but he is certainly one of the funniest characters ever committed to film. As well as plenty of rude and crude humor, of course, Superbad is also a movie full of heart and emotions.
What’s Great About Peter Parker
The scene in which McLovin tries to use said fake ID to convince the shop clerks to sell him alcohol is side-splittingly funny. After being arrested by the police, it’s genuinely nice to see how they interact with McLovin, seeing past his geeky exterior, convincing him that he really is cool, and accepting him as one of the gang. What is more fascinating is that McLovin, the nerdiest member of his trio of friends, is the only one to actually lose his virginity that night. McLovin has become a pop culture icon, that has become a synonym for a nerd in the best way. You can stream Superbad on FuboTV.
2 Hermione Granger – The Harry Potter Franchise
Loud, nerdy, and very vocal, Hermione is the young who brings balance to the trio of friends who lead the adventures in the Harry Potter franchise. She will speak her mind no matter what and has a solution for every single issue. She’s friendly and fierce and knows every spell in the book. It’s hard to find a movie character everyone wishes they had for a friend.
What’s Great About Hermione Granger
Solidly played by Emma Watson, the character of Hermione Granger is an iconic piece of the film adaptations of the Harry Potter books. The translation from book to film is exceptionally accomplished by the young actor from day one, when she had to give life to a character in her own way, giving her a real attitude and determination with each film. What is great about Hermoine is that while many might think due to her intelligence, she belongs in Ravenclaw, she is just as brave and courageous as she is intelligent, making her a Gryffindor at heart and showing braininess does not negate bravery. You can stream the Harry Potter films on Max.
1 Peter Parker – Spider-Man Franchise
Spider-Man‘s Peter Parker is an interesting case study as his various depictions show different states of how nerds have been viewed. the character’s roots in the comics, and especially the Tobey Maguire depiction in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, are very much rooted in the classic 1960s The Nutty Professor archetype of the nerd. Andrew Garfield’s version might, on the surface, be cooler, but it re-examines what the nerd archetype is in the 21st century as an outsider, while Tom Holland’s depiction is very much a nerd but in a world where nerdiness has become cool. Across the multiverse (or Spider-Verse), Peter Parker is a nerd, but what that means changes.
What’s Great About Peter Parker
As his super alter ego, Spider-Man, he’s cool, confident, and fast. His powers and traits are based on those of a spider, one of the most effective and fearsome predators for their size. Spider-Man is cool, but Peter Parker is not. Even when he gets the powers, he must maintain her nerdy persona from before he got bitten by a spider so as not to raise suspicion. Yet it does give him the confidence to build relationships with friends and romantic partners. Peter Parker, being a nerd and still able to get girlfriends like Mary Jane, Gwen Stacey, and Michelle Jones, bucks the convention that nerds cannot get romantic partners because of their nerdiness. In fact, Peter Parker gets the girl because he is a nerd and is true to himself, but he remains kind and compassionate. Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Spider-Man: Far from Home are available to stream on Disney+.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb