One of the Wildest ‘80s Sci-fi Movies Is Hiding on Netflix, And It Has Surprising Comic Book Roots

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John Hughes perfectly captured what it was like to be a teenager in the 1980s. His movies were heartfelt and relatable, speaking to the excitement and awkwardness of youth, and continue to resonate with teens today. Though his films were almost always set in the suburbs of Chicago, Hughes surprised audiences with the sci-fi comedy *Weird Science* in 1985. Interestingly, the movie was based on a comic book that first appeared 30 years earlier.

Okay, so *Weird Science* is one of those 80s classics you gotta see. It’s about these two totally awkward high schoolers, Gary and Wyatt, who are just desperate to get a girlfriend. They decide to use their computer skills – seriously, it’s the 80s, so computers are magic – to *create* their dream girl. They actually manage to bring this woman, Lisa, to life, and let me tell you, she’s way more than they expected! She’s got a mind of her own, loves to party, and… gets this… she has magical powers! It’s hilarious chaos. She ends up teaching them how to be more confident, but not before totally wrecking their house and accidentally turning their brother into this… blob thing. At first, Lisa seems like the ultimate fantasy, but she kind of becomes their protector. The ending is wild – she disappears, but then shows up as their gym teacher, so she can still look after them! It’s a really fun movie, and it definitely holds up.

Weird Science Originates from an Obscure EC Comics Title

The idea of men creating their ideal woman is an old one, going all the way back to the Greek myth of Pygmalion. We’ve seen variations of this story in works like *My Fair Lady*, which itself nods to the classic horror film *The Bride of Frankenstein*. However, the movie *Weird Science* actually originated from a science fiction comic book of the same name. Created by William Gaines and Al Feldstein, *Weird Science* was a series of 22 issues published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1953. EC Comics was also known for other popular titles like *Tales from the Crypt* and *Mad Magazine*.

In the early 1980s, producer Joel Silver bought the rights to several comic books from EC Comics. The movie *Weird Science* is based on a story called “Made for the Future” from the fifth issue of the comic. The original 1951 story featured a man who travels to the future to get a robotic wife. When adapting it for the 1980s, director Hughes replaced the time travel aspect with the idea of powerful computers that could essentially create her.

Weird Science is a Wild and Nostalgic Ride

Watching *Weird Science* today requires a bit of patience and remembering the standards of the 1980s. While the movie keeps things relatively tame with its main characters and Lisa does impart some good lessons, it definitely reflects the way women were often portrayed at the time. The film doesn’t bother explaining Lisa’s powers – they just *happen* – and the sudden appearance of the villainous biker gang feels pretty random and confusing.

If you’re in the mood for a delightfully cheesy and nostalgic trip back to the eighties, check out *Weird Science* on Netflix. It’s a classic for fans of John Hughes, and it’s fun to see a young Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton early in their careers – Downey plays the school bully, and Paxton is Wyatt’s older brother. The movie even features a catchy theme song composed and performed by Danny Elfman and his band, Oingo Boingo, making it a surprisingly star-packed and enjoyable watch.

Weird Science is currently streaming on Netflix.

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2025-09-19 00:12