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Flash of Genius

Play trailer Poster for Flash of Genius PG-13 2008 2h 0m Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns develops an intermittent windshield wiper, he believes he, his wife and their children will be set for life. Though the invention is a big hit with automakers in the 1960s Detroit, Kearns finds himself forced out of the picture. Determined to collect the recognition and financial reward due him, he wages an arduous legal battle with the auto industry.
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Flash of Genius

Flash of Genius

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Critics Consensus

The touching underdog story of a single guy against a massive corporation, Flash of Genius is a well-paced and well-written tale with a standout performance by star Greg Kinnear.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan F. Richards Film.com Nov 10, 2008
If it doesn't rise to the level of It's a Wonderful Life, it's because Marc Abrams is no Frank Capra. And after all, this isn't about angels, it's about windshield wipers. Go to Full Review Reece Pendleton Chicago Reader Oct 10, 2008
Seriously undermined by the skeletal script, which barely develops the characters and unintentionally raises more questions about Kearns's quixotic battle than it answers. Go to Full Review Rex Reed Observer Oct 8, 2008
Too much technical information about circuit boards, Motorola transistors and U.S. patent laws eventually takes up more screen time than Kearns' sympathetic story, leaving the viewer restless and bored. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 7, 2020
3.0/4.0
Had the film itself come together as nicely as Kinnear's performance, there would simply be no doubt about the inevitability of an Oscar nomination for Kinnear. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Sep 2, 2020
Flash of Genius is a sincere and moving work, although somewhat pedestrian. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Oct 4, 2018
2.5/4
...many of Flash of Genius' problems stem from an overlong and padded-out running time... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 7, 2026 A flash of Genius = a *3* star movie! See more Hans H @HansHans Oct 25, 2023 Superb movie. The scene when father comes home from hospital is why I rate this movie as great acting. See more Nov 7, 2020 I am obsessed with endings. I think, ultimately, that's all audiences really care about when they form their opinion on a movie. Flash of Genius' ending (which I won't say), simply undercuts the whole theme / message / point of the story. Even if it's true to history, which I respect, it left me feeling like this was a waste of my time. See more Jeffrey P @vanillavoodoo1 Aug 23, 2020 Good film about windshield wipers. Kinda falls apart and drifts off into something else in the second half. See more steve d @RT35616104 Jun 22, 2020 unpleasant biopic that forgets to get you to care about it's characters beyond their situation. See more Michael W @mawilps Feb 8, 2020 This is a great movie that's based on a true story. Greg Kinnear and the rest of the cast did an excellent job in this movie. The plot to the movie is great. It's about fighting for what's yours and never giving up no matter how long it takes. People should see this movie because it would inspire people to get what they want in life and never let anyone get in their way or let them say it can't be done. Check it out. It's worth seeing. See more Read all reviews
Flash of Genius

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Cast & Crew

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Marc Abraham

Director

Greg Kinnear

Robert Kearns

Lauren Graham

Phyllis Kearns

Dermot Mulroney

Gil Privick

Jake Abel

Dennis Kearns

Daniel Roebuck

Frank Sertin

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Flash of Genius

Flash of Genius (2008) Flash of Genius (2008) Greg Kinnear as Robert Kearns in "Flash of Genius." Greg Kinnear as Robert Kearns in "Flash of Genius." Director Marc Abraham on the set of "Flash of Genius." Greg Kinnear as Robert Kearns, Lauren Graham as Phyllis Kearns, Alan Alda as Gregory Lawson in "Flash of Genius." Director Marc Abraham and cinematographer Dante Spinotti on the set of "Flash of Genius." Director Marc Abraham, Greg Kinnear as Robert Kearns, Lauren Graham as Phyllis Kearns in "Flash of Genius." Greg Kinnear as Robert Kearns in "Flash of Genius." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns develops an intermittent windshield wiper, he believes he, his wife and their children will be set for life. Though the invention is a big hit with automakers in the 1960s Detroit, Kearns finds himself forced out of the picture. Determined to collect the recognition and financial reward due him, he wages an arduous legal battle with the auto industry.
Director
Marc Abraham
Producer
Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Michael Lieber
Screenwriter
Philip Railsback
Distributor
Universal Studios
Production Co
Barber-Birnbaum, Universal Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Strike Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Drama, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 3, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.2M
Runtime
2h 0m
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