Popular Theory

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2:18

Popular Theory

PG

2024

1h 28m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

12-year-old Erwin is a genius, far smarter than any of her high school classmates. But Erwin's genius has come at a price: isolation. She doesn't have any friends and even her sister thinks she's a social leper. Determined to win the State Science Fair, she teams up with classmate Winston, a fellow outcast and chemistry guru, to create a popularity chemical which they add into sticks of chewing gum.

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Kathryn Miller

Loud and Clear Reviews

Mar 16, 2025

3.5/5

An enchanting and bright mix of fun and science, Popular Theory tests the chemistry of a tale as old as time: The high school hierarchy.

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Tara McNamara

Common Sense Media

Feb 14, 2024

Popular Theory verifies that "nerds" don't need revenge -- they just need the space to be themselves.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Feb 9, 2024

Any attempt to promote the value of science to youngsters these days can’t be all bad, yet this innocuous coming-of-age comedy doesn’t match its honorable intentions by experimenting with anything new

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Mark Dujsik

Mark Reviews Movies

Feb 8, 2024

2.5/4

Popular Theory clearly means well, and while that ... is worth something, it doesn't quite make up for the labored nature of the humor and characters.

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Feb 6, 2024

Mildly engaging, but harmless, kid-friendly and genuinely heartwarming

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Bobby LePire

Film Threat

Feb 5, 2024

7.5/10

Scher’s film feels like one of the better Disney Channel originals in its heyday. The script is goofy but also charming, and the cast is very funny.

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sashur h

Feb 25, 2024

A beautifully done fun and heartwarming film about friendship and being who you are. Director Ali Scher did such an incredible job using color to tell a story.

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Vb

Feb 17, 2024

Good movie with some life lessons.

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Lawrence

Feb 11, 2024

It was cute but not worth price of admission. I was expecting more of a comedy.

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Suzann

Feb 10, 2024

Charming story. Great cast. Beautiful direction!

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Markus G

Feb 10, 2024

Absolutely adorable movie, fun for the whole family. If you have an opportunity to see it in theaters, go! Amazing performances by the whole cast, superb direction by Ali Scher, and a LK important message to boot. Well worth seeing.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder Sep 28, 2025

Cute movie I watched with my 11 yo grandson. He was the perfect audience. A few good lessons on values. Nice too, that it’s not super long.

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Ali Scher

Director

Sophia Reid-Gantzert

Erwin Page

Cheryl Hines

Tammy Page

Marc Evan Jackson

Arthur Page

Lincoln Lambert

Winston Wilkinson

Chloe East

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Popular Theory: Trailer 1

2:18

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Synopsis

12-year-old Erwin is a genius, far smarter than any of her high school classmates. But Erwin's genius has come at a price: isolation. She doesn't have any friends and even her sister thinks she's a social leper. Determined to win the State Science Fair, she teams up with classmate Winston, a fellow outcast and chemistry guru, to create a popularity chemical which they add into sticks of chewing gum.

Director: Ali Scher
Producer: Christian Hall, Errol Sadler, Ali Scher, Camilo Diaz Caro, Aidan Guthrie
Screenwriter: Ali Scher, Joe Swanson
Distributor: Blue Fox Entertainment
Production Co: Two Independent Eyes Productions
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2024
Runtime: 1h 28m

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