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

In the eighties, there was no one better at capturing the highs and lows of adolescence than John Hughes. He could craft stories that were full of heart but also teenage yearning and raucousness that resonated not only with young people at the time but with teenagers for generations to come. While Hughes’ storytelling tended to stay grounded on the North Shore of Chicago, which served as the setting for all of his films, the iconic filmmaker did dabble in sci-fi surprisingly with his 1985 romp, Weird Science. Perhaps even more surprisingly, Weird Science has comic book roots that date back 30 years before the sci-fi comedy hit theaters.

In Weird Science, two nerdy teens named Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Michael-Smith) use the power of personal computer software to not only design their perfect woman, but also to hack into a government program to produce a power surge strong enough to bring her to life. They’re successful, yet their creation, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), is a whole lot more than the pair bargained for. Lisa has a mind of her own, a proclivity for partying, and unexplained magical powers, to boot. Lisa uses those powers to teach Wyatt and Gary a major lesson in confidence, and they certainly learn to be careful what they wish for, after Lisa trashes their house and turns one of their brothers into a mutant blob. While Lisa is certainly introduced as the embodiment of the teenage male fantasy, she becomes somewhat of a guardian to the boys, and even though they bid her farewell and she disintegrates before their eyes, the movie concludes with Lisa reappearing as the gym teacher at their high school so she can continue to keep an eye on them.

Weird Science Originates from an Obscure EC Comics Title

Two men creating their perfect woman is a tale that dates back to the ancient Greek myth of Pygmalion. We’ve seen the story of men falling in love with their own creation in My Fair Lady, and the movie itself references the 1931 horror classic The Bride of Frankenstein. Interestingly enough, however, the basis for Weird Science comes from a sci-fi comic book magazine of the same name. Created by William Gaines and Al Feldstein, Weird Science was an anthology series that ran for 22 issues from 1950 to 1953 and was published by EC Comics, the same entity behind beloved titles like the Tales from the Crypt comics and Mad Magazine.

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Producer Joel Silver acquired the rights to several EC Comics titles in the early ’80s, and the movie adaptation of the Weird Science comics is based on a story from its fifth issue, entitled “Made for the Future”. In the story, a man named Alvin Blank travels to the future to procure himself an artificial wife. Given the advancements in technology between “Made for the Future” being published in 1951 and the burgeoning tech boom of the 80s, Hughes simply traded the story’s time travel element for one of literal magic computers.

Weird Science is a Wild and Nostalgic Ride

Forty years later, Weird Science requires a considerable suspension of disbelief and a healthy dose of “things were different back then” consideration to watch. Although Hughes keeps things between Wyatt, Gary, and Lisa pretty PG, and Lisa uses her powers to teach the boys a few valuable lessons, the film is very much a product of its time when it comes to objectifying women. Lisa’s powers are not only not explained, but there are really no rules or systems established around them, and the evil biker gang that shows up in the latter half of the movie still has us scratching our heads.

That being said, if you’re looking for a fun and campy movie to watch on Netflix that will transport you back to the eighties, look no further than Weird Science. It’s a must-watch for any Hughes enthusiasts, and also features a young Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton in supporting roles, with Downey as a bully and Paxton as Wyatt’s older brother. Legendary composer Danny Elfman produced the movie’s self-titled theme song and performed it with his band Oingo Boingo, making for a light-hearted but surprisingly star-studded movie night.

Weird Science is currently streaming on Netflix.

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