You Won’t Believe How Badly This ‘80s Sci-Fi Comedy Aged—And It Somehow Got a Sequel!

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The ’80s were filled with science fiction films that were quite unusual, including teen comedies like John Hughes’ “Weird Science” and “Real Genius” starring Val Kilmer. These movies combined futuristic technology with youthful hijinks, occasionally venturing into areas that might be considered inappropriate nowadays. In my view, no movie epitomizes this subgenre more than the 1982 sci-fi film “Zapped!”, where the character Barney Springboro (played by Scott Baio), a nerdy high school student, gains telekinetic abilities and uses them for immature and inappropriate purposes.

Although Zapped! earned a good amount at the box office, it’s often criticized as one of the sci-fi films from the ’80s that haven’t held up well. This is largely because Barney uses his new abilities to inappropriately harass female teachers and students at his school. Zapped! stands out even for its time due to its excessive lewdness, a trait that has earned it the reputation of one of the most infamous sci-fi movies of the decade. Remarkably, a sequel to the film was produced in the ’90s, leading to the creation of Zapped Again!.

Even Compared To Similar Movies, Zapped! Has Aged Very Badly Since 1982

It’s Astonishing This Film Is Only Rated R

Zapped!” explores the life of Barney Springboro, an unassuming nerd who experiences telekinetic abilities following a mishap in his high school lab. The next day, Barney finds himself with these extraordinary powers when he mentally strips cheerleader Jane Mitchell (Heather Thomas) multiple times. As Peyton (Willies Aames), a popular friend, and Bernadette (Felice Schachter), the school newspaper nerd, witness Barney moving objects with his mind in the lab, they embark on an adventure together where Barney employs his powers to cheat at baseball, confront bullies, and engage in a sequence of progressively questionable, sexually-charged actions.

The reason Zapped! has aged poorly is its outdated portrayal of sexual harassment, which it handles dismissively through the unacceptable attitude “boys will be boys“. Instead of addressing the behavior appropriately, the movie turns a promising premise, a teenager with telekinesis, into a vehicle for inappropriate scenes involving accidental wardrobe malfunctions and Barney using his mindpower to strip every girl present.

Moreover, the film “Zapped!” incorporates inappropriate storylines, including a scene where Peyton secretly records Peyton and Jane having sex without Jane’s knowledge, as well as instances of high school girls being touched inappropriately by male students and the coach. These scenes are presented humorously, which unfortunately contributes to why “Zapped!” is often recognized as an ’80s cult classic that has not aged well.

Somehow, Zapped Got A Sequel In The 1990s (It Wasn’t A Hit)

Zapped Again! Is A Gross Follow-up

Incredibly, the initial success of “Zapped!” paved the way for a sequel, although it arrived eight years later, only available on video. The second installment, titled “Zapped Again!”, unfortunately feels like a repetitive and low-budget rehash of the original. It follows the storyline very closely, but manages to be even more distasteful than its predecessor. The narrative revolves around me, a newcomer in town, stumbling upon Barney’s old scientific equipment, which grants me the same telekinetic powers. However, instead of using them for good, I choose to misuse them, mimicking the crude behavior from the first film by manipulating situations to make girls undress in an inappropriate manner.

It’s fair to conclude that over the years, the original film Zapped! and its follow-up have become mostly forgotten gems in the cinematic landscape. If you’re seeking a 1980s teen comedy with a more enduring charm, there are certainly other movies out there that haven’t deteriorated as much as these two—rest assured, you’ll appreciate your choice.

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2025-05-12 16:51