I have a confession to make: I鈥檓 a pop culture nerd. I often find myself responding to situations with movie or TV quotes and can ace most pop culture-themed categories on Jeopardy!, another obsession of mine. So, when I had the chance recently to attend a screening and press junket for the upcoming movie, , I jumped at the chance to combine one of my hobbies with my work here at 优蜜视频.

Pulling up to a hotel in Beverly Hills to meet movie stars is never something I expected to do when I entered the nonprofit world. But, nonetheless, I found myself doing just that last Thursday. I was seated in a small room at a roundtable with other 鈥渘on-press鈥� attendees, allowing the chance to really dig in and ask the stars questions about giftedness.

First up we met Jenny Slate, who plays the teacher in the movie. Herself a 鈥渟mart and quirky鈥� child, Slate related to the material.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 fit into the system but I knew there was something different about me. I felt fear and isolation because I didn鈥檛 know how to express my intelligence or use it socially, so I really connect to this,鈥� she said. When I asked her what the movie taught her about gifted kids, she said it reinforced her belief that these students should be encouraged but also be allowed to be kids and pursue non-academic interests. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about ,鈥� she ended.

Next up were the movie鈥檚 leads, Chris Evans and McKenna Grace. Grace described the challenges of playing Mary, a gifted seven-year-old, and how she could connect with her.

鈥淲e all go through a time when we feel like we are different or like we don鈥檛 fit in,鈥� said Grace, describing the feelings of many gifted students in both the classroom and social settings. The hour ended with Octavia Spencer, who plays Mary鈥檚 friend and neighbor. Spencer noted the fact that Mary connects with her character, Roberta, who is over 30 years older than her, shows how intellectually advanced she is. It is a well-known fact that , so I found Spencer鈥檚 observation very astute.

Most interesting is the story behind the movie. Screenwriter Tom Flynn was inspired to write the movie because of his gifted sister, as well as her two gifted daughters. Flynn has noted in interviews that he wrote the screenplay because of the characters and to tell the story of a gifted child. The team behind the movie worked to get the joys and struggles of gifted kids right, even visiting a school for gifted children and talking to their families.

Obviously, no movie can perfectly portray the nuances of giftedness, and Gifted can be said to be a Hollywood-version of the struggles these students face. But the care taken by the cast and crew to portray Mary鈥檚 struggles is evident and the film is definitely worth seeing.

Looking for some other gifted characters in pop culture? Here are a few of my favorite movies and TV shows featuring gifted kids.

Based on the popular children鈥檚 book series, one of my favorites as a kid, this Netflix show adapts the first four books into an eight-episode series. The Baudelaire children have to use their gifts and wits to survive in increasingly unfortunate situations, kicked off by the death of their parents. The TV series does a great job of keeping the dark humor of the books while being loyal to the plot.

in two different, but real, ways. It鈥檚 especially good for gifted teens and pre-teens, who may be able to identify with either high-achieving Rory or bored and dissatisfied Jess.

This Japanese anime movie follows a young witch on her required year of independence. She soon starts a delivery service for the people in her new town, but then goes through a period of questioning her powers. It鈥檚 a relatable reflection on and the power of believing in your own abilities.

A favorite of the gifted community, this Jodie Foster movie is still as relevant today as when it was first released over 25 years ago. It鈥檚 a compelling story that, much like Gifted, addresses the struggles many gifted kids face choosing between academic pursuits and being a 鈥渘ormal鈥� kid. I also think it鈥檚 one of the most accurate portrayals of a gifted child in pop culture.

What are your favorite movies and TV shows portraying gifted kids (or adults)?

If you would like to see a screening of Gifted, please look here for one in your area and RSVP to the email address provided. Be sure to mention 优蜜视频!

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Our social media community and the 优蜜视频 staff weighed in on their favorite movies featuring gifted children and young adults.

Gifted children love to learn and explore new things. This list of podcasts for gifted learners provides some informational and fun resources for curious minds.

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Guest blogger Lisa Hartwig, mother gifted children, explores if disrespectful behavior is the result of misunderstood gifted students.

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The gifted brain is a unique place. We examine some common brain quirks of the gifted and how we can help address them to better serve gifted children.

Because so many things come naturally to the gifted child, highly able students often do not learn how to study until it is too late. Mark provides some tips for helping gifted students develop study habits.

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Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

25 of Our Favorite Gifted Kid Movies
Our social media community and the 优蜜视频 staff weighed in on their favorite movies featuring gifted children and young adults.

The Bright Side of Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children
Because overexcitabilities are often talked about as though they are problems to solve, we wanted to highlight some of the more delightful elements of overexcitabilities in gifted children and adults.

Developing Study Habits and the Gifted Student

Because so many things come naturally to the gifted child, highly able students often do not learn how to study until it is too late. Mark provides some tips for helping gifted students develop study habits.

Mindfulness and the Gifted

优蜜视频 parent and Academy instructor Linnea Pyne discussed Mindfulness as a tool used to address a variety of the needs of gifted children.

12 Lessons About Gifted Kids from Matilda

The lovable title character in Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda is a precocious young girl who can teach the world a thing or two about gifted kids.

Gifted 101

For those who need a place to start, we have shared some essentials聽that should help as you seek more information on the gifted child.

Beneath the Surface: Twice-Exceptional Children

Twice-exceptional (or 2E) students 鈥� those who are both gifted and have a learning disability 鈥� have unique needs and challenges that often go unseen and unmet.

College Selection and Admissions for Gifted Students: Resources

Gifted students and their families face special challenges during the college search and application process.聽 优蜜视频 parent and independent college counselor Kate Duey shared some of her favorite resources on the topic with us.

2015 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars Named

Congratulations to the newest class of Caroline D. Bradley Scholars! This year鈥檚 29 Scholars represent 14 states and a wide variety of academic and personal backgrounds.聽 We are ecstatic to have each and every one of them as members of the 优蜜视频 community.

Diversity and Gifted Children: Are We Doing Enough?

There is a need for new strategies in identifying gifted students of diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all gifted children.

Like these posts? 聽to receive more information and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

1. August Rush (PG)
2. Big Hero 6 (PG)
3. Billy Elliot (R)
4. Bridge to Terabithia (PG)
5. Dead Poets Society (PG)
6. Finding Forrester (PG-13)
7. Gifted Hands (NR)
8. Good Will Hunting (R)
9. Goonies (PG)
10. Harry Potter series (PG-13)
11. The Imitation Game (PG-13)
12. The Incredibles (PG)
13. Little Man Tate (PG)
14. A Little Princess (G)
15. (PG)
16. Meet the Robinsons (G)
17. Mr. Holland鈥檚 Opus (PG)
18. October Sky (PG)
19. Rain Man (R)
20. Real Genius (PG)
21. Rushmore (R)
22. School of Rock (PG-13)
23. Searching for Bobby Fischer (PG)
24. Spellbound (G)
25. Weird Science (PG-13)

Not surprisingly, many of these are adaptations of novels, as there are a plethora of .

If you are celebrating the Academy Awards this weekend by enjoying a movie, we hope it will be one about a gifted kid!

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What are your favorite gifted kid movies? Please share in the comment section below.