30 Most Intelligent Movie Children

Revenge Of The Nerds (1984)

The Intelligent Child: Harold Wormser, the child prodigy who is sent to college well before his time and, inevitably, ends up in the nerd-friendly Tri-Lambs fraternity.

Cleverest Moment: Using his expertise in aero dynamics to help his fraternity win the javelin throw during the Greek Games.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Intelligent Children: Three for the price of one, as a family of geniuses turns out maths whizz Chas, playwright Margot and tennis ace Richie.

Cleverest Moment: Some stiff competition here, but Margot gets the nod for winning the $50,000 Braverman Grant while still in the ninth grade.

Home Alone (1990)

The Intelligent Child: Kevin McCallister is only eight years old, but takes being abandoned by his family in his stride when he realises the benefits of total freedom.

Cleverest Moment: Other kids would be concerned about the imminent arrival of burglars Harry and Marv. Not Kevin, who rigs up a series of booby traps to keep them at bay.

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)

The Intelligent Child: Jimmy Neutron, schoolboy inventor whose attempts to communicate with aliens see all of Earth's parents kidnapped by hungry extra-terrestrials.

Cleverest Moment: Reversing his shrink ray to transform him into a space-sized giant in order to defeat evil alien King Goobot.

The Goonies (1985)

The Intelligent Child: Richard Wang, aka Data - the gadget-obsessed science bod in the gang whose inventions come in handy when seeking One-Eyed Willie's treasure.

Cleverest Moment: Take your pick from Data's gizmos, but special mention to the Pinchers of Peril - a set of chattering toy teeth converted into life-saving hooks by being attached to a spring.

Little Man Tate (1991)

The Intelligent Child: Fred Tate, seven-year-old prodigy who joins a school for gifted children after his intellectual talents leave him ostracised from other kids.

Cleverest Moment: Getting a place at university to study quantum physics.

Flight Of The Navigator (1986)

The Intelligent Child: David Freeman, who - after being kidnapped by aliens - has his brain filled to capacity with information such as star charts and technical data on faster-than-light space travel.

Cleverest Moment: David becomes the titular navigator by accessing his newfound knowledge to pilot the Trimaxion Drone Ship.

Matilda (1996)

The Intelligent Child: Girl whose book smarts are matched by her telekinetic powers; both are handy for dealing with the tyrannical head teacher Agatha Trunchbull.

Cleverest Moment: Keeping a copy of the adoption papers "since I was big enough to Xerox" just in case the opportunity ever arrived to ditch her ignorant parents.

Magnolia (1999)

The Intelligent Child: Stanley Spector, the current star of TV quiz What Do Kids Know? who is two days' away from the show's record.

Cleverest Moment: Forget knowing all of the answers, Stanley finally wises up to being treated like a "doll" by his father and the producers and refuses to go back on air.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

The Intelligent Child: Hermione Granger, Hogwart's brightest wizard and the brains behind Harry Potter.

Cleverest Moment: Borrowing a Time Turner so that she never has to miss another class, even when they clash. That's dedication.