Movie Profile: JUNIOR (1994)
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | Junior |
| Release Date | November 23, 1994 (USA) |
| Director | Ivan Reitman |
| Writers | Kevin Wade, Chris Conrad |
| Genre | Sci-Fi, Comedy, Romance |
| Runtime | 109 minutes |
| Budget | $60 million |
| Box Office | $108.4 million worldwide |
| Lead Cast |
• Arnold Schwarzenegger (Dr. Alex Hesse) • Danny DeVito (Dr. Larry Arbogast) • Emma Thompson (Dr. Diana Reddin) • Frank Langella (Noah Banes) • Pamela Reed (Angela) |
| Major Accolades |
• Academy Award Nomination: Best Original Song (“Look What Love Has Done”) • Golden Globe Nominations: Best Actor – Comedy/Musical (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Best Actress – Comedy/Musical (Emma Thompson), Best Original Song |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Drs. Alex Hesse (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito) are research geneticists who develop “Expectane,” an experimental drug designed to reduce the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy. However, when the FDA denies human trial approval and their university shuts down their project, their research lab space is handed over to quirky cryogenics researcher Dr. Diana Reddin (Emma Thompson).
Unwilling to give up on their breakthrough, Larry convinces Alex to secretly perform an illegal human trial on himself. Using an egg provided by Dr. Reddin’s lab (code-named “Junior”) fertilized with Alex’s own sperm, Larry implants the embryo into Alex’s abdominal cavity. The plan is to carry the pregnancy for three months to prove the drug’s safety and then terminate it.
As the drug works and Alex undergoes severe hormonal changes—experiencing intense pregnancy cravings, mood swings, and maternal instincts—he falls in love with the growing baby and decides to carry it to full term. Complications arise as university administrators discover the secret, while Alex simultaneously falls in love with Dr. Reddin without revealing that she is the biological mother.
Cinematic Significance & Re-Teaming
-
The Reitman-Schwarzenegger-DeVito Triad: Junior marked the third comedic collaboration between director Ivan Reitman and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, following their smash hits Twins (1988) and Kindergarten Cop (1990).
-
Role Reversal: The movie gained pop-culture fame for placing one of the world’s biggest action icons in a gentle, highly sensitive maternal role, playing off Schwarzenegger’s imposing physical frame against comedic vulnerability.