Masterminds (1997)

Masterminds is the kind of scrappy, high-concept ’90s thriller-comedy that wins you over on sheer ingenuity: a prank-happy teen turning a stuffy private school into his personal chessboard when a “security” expert turns predator. The movie’s special sauce is the contrast between youthful, improvised cleverness and Patrick Stewart’s cool, dignified menace—he brings poise and presence that makes even the pulpiest moments feel anchored. Roger Christian keeps the suspense moving with more restraint than you’d expect, letting the fun come from outsmarting systems and watching plans collide rather than drowning everything in noise. It won’t convert you if you need realism or deep character drama, but if you’re in the mood for a lean, mischievous cat-and-mouse ride, it’s an easy, entertaining bet.

Masterminds wants to be a cheeky teen-versus-terrorists caper where a prank-loving hacker turns a private school siege into a playground of improvised tricks and tech sabotage. The problem is it plays like a patchwork of better hostage thrillers and kid-adventure movies, with a lot of noisy “look how clever this is” plotting that often lands as silly rather than smart. Patrick Stewart brings some welcome gravitas, and the premise has a pulpy, after-school-movie energy that can be mildly fun if you’re in the mood for low-stakes nonsense. But if you want a tight thriller, believable action, or characters with any real depth, this one will likely feel formulaic and thin.