The Absent-Minded Professor

The Absent-Minded Professor has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 201 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Fred MacMurray is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Absent-Minded Professor earns its spot. The Absent-Minded Professor does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Bumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible material that gains energy every time it strikes a hard surface. It allows for the invention of shoes that can allow jumps of amazing heights and enables a modified Model-T to fly. Unfortunately, no one is interested in the material except for Alonzo Hawk, a corrupt businessman who wants to steal the material for himself. Fred MacMurray and Nancy Olson lead a cast that never overplays a joke. The Absent-Minded Professor came out in 1961. The timing in The Absent-Minded Professor is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Absent-Minded Professor. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Fred MacMurray's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

The Absent-Minded Professor was released in 1961, directed by Robert Stevenson. The full 96-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.