Flubber (1997) & The Nutty Professor (1996): The 90s CGI Boom

Flubber (1997) & The Nutty Professor (1996): The 90s CGI Boom

From Journey Through Sci-Fi: Science Fiction Film History by James Payne

December 4, 2025 · 1h 4m · Season 7 · Episode 24

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of 90s CGI on films Flubber and The Nutty Professor.

This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we revisit Flubber (1997) and The Nutty Professor (1996) to explore how both films became showcases for the 90s CGI boom. We look at how early digital effects, morphing tech, ILM's rubbery animation, and ambitious makeup and prosthetics reshaped the mad-scientist trope for a family audience. From Eddie Murphy's multi-character transformations to Flubber's bouncy CGI flying rubber, we break down the moment Hollywood shifted from practical FX to digital spectacle and what effect it had on the depiction of Mad Science. Visit our website https://www.journeythroughscifi.com/ Email Us! Support the podcast on PATREON Add us on INSTAGRAM Find us on TIKTOK Like us on FACEBOOK Follow us on LETTERBOXD

People in this episode

Host: James Payne

Topics covered

  • 90s CGI
  • digital effects
  • mad-scientist trope
  • family audience
  • Hollywood effects
  • Flubber
  • The Nutty Professor

Keywords

  • CGI
  • Flubber
  • The Nutty Professor
  • Eddie Murphy
  • digital effects
  • mad science
  • Hollywood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ILM

Books & works: Flubber, The Nutty Professor

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