Junior

The 1994 American sci-fi comedy Junior, directed by Ivan Reitman, features a unique premise: a man becoming pregnant. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Alex Hesse, a research scientist who is developing a drug designed to reduce the risk of miscarriage. Alongside his partner Dr. Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito), Alex agrees to test the drug on himself, leading to an experimental male pregnancy. As Alex undergoes hormonal treatments and carries the embryo, he experiences typical pregnancy symptoms — mood swings, food cravings, and emotional fragility. To hide the experiment, he disguises himself as a woman, while his emotional life becomes more complicated when he falls for Dr. Diana Reddin (Emma Thompson), an unsuspecting fellow scientist. The film explores themes of fatherhood, masculinity, and vulnerability with absurd humor and a touch of romantic warmth. Though it received mixed critical reviews, Junior stood out for its originality and featured a Golden Globe–nominated performance by Schwarzenegger. With a blend of science fiction and comedy, the film delivers both laughs and light commentary on gender expectations.