A theme that frequently appears is the underestimated nature of the brilliant mind at first. In many of these true - story - based works, the protagonist is not initially recognized for their full potential. For instance, Will Hunting in 'Good Will Hunting' was a janitor but had a genius - level mathematical ability that was overlooked. And there's also the theme of personal growth. As they face challenges, they develop not just intellectually but also as a person, like John Nash learning to cope with his illness while still using his brilliant mind.
One common theme is struggle. Brilliant minds often face difficulties, like in 'A Beautiful Mind' where John Nash had to fight schizophrenia. Another theme is isolation. They may feel alone because their ideas are so advanced. For example, Alan Turing in 'The Imitation Game' was ahead of his time and had trouble fitting in. Also, discovery is a theme. These people make important findings, as Will Hunting did in 'Good Will Hunting' with his math skills.