There are times when most film directors are going for genres like superhero, drama, horror, etc. While some directors are bold enough to make movies for a smaller audience. They make movies for the sake of science and don’t care about whether the film flops or does well. Today we’ll be seeing scientifically accurate movies; movies that make sense and the science enthusiasts love them as much as they love their books and research papers. Without any further ado, here are the 15 most scientifically accurate movies of all time:
15. The Imitation Game (2014)
This film follows the nerdy arrogant Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to breaks the toughest enigma machine.
The machines and scientific possibilities shown in the movie are quite accurate. Moreover, the study of cryptography is also presented in the movie which gives the movie a genuine sense of scientific accuracy.
14. Tenet (2020)
Released right after the pandemic. It is the most recent complex masterpiece by Christopher Nolan.
“We’re not going to make any case for this being scientifically accurate” – Nolan
but he knows and we all know that the concepts of physics used here are real and make sense. The director spent almost 15 years gathering the core ideas of the film. This is what forces us to believe that the movie doesn’t get science wrong. No element in the film is borrowed or artificially added, each effect has some scientific base.
13. Shutter Island (2010)
This one was directed by the one and only Martin Scorsese. This psychological thriller is adapted from a novel of the same name. This is the movie that brings together the artist, filmmakers, and psychologists.
The cinematic portrayal of mental health in this film is absolutely wonderful and accurate. It may be one of the most mind-bending films but certainly, it is not a science-bending film. The science in this film is right.
12. Gravity (2013)
This is a 2013 Sci-fi/thriller directed by Alfonso Cuaron. The behavior of gravity shown in this movie doesn’t defy the principles of physics.
Moreover, the effects of space on the human body shown in the movie are all true, except for the tears floating in space. Also, the effect of space debris is outstanding and loved by NASA.
11. Memento (2000)
This classic is directed by Christopher Nolan. The protagonist in this movie suffers from severe anterograde amnesia. The way the movie describes the problems faced by someone with this disease is overwhelmingly accurate.
Diabetes is also discussed in the film which seems quite professional and something that science nerds expect to watch on screen.
10. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
This film perfectly portrays the life of a person suffering from schizophrenia. This is one of the well-researched films which get directing the crew studied a lot about mental health and how it affects human life.
In every sequence, the filmmakers have taken schizophrenia seriously which means they never forget that the character has some mental issues no matter how brilliant he is.
9. Current War: The Director’s Cut (2017)
Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. This movie isn’t only scientifically accurate but also historically. This movie is especially good for students who find it hard to understand electricity because the way they represent and visualize the current is quite astonishing and realistic.
8. Her (2013)
This one is from Spike Jonze. This film is all about the relationship between humans and A.I. This film doesn’t defy science because the film is based on some well-researched scientific theories.
Recently, some research has been published that discusses affection among humans and technology which is kind of amazing that way back these psychological effects were already depicted in this beautiful film.
7. Arrival (2016)
This movie is all about the science of language learning. This spectacular sci-fi gets science right. Denis Villeneuve, the genius behind Arrival is as smart as Christopher Nolan and David Fincher.
This film is like a course for astronauts to contact Aliens whenever they come to visit us.
6. Apollo 13 (1995)
This 1995 movie documents the Apollo 13 space program. It mimics all the events that happened during the mission; surprisingly along with events and happenings, all the science is accurately presented.
5. Deep Impact (1998)
This 1998 sci-fi/romance is one of the few movies that are compatible with science’s laws. Deep Impact does it with thrills. The techniques used in this movie to predict incoming asteroids are real. And the cinematic portrayal of the impact of an asteroid hitting the Earth is superbly well-researched.
Whenever any asteroid hits this planet, the impact that will be experienced is already available in sci-fi cinematic form named Deep Impact.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
This futuristic masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick is full of scientifically accurate visuals and methods. After all these years the film amazes the scientists regarding the way space works.
This is a film that inspired genius director Christopher Nolan to make the masterpiece which is also mentioned in this list of scientifically accurate movies.
3. Interstellar (2014)
This masterpiece is from the genius, Christopher Nolan. It’s one of the most scientifically accurate movies of all time and ranks on this list because this is the movie that brings the art of filmmaking and science together.
Including theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, many other physicists took part in the fabulous production. Scientists worked with the production team to make visuals that were both visually astonishing as well as scientifically sound.
2. Contact (1997)
Released in 1997. This film is one of the most important space (and science) movies of all time. This film is based on the novel of the same name which was written by American Astronomer Carl Sagan.
All the research shown in the movie is real, even the research facility used in this movie is real and exists. Whenever humanity makes actual ‘contact’ with alien life, it will be pretty similar to what’s shown in the film.
1. The Martian (2015)
Released in 2015 was directed by Ridley Scott and is adapted from the novel of the same name which was published in 2011. This beautiful space sci-fi about the planet Mars always ranks well when it comes to scientific accuracy in films.
The botanical and survival techniques shown in the film are amazingly accurate.
Honorable Mentions
- Destination Moon (1950)
- The Andromeda Strain (1971)
- Minority Report (2002)
Did we miss any title that should have been a part of our list of the most scientifically accurate movies of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
