Not all sci-fi movies are like «2012.» According to NASA scientists, films like Gattaca and even Jurassic Park are surprisingly accurate scientifically.
When Hollywood creates compelling entertainment, it cranks up the storytelling to add intrigue and suspense. That can make a movie seem far-fetched and unbelievable, especially when based on scientific or technical topics. If you’ve ever watched pseudo-hackers on screen breaking into a mainframe, you know real hacking is nothing like it. And in some of the action scenarios we see, no one would ever survive. Experts can help us figure out the balance between implausibility and realism. Sometimes, it’s about context — like in the medical drama «The Pitt», which accurately portrays the physical and mental struggles of healthcare workers.
Regarding science fiction, NASA scientists have listed unrealistic and realistic movies while attending a meeting at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (via Smithsonian Magazine). They would know, right? Here’s the full list of the most realistic and plausible films:
«Gattaca» (1997)
«Contact» (1997)
«Metropolis» (1927)
«The Day the Earth Stood Still» (1951)
«Woman from the Moon» (1929)
«The Thing from Another World» (1951)
«Jurassic Park» (1993)
The top realistic movie is «Gattaca», from 1997, which is so good in its depiction of contemporary genetics scientists have expounded upon the idea with a thoughtful 2022 paper.
