Movies That Predicted The Future
The 10 Most Prophetic Sci-Fi Movies Ever
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This is one of those topics that causes bar fights. Ok, maybe not real bar fights, but it gets us nerds ALL riled up. Which sci-fi movie has been the best at predicting the future?
Popular Mechanics took a stab at the question and produced their list. Some of them I agree with, but there are some I thought missed the mark, and others that were overlooked.
From 2001: A Space Odyssey to Gattaca, they make good cases on where the stories hit, where they missed, and what’s yet to be determined. I don’t agree with all of their judgements, but they’ve got some good selections.
More For The List
Below are a couple of films I think should have been included on this list:
- Total Recall - At the time of the film’s release, MMORPGs weren’t quite ready for prime time. There were some fledgling games out there, but not what we see now with games like Eve and World of Warcraft. While we haven’t gotten to the stage of implanting memories, we have gone the route of immersive fantasy, which is what makes these games so addictive. Players take on the personas of their characters within the context of the game. It isn’t much of a stretch to think that these games could eventually become even more immersive, perhaps becoming 3D, and with the advent of 3d display technologies, some of which were on display at this year’s CES, moving closer to the movie’s idea.
- Fantastic Voyage - No, we aren’t shrinking anyone, but the idea of using miniature tools to repair the human body has arrived. Hundreds of projects in nanotechnology are in process, and many have already been implemented. Cameras that can be swallowed are already in use and nanocrystalline silver is being used as an antimicrobial agent for treating wounds. In development are nanotech “Qdots” that can identify the location of cancer cells in the body, nanoparticles that attack cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding cells, and nanotubes that can be used to help broken bones to heal better. The idea of miniaturizing the tools of healthcare is now a reality.
There are more, to be sure. So, while risking a small scale riot, I’m asking for your comments. What sc-fi films do you think represent true forward-thinking? Which introduced a product or technology we now take for granted?
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