Movies that predicted the future

Movies that predicted the future

Some movies have an uncanny ability to predict the future.

We’re not just talking about science fiction that takes place in the future here. The most talented screenwriters and filmmakers tend to be in tune with where the world is heading. In some cases, they’ve been on the money when it comes to the future of technology long before it happens.

With that in mind, it got us wondering which movies predicted the future correctly. Judging by the thoughts of audiences and online discussions, we weren’t the only ones thinking about this.

Minority Report

Tom Cruise and Samantha Morton in Minority Report (2002)
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

The idea of a pre-crime unit within the police is still science fiction, but one thing that has become reality is the use of gesture and motion controls.

The most famous example is when Nintendo launched the Nintendo Wii video game console. You can also argue that the iPhone’s swipes mimic Tom Cruise’s gesture controls in the movie.

The Siege

The Siege
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

In 1998, Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis starred in a movie about a terrorist attack leading to government overreach.

Three years later, the September 11th attacks took place, which led to, you guessed it, overreach as part of government surveillance and the War on Terror.

The Cable Guy

The Cable Guy
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures.

Yes, The Cable Guy is a comedy, but it also knew where we were heading with the internet.

Cable Guy Chip Douglas was spot on: ” Soon every American home will integrate their television, phone, and computer. You’ll be able to visit the Louvre on one channel, or watch female wrestling on another. You can do your shopping at home or play Mortal Kombat with a friend from Vietnam. There’s no end to the possibilities!”

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Network

Network
Image Credit: United Artists.

As we live in a world where mass media is becoming more ingrained in our daily lives, it has arguably impacted us in a negative way.

Fake news, trash reality TV, and celebrity culture are no longer a warning about where we’re headed. Thanks to cable and social media, it’s where we are.

Contagion

Contagion
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

A deadly global pandemic that forced us to quarantine and isolate. Conspiracy theorists claim they have found a cure in medications that can harm us. Sound familiar?

Ironically, due to the parallels of the COVID-19 pandemic, viewership of Contagion on HBO Now rose by 40% in 2020.

The China Syndrome

The China Syndrome
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures.

The 1979 film details a reporter discovering safety violations at a nuclear power plant, leading to a near-meltdown accident. It was described as a “character assassination of an entire industry” by the Nuclear industry.

Twelve days later, the partial meltdown accident at Three Mile Island happened.

Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II
Image Credit: Universal Studios.

They got a couple of details wrong, but they nailed the fact that one day the Chicago Cubs would finally win the World Series.

The Cubs would win the title in 2016, a year after the movie predicted. What’s impressive is that in the film, the Cubs beat a baseball team from Miami. On the one hand, that would never happen; Miami’s baseball team is in the National League like the Cubs. However, when the film was released in 1985, Miami didn’t have a team.

Demolition Man

Demolition Man
Image Credit: Warner Bros.

At this point, what didn’t Demolition Man get right?

Tablets that can FaceTime people? Check. Self-driving cars? They’re already here, even if they’re not perfect. Corporations owning everything? Sadly, yes. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a politician? While not President, he was Governor of California.

Toys

Toys
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

One of the plot points of the notorious 1992 box office flop is how Lieutenant General Leland Zevo is training kids with video games so he can replace pilots with drones.

Today, unmanned drones are a major part of military exercises and attacks.

Tomorrow Never Dies

Tomorrow Never Dies
Image Credit: MGM Distribution Co.

How’s this sound for a far-fetched plan by a Bond villain: using his news media influence, as well as a corrupt government, to wage war solely to gain influence and views.

Not so far-fetched by today’s standards, but it was a wild idea back in 1997.

Contact

Contact
Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Consider the quote from Matthew McConaughey’s character in Contact: “We shop at home, we surf the web. At the same time, we feel emptier, lonelier, and more cut off from each other than at any other time in human history. We’re becoming a synthesized society in a great big hurry to get to the next temporary sensation.”

Now consider the fact that the film was released in the late ’90s, before the internet became what it is today, which is essentially exactly as predicted in the above quote.

The Truman Show

The Truman Show
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Millions of people watching someone’s daily life? That sounds insane, right? Well, about that…

The livestreaming platform Twitch began as a way for people to stream video games live, but it’s since morphed to include people streaming their daily lives, no matter how mundane or straightforward.

RoboCop

RoboCop
Image Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

More than a simple action movie, RoboCop is a grim warning about the growing power of corporations and the militarization of the police.

As corporate mergers for billions of dollars continue to grow their influence daily, we also live in a world where small town police departments can obtain a $1 million armored truck.

Interstellar

Interstellar
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

No, I’m not talking about the crop blights.

I’m talking about the scene early in the movie where a teacher (?!) suggested that the moon landing was fake. It’s a belief that conspiracy theorists are latching on to more and more commonly, thanks to their increased reach through social media and the internet.

The Running Man

The Running Man
Image Credit: Tri-Star Pictures.

Remember when the ICS edited footage to make it seem like Ben Richards and Amber Mendez were killed? Never mind that, what about the altered footage that framed Richards to begin with?

Today, we call that using deep fakes or AI footage, and people are believing what they’re seeing.

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