Movies About Math For Middle School

From Directors: Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano, starring François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot
Rated R

The Intouchables is a 2011 French comedy-drama film directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano. It stars François Cluzet and Omar Sy as two unlikely friends: Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic, and Driss, a poor ex-convict. Philippe, who is bored with his life, hires Driss to be his caretaker and soon, the two form an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences in social class, they bond over their shared sense of humor and Philippe teaches Driss the importance of living life to the fullest. Through their adventures together, each man learns valuable lessons about friendship, resilience, and finding joy in life.

From Gavin O'Connor, starring Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison
Rated PG-13

Warrior is an award-winning 2011 drama directed by Gavin O'Connor, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte. The film follows the story of two estranged brothers, Tommy (Hardy) and Brendan (Edgerton), who enter a mixed martial arts tournament for different reasons. Tommy, a war veteran and former MMA fighter, enters in search of a financial payout, while Brendan, a divorced teacher and family man, needs it to save his house. Eventually, the brothers have to face each other in the tournament's final match. Along the way, they discover strength and redemption in each other, and reveal the truth behind their long-standing feud. The film is a powerful drama that highlights the courage and resilience of an American family, and the power of forgiveness.

From David Yates, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon
Rated PG-13

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the epic conclusion to the Harry Potter movie series. In this film, Harry, Ron, and Hermione must find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, in order to defeat the dark wizard Voldemort and save the wizarding world. Along the way, Harry and his friends face dangerous obstacles, confront old enemies, and discover the power of their friendship. With the help of loyal allies, they battle their way to the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort. This thrilling conclusion to the beloved series will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

From Tate Taylor, starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard
Rated PG-13

The Help is a 2011 drama film directed by Tate Taylor, based on the novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. The story follows a young white woman in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, who becomes interested in the plight of the African-American maids who work for white families. She begins to write a book detailing the lives of the maids, and the struggles they face due to the racism and inequality of the era. The film follows her journey of discovery, as she learns more about the experiences of the servants and the injustices they have faced, and her struggle to get the book published. The film stars Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, and Sissy Spacek. It was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer.

From Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Rated PG-13

The Artist is a 2011 French romantic comedy-drama film about a silent movie star who finds his career in jeopardy when the arrival of talking pictures makes him obsolete. The film stars Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, a silent movie star, and Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller, an aspiring dancer. The two form an unlikely bond as George's career plummets and Peppy's rises. The Artist is a homage to the silent films of the 1920s, and was shot entirely in black and white. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Hazanavicius), and Best Actor (Dujardin).

From Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Drive follows the story of a Hollywood stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver. At night, he drives criminals to and from their heists, never asking questions and never stealing any of the loot. But when he falls for his neighbor (Carey Mulligan), and her ex-convict husband (Oscar Isaac) gets out of jail, his simple life is upended. He is drawn into a dangerous underworld of crime and violence, and he must risk everything to protect those he loves and take control of his fate. Nicolas Winding Refn's edgy, stylish direction and Gosling's intense performance make Drive a thrilling, action-packed ride.

From David Fincher, starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. The film follows the story of investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate the disappearance and murder of a wealthy industrialist's niece. With the help of Blomkvist's friend, a retired security agent, they uncover a decades-old family secret involving a sadistic serial killer. Along the way they must dodge the clutches of a powerful and influential family as they confront their own demons and fight for justice.

From Matthew Vaughn, starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon
Rated PG-13

X-Men: First Class is a 2011 superhero film directed by Matthew Vaughn. It is a prequel to the previous X-Men films and is based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name. The film follows a group of young mutants, led by Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), who try to prevent a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. In order to do so, they must first battle the powerful mutant Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and his team of mutants. Along the way, the group encounters Emma Frost (January Jones), Azazel (Jason Flemyng) and Riptide (Alex Gonzalez). The group must come to terms with their abilities and learn to trust each other in order to survive. In the end, they come together and defeat Shaw and his forces, preventing a nuclear war. In the process, they also form a bond that will become the foundation of the X-Men.

From Rupert Wyatt, starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Karin Konoval
Rated PG-13

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 science fiction film directed by Rupert Wyatt. It is the eighth installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise. The film follows a scientist working on a cure for Alzheimer’s disease in San Francisco. His experiments on apes unexpectedly lead to them becoming smarter, stronger and more powerful than humans. When the apes escape captivity, they begin to form their own society and challenge humanity’s dominance of the planet. The film stars James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis in the role of Caesar the chimpanzee. The film was a financial success, earning over $480 million worldwide and receiving generally positive reviews from critics.

From Jonathan Levine, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard
Rated R

50/50 is a 2011 comedy-drama film directed by Jonathan Levine, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anjelica Huston. The film follows the story of 27-year-old Adam Lerner, a seemingly healthy writer living in Seattle. After a routine check-up, Adam is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend Kyle, Adam's mother Diane, and his therapist Katherine, Adam must learn to accept his condition and make the most of the time he has left. Along the way, he discovers strength and courage he never knew he had, and learns to appreciate the people in his life.

From Bennett Miller, starring Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Rated PG-13

Moneyball is a 2011 American biographical sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller and written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Based on Michael Lewis' 2003 non-fiction book of the same name, it follows the Oakland Athletics baseball team and their General Manager Billy Beane's attempts to put together a competitive team despite their small-market budget. With the help of Ivy League graduate Peter Brand, Beane successfully assembles a competitive team through the use of statistical analysis and sabermetrics, emphasizing the importance of on-base percentage and the need to take advantage of the market inefficiency of undervalued players. Despite an initially negative reaction from traditional baseball scouts and the media, the Athletics achieve a winning streak that makes them contenders for the 2002 American League West Division championship. The film stars Brad Pitt as Beane and Jonah Hill as Brand.

From Duncan Jones, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Rated PG-13

Source Code is a 2011 science fiction thriller directed by Duncan Jones and starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Colter Stevens. The movie follows Stevens as he is recruited for a secret military program in which he must enter a "source code", a simulated reality, to find out who is responsible for the bombing of a commuter train. While in the source code, Stevens is able to relive the same eight minutes of time over and over again, giving him the ability to alter the future and save the train's passengers. Along the way, he discovers the truth about the bombing and the identity of the bomber. Throughout his journey, Stevens must not only save the passengers on the train, but also figure out who he is and why he was chosen for this mission.

From Philippe Falardeau, starring Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx
Rated PG-13

Monsieur Lazhar is a French-Canadian drama film by director Philippe Falardeau about a middle-aged Algerian immigrant, Bachir Lazhar, who arrives in Montreal to fill in a position as a substitute teacher at a local elementary school. The class is trying to cope with the recent death of their beloved teacher, and Bachir puts forth his own method of dealing with the situation by not only teaching them in the classroom, but also providing them with personal attention. As the students learn to trust and open up to him, Bachir finds himself having to confront his own painful past, and he must decide what actions he must take in order to move forward. Through his interactions with the students, Bachir finds redemption and a new outlook on life.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley
Rated PG

Hugo is a 2011 fantasy drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. The story follows Hugo Cabret, a young orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station and is caught up in a mystery involving an automaton (a mechanical man) and a broken machine that his late father had been trying to repair. Hugo meets an eccentric girl named Isabelle and they team up to find the answers to the mystery and also to uncover a secret that could change Hugo's life forever. Along the way, Hugo and Isabelle meet a variety of characters from the Parisian train station, including the toy shop owner Georges Méliès, and discover a hidden world of magic. Hugo's journey is ultimately about discovering the importance of family, friendship, and creativity.

From Brad Bird, starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton
Rated PG-13

From Neil Burger, starring Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone
Rated PG-13

From Guy Ritchie, starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams
Rated PG-13

From Justin Lin, starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg
Rated PG

From Jean-Marc Vallée, starring Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent, Evelyne Brochu
Rated Not Rated

From Brad Furman, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy
Rated R

From Alexander Payne, starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause
Rated R

From Ken Scott, starring Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton, Antoine Bertrand, Dominic Philie
Rated R

From Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Timothy Olyphant, Abigail Breslin
Rated PG