Movies About Mathematics

From Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, and Stellan Skarsgård. The film follows 20-year-old Will Hunting (Damon), a janitor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who is also a genius-level mathematical prodigy. After being arrested for getting into a fight, Will is given the chance to avoid jail time by working with therapist Sean Maguire (Williams), who helps him explore his troubled past and come to terms with his potential. Along the way, Will meets and begins a relationship with Skylar (Driver). Through this relationship, Will learns to open up, accept responsibility for his actions, and build a better life for himself.

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG-13

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American biographical drama film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film depicts Nash's struggle with schizophrenia and his self-discovery. It stars Russell Crowe as John Nash, Ed Harris as his doctor and mentor, Dr. Rosen, Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Alicia, and Paul Bettany as his best friend Charles. The film follows Nash's life as a brilliant but eccentric mathematician at Princeton University in the 1940s. After struggling with his mental health and making great contributions to economic theory, Nash is eventually awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994. The film also explores the relationship between Nash, his wife, and his friends as they help him overcome his illness and find peace and stability. It was met with critical acclaim and was nominated for numerous awards, including four Academy Awards, winning Best Picture and Best Director for Ron Howard.

From Morten Tyldum, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech
Rated PG-13

The Imitation Game is a 2014 biographical drama film directed by Morten Tyldum, about the life of Alan Turing, a British mathematician and cryptanalyst who helped crack the Enigma Code during World War II. The film follows Turing's life from his school days at boarding school, where he is bullied for being different, to his breakthroughs in codebreaking and subsequent arrest for homosexual activity. With the help of his colleagues at Bletchley Park, Turing eventually succeeds in cracking the code and helping the Allies win the war. The film is an exploration of the ways in which Turing was both an outsider and a hero, and the struggles that he faced in his personal life.

From Jaco Van Dormael, starring Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger, Linh-Dan Pham
Rated R

Mr. Nobody is a 2009 science fiction drama film written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael. The story follows Nemo Nobody, a 118-year-old man who is the last mortal on Earth after the human race has achieved quasi-immortality. Nemo experiences memories of his past, which are shown through flashbacks and alternate timelines, as he reflects on the choices he has made and the people he has loved throughout his life. The film explores themes of inevitability, mortality, choice, and identity as Nemo must choose between his memories and his current life. In the end, Nemo is left to ponder the consequences of the choices he has made.

From James Marsh, starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, Sophie Perry
Rated PG-13

The Theory of Everything is a biographical drama film directed by James Marsh, about the life of Stephen Hawking, a brilliant physicist and cosmologist who, at the age of 21, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, leaving him almost completely paralyzed. Despite his physical limitations, Hawking manages to make great strides in science, publishing several books and making major contributions to theoretical physics. The film follows Hawking’s story, from his college days to his marriage to Jane Wilde and the birth of their children, to his diagnosis and beyond. The film highlights Hawking’s determination to succeed in spite of his disability, as well as his struggles with his health and his family. The Theory of Everything paints an intimate portrait of a remarkable man and his extraordinary achievements.

From Errol Morris, starring Stephen Hawking, Isobel Hawking, Janet Humphrey, Mary Hawking
Rated G

From Ramón Menéndez, starring Edward James Olmos, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan, Virginia Paris
Rated PG

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart
Rated R

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Sean Patrick Thomas, Ellen Burstyn
Rated PG-13

From Vincenzo Natali, starring Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller
Rated R

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Maxim Gaudette, Sébastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Martin Watier
Rated Not Rated

From Matt Brown, starring Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Malcolm Sinclair, Raghuvir Joshi
Rated PG-13

From Morgan Matthews, starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan
Rated PG-13

From John Madden, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal
Rated PG-13

From Marilyn Agrelo, starring Jessica Alba, Chris Messina, Sonia Braga, John Shea
Rated PG-13