Movies About Scientists

From Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy
Rated PG-13

Interstellar is a 2014 science fiction epic directed by Christopher Nolan. The story follows a group of explorers who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. Led by former NASA pilot Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), the crew ventures in search of a planet that can sustain human life. Along the way, they are faced with numerous challenges, including time dilation, a hostile alien race, and a mysterious cosmic force. The crew must use their wits and courage to survive as they explore the unknown reaches of the universe. The film features an impressive cast and spectacular visual effects, making it a cinematic experience unlike any other.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter
Rated G

2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL after the discovery of a featureless alien monolith affecting human evolution. The film is a meditation on the possibilities of human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life, and is notable for its scientific realism, pioneering special effects, ambiguous imagery, and minimal use of dialogue. The storyline is based in part on Arthur C. Clarke's short story "The Sentinel" and deals with themes of existentialism, human evolution, and technology. The film was a commercial success, and is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films ever made. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one for its Visual Effects. It was also nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

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

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 biographical drama written by Akiva Goldsman and directed by Ron Howard. The film stars Russell Crowe as John Nash, a mathematical genius who suffers from schizophrenia. Nash is a graduate student at Princeton University in the 1940s, and his brilliance earns him recognition and the respect of his peers. However, Nash’s mental illness causes him to experience delusions and hallucinations that eventually lead to a breakdown. Nash is eventually hospitalized and treated with antipsychotic medication, which helps him cope with his symptoms and return to work. With the support of his wife, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly), Nash continues his research and is eventually awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his revolutionary work in game theory. A Beautiful Mind is an inspiring story of courage, determination, and the power of love.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
Rated Passed

Inherit the Wind is a 1960 drama directed by Stanley Kramer. It is based on the 1925 play of the same name by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The movie tells a fictionalized version of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial in which a Tennessee teacher was charged with violating state law by teaching the Theory of Evolution in his classroom. The trial pits two great legal minds against each other: defense attorney Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) and prosecutor Matthew Brady (Fredric March). The two men battle each other in the courtroom, while outside of it they must deal with the intolerance of the townspeople and the prejudices of the press. The movie also examines the consequences of religious fundamentalism and the importance of free thought and the right to freedom of expression. In the end, Drummond triumphs, and the teacher is acquitted. The movie serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the principles of the Constitution and protecting the rights of the minority.

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

The Imitation Game is a 2014 biopic directed by Morten Tyldum, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as English mathematician and cryptanalyst Alan Turing. During World War II, Turing was part of a team at Bletchley Park tasked with cracking the German Enigma code. Turing and his team succeeded in creating a machine that could decode the encrypted messages of the German military, thus helping the Allies to win the War. However, Turing’s work was kept secret for years and he was persecuted for being a homosexual. The film follows Turing’s journey, showing how his intelligence and originality helped to save thousands of lives and eventually led to his downfall.

From Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara
Rated PG-13

The Martian is a 2015 science fiction drama directed by Ridley Scott and based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The film follows astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) as he is left stranded on Mars after a dust storm forces his crew to abandon the planet. With limited resources and no way to contact Earth, Watney must rely on his ingenuity and wit to survive, while also finding a way to signal to Earth that he is still alive. As time passes, a rescue mission is launched to bring Watney home, but the journey is fraught with danger and complications. The Martian ultimately celebrates the power of human resilience and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg
Rated PG-13

Arrival is a 2016 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film follows linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) who is recruited by the US government when 12 mysterious alien ships arrive on Earth. The aliens, referred to as "Heptapods", have no known origin and are seemingly unable to communicate with humanity. Banks must decipher their language in order to find out their purpose on Earth before tensions between nations escalate. With the help of physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), Banks is able to make significant progress in her attempts to understand the Heptapods. Through her journey, Banks discovers that the Heptapods' true purpose is to share a powerful message about the future of humanity.

From Theodore Melfi, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner
Rated PG

Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder, based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about African-American female mathematicians who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Space Race. The film stars Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who calculated flight trajectories for Project Mercury and other missions. Alongside Johnson are Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), a mathematician and supervisor, and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), an engineer and aspiring lawyer. The trio and their colleagues faced challenges related to sexism and racism at the predominantly white male-dominated workplace. The film follows their incredible successes in spite of these challenges and also highlights their invaluable contributions to the Space Race.

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

The Theory of Everything is a biographical drama film which follows the life of Stephen Hawking, one of the most influential scientists of the twentieth century. The movie begins with Hawking as a student at Cambridge University, where he meets Jane Wilde and the two quickly fall in love. Despite his brilliant mind and academic success, Hawking is eventually diagnosed with motor neuron disease, which gradually paralyses his body. Despite the physical limitations, Hawking is determined to continue his research and eventually earns a Doctorate of Philosophy degree, making groundbreaking theories about the origin of the universe. This brings him much attention and fame, and he eventually marries Jane. As his illness progresses, Jane must come to terms with her husband's changing physical abilities, and the couple struggle to maintain their relationship. The movie culminates with Hawking's tireless efforts to continue his work and his determination to keep living his life to the fullest.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Rated PG

Contact is a 1997 American science fiction drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg. It is based on Carl Sagan's 1985 novel of the same name. The film stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway, a SETI scientist who finds strong evidence of extraterrestrial life and is chosen to make first contact. Other notable members of the cast include Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, Tom Skerritt, William Fichtner, John Hurt, and Angela Bassett. The story follows Arroway as she is chosen to lead a team of scientists, who set out to explore a mysterious signal originating from the far reaches of space. After spending years researching and building the machine to detect the signal, the team succeeds in making contact with a distant alien race. The aliens offer a chance at a journey of a lifetime, a chance to find out the answers to some of life's greatest mysteries. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. It was nominated for numerous awards, winning five, including the Academy Award for Best Original Score for composer Alan Silvestri. Contact is widely considered one of the best science fiction films of the 1990

From Alejandro Amenábar, starring Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom
Rated R