In 2011, NASA scientists compiled a list of the most realistic sci-fi movies. At the top of the list is a film from 1997: Gattaca starring Ethan Hawke and Jude Law.
During a conference (2011) in California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA scientists created a list of the best and worst science fiction movies in terms of their credibility. One sci-fi film made it to number one, depicting a future where what matters is not performance, but genetic material.
Here you can see a trailer for Gattaca:
This is the most realistic film according to NASA
Which film? Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol, is a dystopian science fiction film that showcases a society where people are categorized into different classes through genetic manipulation.
What is the film about? The film is about a future society where parents can determine their children’s future even before they are born – all characteristics like height, hair color can be adjusted and hereditary diseases eliminated. A scenario that promises nothing good.
A society divided into two classes
The society is divided into two classes: the Valids, who are genetically optimized, and the Invalids, who were conceived naturally and have genetic defects. The Invalids are discriminated against and oppressed.
Vincent Freeman, played by Ethan Hawke, is one of the Invalids and dreams of flying into space. He is driven by the injustice of the system that evaluates people based on their genetic perfection.
To realize his dream, he assumes the identity of a genetically perfect man named Jerome Morrow, who is in a wheelchair after an accident. Under the false identity of Jerome, Vincent works hard to qualify for a space mission.
As Vincent tries to hide his true identity and fulfill his dreams, he becomes embroiled in a murder case that threatens his disguise. He must fight against genetic discrimination while also finding his place in society.
The characters in Gattaca
struggle with societal norms and their personal beliefs. They strive to find their own place in the world and understand how their genes influence their identity. The film touches on themes such as genetic engineering, discrimination, the meaning of destiny, and self-determination.
Today, scientists can use tools like the gene-editing CRISPR-Cas9 to make targeted interventions in genetic material, which is also used for gene therapies for certain diseases. CRISPR-Cas allows researchers to cut, remove, insert, or modify DNA at specific locations.
It remains to be seen what other possibilities will arise in the future. Given the rapid advancements in genetic research, the film Gattaca might well be even more relevant today than in its time.
What other films are on the list? The highest-rated films by NASA also include the following:
- Rank 2: Contact
- Rank 3: Metropolis
- Rank 4: The Day the Earth Stood Still
- Rank 5: Woman in the Moon
- Rank 6: The Thing from Another World
- Rank 7: Jurassic Park
NASA scientists have also put together a list of the most unrealistic sci-fi films, including a well-known disaster film from 2009: This science fiction film is considered by NASA to be the most unrealistic
