Major Motion Pictures

Photography | Short Videos | Documentary Series
Documentary Films | Major Motion Pictures | Computer Animations

---

Movies…the worst ones leave us feeling bitter and empty, but the best ones…ah, the best films have ways of transporting us through a labyrinth of complex emotions.

Believe it or not, serious science is not a very popular focus for most of the major movie studios based in Hollywood, London, Toronto and beyond. There are some exceptions, however, and the list below is meant to point you in the direction of just a few major motion pictures that managed to put science, scientists, and/or major scientific issues as one of the supporting actors.

---

AVATAR (2009)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1_JBMrrYw8&w=560&h=315]

• Key words: ecology, Gaia, resource exploitation, cultural anthropology, fantasy, adventure, action
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

WALL-E (2008)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alIq_wG9FNk&w=560&h=315]

• Key words: environment, pollution, animation, family, adventure
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

OCTOBER SKY (1999)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxJQgYPXjN4&w=560&h=315]

• Key words: physics, rocketry, biography, drama, family
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

CONTACT (1997)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRoj3jK37Vc&w=560&h=315]

• Key words: astronomy, technology, religion, philosophy, drama, mystery, sci-fi
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON (1997)

• Key words: HIV discovery, AIDS epidemic, public health, drama
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

GORILLAS IN THE MIST (1988)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdpcWkv8ohk&w=420&h=315]

• Key words: primatology, wildlife conservation, drama, adventure
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

NEVER CRY WOLF (1983)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izb0ScZSBpk&w=420&h=315]

• Key words: mammalogy, arctic ecology, field research, adventure, drama
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

THE LORAX (TV special) by Dr. Seuss (1972)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V06ZOQuo0k&w=420&h=315]

• Key words: environment, pollution, deforestation, industrialization, animation
  • IMDb
  • Wikipedia

---

Do you have a favorite major motion picture in which science plays a starring role?
If so, then please tell Dr. M about it through the comment feature below!