Buzz
While many films miss the mark when it comes to predicting the future—like how we didn't reach Jupiter by 2010 or the Soviet Union's sudden collapse—others have astonishingly foreseen technological advancements, crime trends, and cultural shifts.
10. The Truman Show
In 1998, reality TV was still a novelty. The Truman Show presciently imagined a future where reality TV became a staple. By 2012, shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Mob Wives, and Jersey Shore made it clear: television now revolves around following the lives of others, no matter how mindless or dramatic. While this trend continues, there are still gems like 30 Rock to hold onto.
9. Blade Runner
While we may not have widespread flying cars or robot servants, one thing is for sure: our iPhones last only 1-3 years before they become outdated. Similarly, in the 1982 film Blade Runner, robots are programmed to expire after just four years. Both then and now, technology has a short shelf life, prompting a constant cycle of replacing and upgrading. This has been a recurring historical mistake, though the mass appeal of iPhones and iPads might ensure the cycle continues.
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001 is now more commonly linked to terrorism than the space age, yet one element from the film holds true: robots, such as HAL, have taken human lives. Drones, for instance, are often deployed to eliminate terrorists (like Anwar al-Awlaki) in order to protect soldiers from potential harm. And if you're wondering why drones didn't take out Osama bin Laden, the reasoning was likely due to the fear of alarming Pakistani civilians if their neighbors were suddenly killed by a bomb. Of course, they were probably equally disturbed when U.S. soldiers finally killed their notorious neighbor.
7. Videodrome
On platforms like YouTube, four million videos are uploaded every five seconds. It's hard to doubt that at least one of these videos involves violence, torture, or even murder. While such scenes aren’t typically broadcast on TV like in Videodrome, the reality is that as you read this, some twisted individual might be recording a brutal crime in real time. These so-called snuff or torture videos bring to mind an even older film, Peeping Tom.
6. A Clockwork Orange
If you followed the news in early 2011, you may recall the riots in England, where chaos and lawlessness were rampant. This echoes the violence of Alex's gang, who terrorize writers, kill women with statues, and assault people while singing 'Singing in the Rain.' Regarding the Ludovico Sequence, there are methods to curb violent impulses in criminals. While the rioters weren't as brutal as Alex's Droogs, imagine what could happen in a few years if England's economy worsens and riots become even more frequent. We could see a gang as savage as the Droogs depicted in Kubrick and Burgess' vision.
5. Children of Men
While the global birth crisis in Children of Men isn’t quite as severe as depicted in the film, birth rates are declining, particularly in Europe. For instance, Italy's fertility rate is at 1.40, and it's continuing to fall. France has a slightly higher rate of 2.05, while Singapore has one of the lowest at 0.75. Although many focus on the issue of overpopulation, these declining birth rates suggest that underpopulation may soon be a much bigger problem.
4. RoboCop
While robotic policemen aren’t a reality yet, there have been significant advancements in prosthetics for people who’ve lost limbs, even though no one has yet been fully reconstructed with robotics. The idea of a man being entirely rebuilt by machines is fascinating. Perhaps one day, this concept will no longer be just a futuristic fantasy.
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The reason this takes the top spot is due to how incredible it is that memories can be wiped clean. In the 2004 film, a couple opts to have their memories of each other erased. First, the girlfriend goes through the process, followed by her boyfriend, played by Jim Carrey, who decides to erase his own memories in response. As the procedure unfolds, he frantically tries to preserve the memories of her. In real life, Dutch scientists have made strides in developing a method to erase traumatic memories for individuals dealing with painful experiences. The key difference between the film and reality is that the real-life procedure isn’t intended for breakups, but instead for traumatic memories such as those involving death, assault, or even sexual violence.
2. Minority Report
Although not all aspects of the film have materialized, one prediction has: remember that mall scene where personalized advertisements are tailored to the protagonist? In today's world, computers often track your search history, using it to display ads that align with your interests. For example, if you search for 'Yankees vs. Mets,' you're likely to see tickets for an upcoming game. If you search a lot for books, you might get ads for Barnes & Noble. Similarly, if you're browsing movies, you could be presented with tickets to a new film premiere.
1. Forbidden Planet
This iconic work of science fiction predicted that in the future, people would have small, portable communication devices that they would take with them at all times. It's easy to see that this prediction has already come true, though we haven't seen robots like Robbie just yet. Interestingly, a version of Robbie might soon become a reality in Japan, where robots designed to assist with household chores, babysit, or even serve as friends are being developed.
