Jan 03 2011
An Exploration of Bad Science in Various Sci-Fi Movies
(click to enlarge)
We all know that science-fiction movies take a bit of liberty with the “science” part of that genre, but just how bad are they at breaking the laws we know to be true? Mostly pretty terrible, with favorites like Star Wars being the worst among them.
The only two films to pass the test here were based on real space missions, while all our fictionalized accounts exaggerate science in some way for dramatic effect. Some of my favorites I’ve never even thought about are that people don’t move in slow motion in zero G, which is something you always see, and that you can’t actually dodge lasers. I’ll forgive sound in space as that would make for a rather boring film most of the time.
Click to make it bigger as I know it’s a tad hard to read in its current size.
[via io9]
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Lasers aren’t faster than light. Lasers are light.
Combining science with fantasy isn’t always a great idea. Like dodging lasers, humans can’t do it, jedi’s however. Also the once with “All planets”, in those movies you never see “All” planets.
Nice table nonetheless
I’m amazed that the Michael Bay movie is one of the more “accurate” movies on this list.
Nice table. I’d just add that Stargate involves FTL travel.
Nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy to add to the story however.
I don’t agree with the markings for Serenity. They never show any planet’s relative size to Earth or compare the speed of rotation for any planet. Plus, at the beginning of the movie they state that most of the planets were cultivated to have a climate that we could survive in. they wouldn’t cultivate a planet that had a gravity field too high or too low.
You could dodge a laser, you would just need to be really fast, far away and know it’s coming way before you could see it. It has a speed, it’s just unfortunately the speed of light.
I agree with thirster: Serenity’s first 2 are assumptions. I don’t know what fire/explosion is being talked about, so I can’t comment. But an explosion in the hull of a ship could release enough oxygen to sustain a brief fire/explosion.
Love the graph, though. The sound in space one is my favorite- when they have silent battles in space (see Serenity or Bab5) I get geeked up.
In 2001 theres FTL travel as well. Doesnt Bowman start to move at least at the speed of light, when he becomes a starchild?
I dont understand why this graph has the second column. Its logical that any colony in space is going to either be on a planet that has earthlike gravity, or there will be a device to create earth gravity in order for humans to be able to function.
Also how does alien get an interbreeding checkmark. The xenomorphs are parasites…thats like saying tapeworms interbreed with humans when they grow. And where was there interbreeding of aliens in Stargate?
I also think Star Wars should get a pass on the Ease of Communication with aliens. Given that the galactic civilization is supposed to be thousands of years old, and that no “First Contact” are ever shown, can we not assume that most “people” have figured out how to communicate amongst themselves. Most Characters are shown to speak at least 3-4 “languages” and can understand 5-10. That would be like giving Rush Hour an “Easy communication between People from Different Continents” mark. (Would be valid if the movie was set in the 1700′s, not so much in the 2000′s)
I agree with Sylky – there was no interbreeding with aliens in Stargate. The people on Abydos were human. This chart contains quite a few errors that five seconds worth of reasearch on the creator’s part would’ve shown.
No Star Trek movies mentioned?
Sooo… in Star Trek films everything is A-OK?
Love the graphic – excellent job! As one who’s always been fascinated with science, bad science in movies really does tend to get on my nerves (as does bad science in fundamentalist religion)! The ridiculously slow speed of the laser weapons in Star Wars is a particular standout.
I visited your site for the first time today as I Googled for “best sci-fi movie” lists. Great site – keep it up.
I’m a supernatural horror movie addict (other fans might check out http://www.allisnow.com/horror/), but sci-fi is my next choice. During recent burnouts on horror (there are so, so many bad horror movies) I’ve watched District 9, Terminator Salvation, Star Trek, and a few other sci-fi gems. Modern special effects are making so many things possible in sci-fi – it’s a great time to be a fan.