Yo-yo Entropy

[RobertScorpio]

What movie/tv show that depicted future events, at least 25 years ahead of contemporary time when the movie was made, got the 'future' right? For example;

Space Seed stated that Khan and his followers came to rule earth around 1992 I think..something like that...and we know that didn't happen. And 2001/2010 depict our space flight being far more advanced than it really is, and these are so called realistic scifi movies and they didn't get much right either...

So..are there movies/tv shows that depict future events and are in the 'ballpark' in terms of being correct??

Rob
Scorpio

 

[WendellM]

Good question...

I was tempted to mention Destination Moon, but that was made in 1950, only 19 years ahead of the lunar landing.

Dang, I can't think of any. You'd think there'd be some SF film/TV that was accurate a quarter century out... Most projected much further than that, and it's easy to find ones that got it wrong, but who got it right?

That's something good to chew on - thanks, RobertScorpio.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Good question...

I was tempted to mention Destination Moon, but that was made in 1950, only 19 years ahead of the lunar landing.

Dang, I can't think of any. You'd think there'd be some SF film/TV that was accurate a quarter century out... Most projected much further than that, and it's easy to find ones that got it wrong, but who got it right?

That's something good to chew on - thanks, RobertScorpio.

Destination Moon can be mentioned..its only one year off..so do tell us what it got right. I'd be interested in knowing...

Rob

 

[WendellM]

Destination Moon can be mentioned..its only one year off..so do tell us what it got right. I'd be interested in knowing...

It's a movie co-written by Robert Heinlein and produced by George Pal, which covered four American astronauts taking off from Earth, going to the Moon, and returning. They used up more fuel than anticipated during in the last moments of their landing on the Moon (a close mirroring of Eagle's landing). On their way there, there's a spacewalk (somewhat like Gemini IV's, only with all four astronauts rather than just one). Once on the Moon, they go down a ladder and walk around on the lunar surface.

There are several differences, though: it was a private endeavor backed by investors, not a government-run one, and the rocket was an all-in-one affair with nuclear power rather than a chemically-powered multi-stage. The lift-off, voyage, and activities on the Moon were more exciting than what Neil and Buzz had (it was a movie after all). And the astronauts wore color-coded spacesuits (how Trek ) rather than all-white.

If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destination_Moon_(film).

 

[Hermiod]

While many things were off, Deep Space Nine's "Past Tense" got two things right.

They accurately predicted that the Internet and television would become heavily linked. They also predicted that the 1999 New York Yankees would have a very successful season.

 

[RobertScorpio]

While many things were off, Deep Space Nine's "Past Tense" got two things right.

They accurately predicted that the Internet and television would become heavily linked. They also predicted that the 1999 New York Yankees would have a very successful season.

Huh...I will have to rewatch PAST TENSE again..I dont think I have seen it since way back when...will be interesting to see if it holds up after ALL of this time..thanks for 'memory'

Rob

 

[Mistral]

Its funny, few, if any, movies got it right at all. I saw Deterrence yesterday, about a crisis in the Mid East caused by Uday Hussien that prompted an atom bomb drop on Baghdad. It was filmed in 96 and takes place in 2008.

Rollerball had a Corporate State, 2001 presupposed commercial spaceflights(something just getting started now), Soylent Green had NY City at 40 million people. By Dawn's Early Light and Dr Strangelove had us duking it out with the Soviets. The movie most likely to get it right-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The tech is being created as we speak. Hmm, Logan's Run got something right-mentally controlled computers. Saw one on House the other day. I can't think of a serious scifi movie that got much of anything right. Maybe Bladerunner's portrayal of the ecosystem in LA-but only if you are talking about Shangzouh or Bejing.

ed-what's interesting is how many books got things right. From Clarke's orbiting communication sats to Heinlein's invention of waterbeds and ATMs, the major writers tended(and tend) to hit pretty spot on when they try to create believable future settings.

 

[Silvercrest]

So..are there movies/tv shows that depict future events and are in the 'ballpark' in terms of being correct??

"Network."

 

[Mistral]

So..are there movies/tv shows that depict future events and are in the 'ballpark' in terms of being correct??

"Network."

Got me there. Good call!

 

[Silvercrest]

Got me there. Good call!

Unfortunately.

 

[Broccoli]

"Tomorrow is Yesterday" amazingly and accurately predicted that the first moon landing mission would blast off on a Wednesday.

 

[sojourner]

1 in 7 chance of getting that right. Pretty good odds.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I nominate "The Year of the Sex Olympics" (1968)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_the_Sex_Olympics

Quote:

".. the play depicts a world of the future where a small elite control the media, keeping the lower classes docile by serving them an endless diet of lowest common denominator programming and pornography. The play concentrates on an idea the programme controllers have for a new programme which will follow the trials and tribulations of a group of people left to fend for themselves on a remote island. In this respect, the play is often cited as having anticipated the craze for reality television."

 

[Maurice]

Got me there. Good call!

Unfortunately.

Bingo!