10 Sci-Fi Movies With the Worst Science

Entertaining sci-fi movies that have some scientific inaccuracies. Credit: Pelican / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

When it comes to science fiction movies, the best ones are those that focus on the “science” part of the genre and use real-world principles to create a believable vision of the future. Unfortunately, not all sci-fi movies live up to this standard. Some of them tend to ignore science, either for the sake of the story or due to a lack of research.

Recently, a group of people on the r/movies subreddit, which is the largest online community dedicated to movies, discussed the sci-fi movies that had the worst science. These movies have unrealistic portrayals of scientists, physics that don’t make sense, and storylines that are simply absurd.

Prometheus

Prometheus is a movie that was inspired by the Alien franchise. It tells the story of a group of scientists and explorers who journey to a distant planet to investigate the origins of human life. During their expedition, they come across a horrifying threat that could put humanity in danger.

The film is visually stunning and thought-provoking, exploring themes like creation, evolution, and what it means to be human. However, despite its merits, some of the science in Prometheus is questionable.

For example, one scene shows a biologist getting too close to a dangerous creature even after it had warned him to back off. Similarly, a geologist manages to get himself and the biologist lost. These instances demonstrate that some of the scientific decisions made by the characters lack common sense.

The Day After Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow is a disaster movie that portrays a catastrophic climate event, causing a new Ice Age that leads to an apocalyptic scenario.

Amid the ensuing chaos, a climatologist (Dennis Quaid) and his son (Jake Gyllenhaal) embark on a perilous journey to New York City to rescue his other son (Austin Nichols) and to survive the extreme conditions.

While the movie is notable for being an early portrayal of the dangers of global warming, some Redditors have criticized the science behind the film. One user highlighted a particular scene in which some characters try to “outrun climate change on foot,” which was deemed to be highly unrealistic.

Moonfall

Moonfall is a 2022 movie that features two astronauts (played by Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson) and a conspiracy theorist (John Bradley) who collaborate to uncover the real nature of the moon.

Unfortunately, it was not well-received by critics and was one of the biggest box office failures of 2022, earning only $67 million despite having a budget of over $138 million. As far as unrealistic science in movies goes, Moonfall is one of the most egregious examples in recent years.

The Core

The Core is a movie that follows a team of scientists as they undertake a perilous mission to rescue the Earth from a catastrophic event brought on by the planet’s core halting its rotation. They venture to the planet’s center in a technologically advanced drilling machine but face many obstacles along the way.

While the movie is entertaining and features one of the most impressive death scenes ever, it is not particularly realistic. So, if you’re looking for realism, this movie may not be the right choice for you.

Lucy

Lucy is a film that stars Scarlett Johansson as a woman named Lucy, who gets unknowingly caught up in a perilous drug deal and is implanted with a synthetic drug that unleashes the full potential of her brain. As her cognitive abilities increase, Lucy becomes more powerful and seeks retribution against those who wronged her.

While the film has some enjoyable parts, it ultimately falls short of director Luc Besson’s best work and underutilizes the talents of Morgan Freeman.

Armageddon

Armageddon is a movie directed by Michael Bay where NASA sends a team of oil drillers to blow up an asteroid headed toward Earth. Along with space hazards, they must also deal with personal conflicts and emotional issues back on Earth. However, the movie has received criticism for its inaccurate science.

The Wandering Earth

‘The Wandering Earth’ is a Chinese science fiction movie that depicts a future where humanity must move the Earth to a new home due to the dying sun.

The film features engines on one side of the planet, which move it like a spaceship. While some viewers find the movie enjoyable, others find its premise far-fetched.

The Wandering Earth II is finally out! pic.twitter.com/NDc64nbfgI

— Movies on the Go 🎬🍿 (@moviesonthego) April 29, 2023

K-19: The Widowmaker

In the historical drama “K-19: The Widowmaker,” a Soviet nuclear submarine’s crew must prevent a nuclear disaster as the sub faces various technical problems.

However, the movie’s scientific accuracy was criticized by a user, who pointed out that the movie’s plot incorrectly suggests that the submarine’s core would melt through the reactor and cause a thermonuclear explosion.

The user notes that nuclear warheads are specifically designed to explode under certain conditions and that, in reality, the submarine would have sunk to the bottom of the sea and the crew would have drowned.

Underwater

It is a sci-fi horror movie about a team of researchers who are attacked by mysterious creatures after an earthquake destroys their underwater drilling station. As they struggle to survive and make their way to safety, they uncover a sinister conspiracy.

However, the movie was criticized for its lack of scientific accuracy, particularly with regard to the extreme pressure at such depths.

A user pointed out that being five miles down would result in immense pressure of around 15,000 PSI, which would make any “leak” like an explosion. The user also noted that there would be no chance of “running for a door” or “diving,” as depicted in the film.

Pacific Rim

The movie Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is a science fiction action film where Earth is invaded by gigantic monsters called Kaiju, and humans must fight them off with giant robots called Jaegers.

However, the movie is not very scientifically accurate, and some viewers have pointed out inconsistencies, such as the claim by one of the characters that dinosaurs had two brains, which is not true. Despite these inaccuracies, many viewers still enjoy the movie for its thrilling battles between the Jaegers and Kaiju.