Predictions made by films set in the future that ended up being correct

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I'm going to use the Running Man and Demolition Man as my 2 examples. I saw both films in 1996 fairly close together so I tend to tie these in my memory.

The Running Man was set in 2019. The main lady character (Amber) enters her apartment and issues voice commands to turn on the lights, TV and coffee machine. This is Alexa :-) The TV was used to search for flights and records in Teletext style. Now though, we know that we would use a computer to do this. In that big corporate building where the game show takes place, there is a bit where Amber is looking through staff or citizen files. Each file was on a microchip, so nowadays these would be SD cards. The implementation would be different though as staff, citizen and patient files tend to be stored on a central database, not in a filing cabinet. There is also the idea of fake news, where the main character (Ben Richards) got framed for a crime that he didn't commit. The edited video footage was then used as an excuse for the government to send Ben (and other unsuspecting contestants) to the game show. The game show itself stated that some contestants would win the show and would display Photoshopped images of the winners on holiday (the prize). So this is another example of falsehood that is relevant today. Also, the Running Man game show would probably be classed as reality TV. I don't think anyone has been killed yet though, but there have been plenty of fights on Big Brother!

Demolition Man was set in 2032, so still a few years off but some if it is already correct or mostly correct. There was a video calling scene where there was a speaker at the front of the classroom and little VDUs/cameras sat around a table that could stream what the speaker was saying. We now know that we only need 1 laptop with a webcam that can stream what the speaker is saying. Biometrics is relevant, where you use a fingerprint or facial to unlock your phone. Demolition Man implemented it as iris scanning. Sadly, another thing that is becoming true is that people are becoming a bit delicate. They get offended at everything and swearing will issue you with a ticket, parking fine-style ticket. We haven't quite yet banned alcohol or caffeine but there is a smoking ban now and I'm not surprised if alcohol and caffeine will soon follow.

Feel free to discuss any films as per topic title :-)
 
Taking the opposite, perhaps the worst predictions have been about robots. Although much better, walking is still a major problem.

Oh, and 1984. A book and film. We are monitored pretty much 24/7
 
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Sadly, another thing that is becoming true is that people are becoming a bit delicate. They get offended at everything and swearing will issue you with a ticket, parking fine-style ticket. We haven't quite yet banned alcohol or caffeine but there is a smoking ban now and I'm not surprised if alcohol and caffeine will soon follow.
:)

This part particularly, apart from some of the tech they got almost spot on, look at the electric cars they had very similar to those around now.

But yes, it's the attidues of some people, you know, all fat woke and wearing kimono's. Dont eat salt, dont have sex, dont swear.

And then you have the "scraps" as they are called in the movie, then look at that bunch rioting on Oxford street the other day. Ring any (taco) bells to any scene in Demolition Man?
 
Didn't minority report have ai targeted personal ads? Think it was set around 2050 though

That's interesting, because AI has been topical this year. Apart from the Terminator series (Skynet AI), are there any other films that explore AI? There was actually a film called A.I. but if memory serves, it was more about the relationship between humans and robots rather than robots taking over the world.

Back to the future 2. /endofthread.


rp2000

My favourite was the 3rd instalment because it went back to the American Old West, but I'll have to re-watch all 3 :-)

This part particularly, apart from some of the tech they got almost spot on, look at the electric cars they had very similar to those around now.

I forgot about the electric cars! There was a bit where one of the cars crashed and it bubbled itself up a bit like how priests and paladins do it in World of Warcraft :D It was some sort of hard foam material?
 
My favourite was the 3rd instalment because it went back to the American Old West, but I'll have to re-watch all 3 :)
BTTF 2 is set in 2015. So many of the things in it were reality in real 2015, even more in 2020 onwards.

Flatscreens, relentless movie sequels, electric cars, "hoverboard", voice controlled home, 3d holograms, video calling and probably loads more I can't be bothered to list/lookup!


rp2000
 
More BTTF2 stuff:

Self lacing trainers.
Smartwatches
Drones
VR Headsets
Fingerprint and Iris scanning (biometrics)
Tablets
Tap to Pay/mobile payment


rp2000
 
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