Science fiction has long captivated audiences by imagining the impossible and turning it into a visual and literary spectacle. This genre does more than entertain; it offers a creative playground where writers and filmmakers can explore the potentials and perils of future technologies.
Remarkably, many of these fantastical ideas have leaped from the pages of novels and scenes of films into our real-world experience.
This article explores some of the most significant sci-fi predictions that have materialized into today’s technologies, demonstrating the uncanny ability of sci-fi to precede real scientific advancement.
Related: 12 Must-Watch Sci-Fi Movies That Redefine the Genre
Early Sci-Fi Predictions and Their Realizations
The lineage of sci-fi predictions traces back to the literary masters of the genre. Jules Verne, for instance, described detailed undersea adventures in submarines long before they were technically feasible in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Similarly, H.G. Wells’s The First Men in the Moon...
Remarkably, many of these fantastical ideas have leaped from the pages of novels and scenes of films into our real-world experience.
This article explores some of the most significant sci-fi predictions that have materialized into today’s technologies, demonstrating the uncanny ability of sci-fi to precede real scientific advancement.
Related: 12 Must-Watch Sci-Fi Movies That Redefine the Genre
Early Sci-Fi Predictions and Their Realizations
The lineage of sci-fi predictions traces back to the literary masters of the genre. Jules Verne, for instance, described detailed undersea adventures in submarines long before they were technically feasible in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Similarly, H.G. Wells’s The First Men in the Moon...
- 4/22/2024
- by Buddy TV
- buddytv.com
Science fiction movies have shared a close relationship with their literary counterparts for as long as they've existed. The first sci-fi film ever made, Georges Méliès' 1902 short "A Trip to the Moon," was inspired by two Jules Verne novels, "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Around the Moon," as well as H.G. Wells' serialized novel "The First Men in the Moon." From there, countless movies — including some of the greatest of all time — have been based on sci-fi novels, novellas, and short stories.
Let's put it this way: Without the vast cosmos of sci-fi literature to draw from, we would never have experienced "Metropolis," "Frankenstein," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," "Solaris," "Planet of the Apes," "Blade Runner," "Total Recall," "Starship Troopers," "The Thing," "Jurassic Park," "Minority Report," "Children of Men," "Arrival," "Annihilation," "Edge of Tomorrow," and a hell of a lot more.
Let's put it this way: Without the vast cosmos of sci-fi literature to draw from, we would never have experienced "Metropolis," "Frankenstein," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," "Solaris," "Planet of the Apes," "Blade Runner," "Total Recall," "Starship Troopers," "The Thing," "Jurassic Park," "Minority Report," "Children of Men," "Arrival," "Annihilation," "Edge of Tomorrow," and a hell of a lot more.
- 2/7/2023
- by Chris Heasman
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Raven Metzner, who most recently served as executive producer/showrunner on the second season of Netflix’s Iron Fist, is staying in business with the studio behind the Marvel drama. Metzner has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios.
Under the pact, he will develop new projects for broadcast, cable and streaming services. I hear he already has two series in the works for Disney’s upcoming direct-to-consumer platform Disney+.
At ABC Studios, Metzner also previously co-created and executive produced the 2006 ABC drama series Six Degrees.
Additionally, Metzner served as an executive producer on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow and a consulting producer on NBC’s miniseries Heroes: Reborn, as well as the TNT series Falling Skies. He also developed with Tim Kring a series adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel The First Men in the Moon for Syfy. Metzner started his professional writing career as co-writer on the Daredevil spinoff feature,...
Under the pact, he will develop new projects for broadcast, cable and streaming services. I hear he already has two series in the works for Disney’s upcoming direct-to-consumer platform Disney+.
At ABC Studios, Metzner also previously co-created and executive produced the 2006 ABC drama series Six Degrees.
Additionally, Metzner served as an executive producer on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow and a consulting producer on NBC’s miniseries Heroes: Reborn, as well as the TNT series Falling Skies. He also developed with Tim Kring a series adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel The First Men in the Moon for Syfy. Metzner started his professional writing career as co-writer on the Daredevil spinoff feature,...
- 5/2/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The film industry has been around for well over 100 years. Today, Cinelinx looks at some of the famous firsts that set the foundation for the movie industry and made cinema what it is today.
As a bit of trivia to begin with, the first known piece of moving film footage was the The Horse in Motion (1878), a 3-second experiment consisting of 24 photographs shot in rapid succession. It’s just a scene of a jockey riding a horse, but it ultimately led to the development of modern film.
Most early films were short, silent bits of daily life, showing such exciting events as boarding a train, which was captured in The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station (1895). This film footage supposedly scared the bejesus out of the viewing audience, who thought a real train was coming at them and ran for cover. Early films began to include documentary footage and newsreels,...
As a bit of trivia to begin with, the first known piece of moving film footage was the The Horse in Motion (1878), a 3-second experiment consisting of 24 photographs shot in rapid succession. It’s just a scene of a jockey riding a horse, but it ultimately led to the development of modern film.
Most early films were short, silent bits of daily life, showing such exciting events as boarding a train, which was captured in The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station (1895). This film footage supposedly scared the bejesus out of the viewing audience, who thought a real train was coming at them and ran for cover. Early films began to include documentary footage and newsreels,...
- 11/27/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Kayti Burt Nov 23, 2019
If you've never watched the George Melies silent film that launched an entire film genre, there's no time like the present.
Odds are you've seen the now-iconic shot of a rocket running into the eye of the Man in the Moon from George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon, the 1902 French film that is considered the first science fiction film ever made. Perhaps you even caught more of Méliès' work in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, which cast Méliès as a character, showed clips from the silent film, and went about recreating the circumstances of the iconic film's construction.
But maybe you haven't seen the full 14-minute silent film (that's 825 feet of film) for yourself. Frankly, the impact A Trip to the Moon had on early cinema — and, therefore, on modern cinema cannot be understated...
Video of Le Voyage Dans la Lun (A Trip to the Moon...
If you've never watched the George Melies silent film that launched an entire film genre, there's no time like the present.
Odds are you've seen the now-iconic shot of a rocket running into the eye of the Man in the Moon from George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon, the 1902 French film that is considered the first science fiction film ever made. Perhaps you even caught more of Méliès' work in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, which cast Méliès as a character, showed clips from the silent film, and went about recreating the circumstances of the iconic film's construction.
But maybe you haven't seen the full 14-minute silent film (that's 825 feet of film) for yourself. Frankly, the impact A Trip to the Moon had on early cinema — and, therefore, on modern cinema cannot be understated...
Video of Le Voyage Dans la Lun (A Trip to the Moon...
- 8/31/2016
- Den of Geek
An alien craft shaped like an artichoke? A vessel with breasts? Here's our pick of 15 of sci-fi cinema's most eccentric spaceships...
For decades, heroes have crossed the universe in rocket ships and modified light freighters. Aliens have conquered galaxies in disc-shaped craft of varying sizes.
Yes, as long as there's been science fiction on the silver screen, spaceships have captured our imagination, from the matinee serials of the 30s to the sci-fi blockbusters of the present.
We all have our own idea of what a great spaceship should look like. For some, it's Han Solo's fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon. For others, it's the more graceful USS Enterprise, or maybe the utilitarian craft of 2001: A Space Odyssey. But what about cinema's more unusual, outlandish spaceships? The ramshackle ones, the anachronistic ones, the ones that look a bit rude, or just plain scary? Those are...
For decades, heroes have crossed the universe in rocket ships and modified light freighters. Aliens have conquered galaxies in disc-shaped craft of varying sizes.
Yes, as long as there's been science fiction on the silver screen, spaceships have captured our imagination, from the matinee serials of the 30s to the sci-fi blockbusters of the present.
We all have our own idea of what a great spaceship should look like. For some, it's Han Solo's fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon. For others, it's the more graceful USS Enterprise, or maybe the utilitarian craft of 2001: A Space Odyssey. But what about cinema's more unusual, outlandish spaceships? The ramshackle ones, the anachronistic ones, the ones that look a bit rude, or just plain scary? Those are...
- 6/19/2015
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
The world of Doctor Who has changed greatly in the space of just 10 years. The cast and crew have almost completely been replaced since 2005, including a number of new actors to play the errant Time Lord and his companions.
But what has happened to the class of '05? Where are Rose and Mickey now? What is the writer of 'Dalek' up to? And where can you see more work from the director of 'Rose'?
Here it is then, your guide to the main players of Doctor Who series one.
The Cast
After his three-month on-screen stint as the Doctor, Christopher Eccleston's career continued in much the same vein, taking in theatre, interesting television roles and the odd blockbuster.
Post-2005, the Northern actor went Stateside to take on the role of invisible man Claude in the Us series Heroes. From there, he popped up in a very amusing Doctor Who-esque cameo as Dr.
But what has happened to the class of '05? Where are Rose and Mickey now? What is the writer of 'Dalek' up to? And where can you see more work from the director of 'Rose'?
Here it is then, your guide to the main players of Doctor Who series one.
The Cast
After his three-month on-screen stint as the Doctor, Christopher Eccleston's career continued in much the same vein, taking in theatre, interesting television roles and the odd blockbuster.
Post-2005, the Northern actor went Stateside to take on the role of invisible man Claude in the Us series Heroes. From there, he popped up in a very amusing Doctor Who-esque cameo as Dr.
- 3/24/2015
- Digital Spy
I'm such a big fan of classic sci-fi films — you can check out the Top 10 list of my favorites that I wrote up here. I've got a beautiful poster design here that I had to share with you inspired by the 1964 H.G. Wells film The First Men In The Moon. It's got that retro feel that I love from these types of movies. It was created by Stan and Vince, and it goes on sale the first week of July at Nautilus-Art Prints. I've also included the trailer for the film below for you to watch.
24” X 36” screen prints with a S/N regular edition of 300 and variant edition of 115.
24” X 36” screen prints with a S/N regular edition of 300 and variant edition of 115.
- 6/8/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
It’s time to put that extra cash to good use. Get a promotion? Inherit a small fortune? Looking to complete an esteemed collection, or start one? Or just care to dream about owning the first edition of The Time Machine? A bunch of classic science fiction works are going on auction this June 20th thanks to Swann Auction Galleries.
There’s a ton of awesome first editions from the mighty pens of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King and Mary Shelley. While a lot of it is pricey, it’s undeniably fun and awesome to at least check out the book art and these rare covers and books, which you can find in our gallery below, following the press release that goes into more detail about these enticing pieces. If I could have one? Probably the original Frankenstein.
The auction is taking place in New York, but...
There’s a ton of awesome first editions from the mighty pens of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King and Mary Shelley. While a lot of it is pricey, it’s undeniably fun and awesome to at least check out the book art and these rare covers and books, which you can find in our gallery below, following the press release that goes into more detail about these enticing pieces. If I could have one? Probably the original Frankenstein.
The auction is taking place in New York, but...
- 6/5/2013
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
French illusionist-turned-filmmaker George Méliès, whom Ben Kingsley played in Martin Scorsese’s 11-time Oscar-nominated film Hugo, was a cinematic pioneer to say the least. Wildly prolific, he produced 531 short films between 1896 and 1913. The greatest of these was his 14-minute opus Le Voyage Dans la Lune. For the groundbreaking 1902 silent film, Méliès took inspiration from Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon and H.G. Wells’ The First Men in the Moon. Many years later, Le Voyage inspired The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight,” which took home six VMAs in 1996.
Now, in a breathtaking fusion of music and moving image, Le...
Now, in a breathtaking fusion of music and moving image, Le...
- 1/25/2012
- by Lanford Beard
- EW.com - PopWatch
The electronic duo are back in orbit with a brand new soundtrack to the first science-fiction film ever made
Last year, as Nasa retired its space programme and China announced its intention to put man back on the moon, the cosmic French electronic duo Air were holed up in their Parisian studio plotting their own lunar return. Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel first landed with the 1998 hit album Moon Safari, which went platinum in the UK and for a short while seemed to define the musical zeitgeist. Space and travel have been recurring themes in their stylish, sumptuous ambient electronica, from breakthrough single "Sexy Boy", whose video depicted a monkey flying to the moon, to 2004's "Surfing on a Rocket", both great slices of future-pop.
They've also composed elegant soundtracks for Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, although not all of their six albums have been as stellar.
Last year, as Nasa retired its space programme and China announced its intention to put man back on the moon, the cosmic French electronic duo Air were holed up in their Parisian studio plotting their own lunar return. Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel first landed with the 1998 hit album Moon Safari, which went platinum in the UK and for a short while seemed to define the musical zeitgeist. Space and travel have been recurring themes in their stylish, sumptuous ambient electronica, from breakthrough single "Sexy Boy", whose video depicted a monkey flying to the moon, to 2004's "Surfing on a Rocket", both great slices of future-pop.
They've also composed elegant soundtracks for Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, although not all of their six albums have been as stellar.
- 1/22/2012
- by Luke Bainbridge
- The Guardian - Film News
In the run-up to the release of Apollo 18 this Friday, we examine the dangers of visiting the Moon, and what astronauts can learn from the movies...
On September 12th 1962, President John F Kennedy made a speech that set out the objectives of the space program during the remainder of the decade. He asserted that America chose to strive for the goals of travelling through space, and for a manned moon landing, “Not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
Any number of astronauts in the movies will attest to just how bloody hard landing on the Moon can actually be. You never know what you're going to find there. Whether your Moon landing involves escaped Kryptonian prisoners, a metaphysical confrontation with yourself or an inexplicable black monolith, movies have never served as attractive tourism films for the Moon.
In fact, a selling point in recent films, such...
On September 12th 1962, President John F Kennedy made a speech that set out the objectives of the space program during the remainder of the decade. He asserted that America chose to strive for the goals of travelling through space, and for a manned moon landing, “Not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
Any number of astronauts in the movies will attest to just how bloody hard landing on the Moon can actually be. You never know what you're going to find there. Whether your Moon landing involves escaped Kryptonian prisoners, a metaphysical confrontation with yourself or an inexplicable black monolith, movies have never served as attractive tourism films for the Moon.
In fact, a selling point in recent films, such...
- 8/30/2011
- Den of Geek
H.G. Wells Classic Collection I
Hardcover
Illustrations by Les Edwards
Gollancz/Orion
Release date: March 2011
While you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, there's no doubt that most people are drawn to a book's attractive packaging (just look at the Collector's Edition of J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard). And with the rise in popularity of ebooks, thanks to their convenience and low prices, that means that if print books are to continue to sell, publishers need to give consumers incentive to choose print over electronic versions, like supplemental material, illustrations, or collectible packaging. This is what Gollancz, an imprint of Orion, has done with the H.G. Wells Classic Collection I, a 678-page leather-bound hardcover with illustrations by Les Edwards.
This collection contains five of Wells' most popular science fiction stories: The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The War of the Worlds,...
Hardcover
Illustrations by Les Edwards
Gollancz/Orion
Release date: March 2011
While you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, there's no doubt that most people are drawn to a book's attractive packaging (just look at the Collector's Edition of J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard). And with the rise in popularity of ebooks, thanks to their convenience and low prices, that means that if print books are to continue to sell, publishers need to give consumers incentive to choose print over electronic versions, like supplemental material, illustrations, or collectible packaging. This is what Gollancz, an imprint of Orion, has done with the H.G. Wells Classic Collection I, a 678-page leather-bound hardcover with illustrations by Les Edwards.
This collection contains five of Wells' most popular science fiction stories: The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The War of the Worlds,...
- 5/20/2011
- by Empress Eve
- Geeks of Doom
Mark Gatiss is perhaps best known for his work with comedy sketch show The League Of Gentlemen.
He has written episodes for, and appeared in, Doctor Who and played Mycroft in the BBC's Sherlock series, which he co-created with Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat.
Mark was also in the BBC's 2005 live remake of The Quatermass Experiment, during rehearsals for which David Tennant was offered the role of Doctor Who.
The 44-year-old recently presented A History Of Horror on BBC Four as well as adapting Hg Wells' sci-fi novel The First Men In The Moon, in which he starred as Edwardian scientist Professor Cavor.
Cavor's invention of a substance ('Cavorite') which can deflect gravity enables him and colleague Arnold Bedford to travel to the moon.
There they find a breathable atmosphere and creatures they call Selenites as they become involved in events that will eventually make the moon as inhospitable as it is today.
He has written episodes for, and appeared in, Doctor Who and played Mycroft in the BBC's Sherlock series, which he co-created with Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat.
Mark was also in the BBC's 2005 live remake of The Quatermass Experiment, during rehearsals for which David Tennant was offered the role of Doctor Who.
The 44-year-old recently presented A History Of Horror on BBC Four as well as adapting Hg Wells' sci-fi novel The First Men In The Moon, in which he starred as Edwardian scientist Professor Cavor.
Cavor's invention of a substance ('Cavorite') which can deflect gravity enables him and colleague Arnold Bedford to travel to the moon.
There they find a breathable atmosphere and creatures they call Selenites as they become involved in events that will eventually make the moon as inhospitable as it is today.
- 11/10/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (Billy Wilder, 1970)
The magic of this film, I think, comes down to the writing of the dialogue by Wilder and his writing partner, Izzy Diamond. There are a number of conversations between Robert Stephens (Sherlock) and Colin Blakely (Watson) that are just like tiny symphonies. Every gag, every little annunciation or pause is poised perfectly and, watching it recently (it was a template of sorts for Stephen Moffat and me as we made our adaptation for the BBC) made me realise that Wilder and Diamond were among the best screenwriters in the world. They gently take the mickey out of Sherlock Holmes in the way that you can only do with something that you really adore. It's a fantastically melancholy film. The relationship between Sherlock and Watson is treated beautifully; Sherlock effectively falls in love with him in the film, but it's so desperately unspoken.
The magic of this film, I think, comes down to the writing of the dialogue by Wilder and his writing partner, Izzy Diamond. There are a number of conversations between Robert Stephens (Sherlock) and Colin Blakely (Watson) that are just like tiny symphonies. Every gag, every little annunciation or pause is poised perfectly and, watching it recently (it was a template of sorts for Stephen Moffat and me as we made our adaptation for the BBC) made me realise that Wilder and Diamond were among the best screenwriters in the world. They gently take the mickey out of Sherlock Holmes in the way that you can only do with something that you really adore. It's a fantastically melancholy film. The relationship between Sherlock and Watson is treated beautifully; Sherlock effectively falls in love with him in the film, but it's so desperately unspoken.
- 11/7/2010
- by Interview by Eleanor Morgan
- The Guardian - Film News
The Pillars Of The Earth. Dave's One Night Stand. Mark Gatiss. Buzzcocks. Sanctuary. The Inbetweeners. Movies. It's a busy week of British telly ahead...
For the second week running, there's a lot to get through over the next seven days of UK telly, so we'll be short and, hopefully, sweet in helping you set your reminders early.
8 Out Of 10 Cats bids farewell to Tellyville tonight, Friday, October 15th at 10:00pm on Channel 4. The show, hosted by Jimmy Carr with team captains Sean Lock and Jason Manford, will, no doubt, get the groans going amid the giggles, with this week's guest comedians Rufus Hound and Russell Kane seeing the current series out.
The Pillars Of The Earth debuts on Saturday, October 16th at 9:00pm on Channel 4. The mini-series, set in 12th century England, stars Donald Sutherland, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell and Hayley Atwell and looks like a...
For the second week running, there's a lot to get through over the next seven days of UK telly, so we'll be short and, hopefully, sweet in helping you set your reminders early.
8 Out Of 10 Cats bids farewell to Tellyville tonight, Friday, October 15th at 10:00pm on Channel 4. The show, hosted by Jimmy Carr with team captains Sean Lock and Jason Manford, will, no doubt, get the groans going amid the giggles, with this week's guest comedians Rufus Hound and Russell Kane seeing the current series out.
The Pillars Of The Earth debuts on Saturday, October 16th at 9:00pm on Channel 4. The mini-series, set in 12th century England, stars Donald Sutherland, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell and Hayley Atwell and looks like a...
- 10/14/2010
- Den of Geek
No doubt about it, while I have a definite fondness for all of the members of the brilliant League of Gentlemen comedy troupe, of all of the members' extra-curricular efforts it is the work of Mark Gatiss that I am most consistently drawn to. The man is responsible for some of the best episodes of the current Doctor Who revival, his Lucifer Box novels are fantastic, and he just consistently ends up involved in fascinating, fun projects.
Next for Gatiss is a starring role in The First Men In The Moon, a ninety minute adaptation of the story by Hg Wells adapted by Gatiss himself and directed by Gatiss' business partner Damon Thomas for the BBC. And if that first released still up above is any indication at all it would appear that Gatiss' love for all things Victorian hasn't gone anywhere at all. Here's hoping this crosses the pond...
Next for Gatiss is a starring role in The First Men In The Moon, a ninety minute adaptation of the story by Hg Wells adapted by Gatiss himself and directed by Gatiss' business partner Damon Thomas for the BBC. And if that first released still up above is any indication at all it would appear that Gatiss' love for all things Victorian hasn't gone anywhere at all. Here's hoping this crosses the pond...
- 3/25/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Mark Gatiss will star in his own adaptation of Hg Wells's sci-fi romance The First Men In The Moon, it has been announced. The one-off 90-minute BBC Four drama will see the League Of Gentlemen star play alongside Rory Kinnear, whose previous screen credits include Waking The Dead and Silent Witness. Set in 1969, the story sees a young boy meet 90-year-old Julius Bedford, who tells him the extraordinary story of two men's journey to the moon in 1909. "I'm completely delighted to have the chance to bring this wonderful, (more)...
- 10/28/2009
- by By Dan French
- Digital Spy
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