There are many movies that appeal to people interested in mathematics, featuring either mathematical concepts or well-known figures in the field, whether they are real or fictional. If you’re unsure of where to begin, consider watching these 20 films that revolve around math, mathematicians, and mathematical prodigies.
“Stand and Deliver” (1988)
Throughout the years, many movies and television shows have featured storylines about teachers who motivate a struggling class to excel beyond what was expected of them. The film “Stand and Deliver” from 1988 is a prime example of this. Inspired by the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante, it received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination and two Golden Globe nominations. Edward James Olmos was particularly praised for his portrayal of Escalante, receiving nominations for Best Actor at both award ceremonies.
“A Brief History of Time” (1991)
Nearly two decades prior to the release of the 2014 Oscar-nominated film “The Theory of Everything,” which portrays the life of Stephen Hawking, there was another biopic titled “A Brief History of Time” about the renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. It is no surprise that multiple movies have been made about him, considering he was considered a modern-day Einstein. It is important to note that while “A Brief History of Time” is a documentary written by Hawking himself, “The Theory of Everything” is a semi-fictionalized drama.
“Sneakers” (1992)
The mention of the words “spy movie” and “Robert Redford” often brings to mind the classic film “Three Days of the Condor” from 1975, but there is another film that fits this description. In 1992, Redford starred in “Sneakers” alongside Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, and David Strathairn. This spy caper follows a group of hackers, techies, and espionage experts who are hired by the government to steal a code-breaking device, only to become involved in the investigation of a mathematician’s murder. While “Sneakers” is a lighthearted drama, the producers took the mathematical aspects seriously and brought in Leonard Adelman as a consultant. Adleman, known for coining the term “virus,” is now recognized as a pioneer in DNA computing and was awarded the 2002 Turing Award for co-creating the RSA encryption algorithm, which is used for secure data transmissions.
“Infinity” (1996)
Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist, dedicated much of his time to working with mathematics. He made significant contributions to the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, investigation of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, and advancements in quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics (for which he received a Nobel Prize in 1965), and particle physics. The 1996 film “Infinity” focused on two aspects of Feynman’s life, as portrayed in his semi-autobiographical books “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” and “What Do You Care What Other People Think?”: his relationship with his first wife, who tragically died at a young age, and his involvement in the A-bomb project. The movie starred Matthew Broderick as Feynman and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Arline Greenbaum, and received mixed reviews from critics.
“Good Will Hunting” (1997)
Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, was a janitor at MIT who possessed a natural talent for mathematics. Professor Lambeau, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, discovered his abilities and introduced him to Dr. Sean Maguire, played by Robin Williams, to help him overcome his demons. Written by Damon and Ben Affleck when they were relatively unknown, “Good Will Hunting” was purchased by Miramax, directed by Gus Van Sant, and won two Academy Awards along with several nominations.
“The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)
Mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm made his first appearance in the 1993 film “Jurassic Park” and was later featured in the 2018 movie “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” However, his most significant role was in the franchise’s second film, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” released in 1997, where he was the main character. Interestingly, Malcolm was originally written off as dead in Michael Crichton’s novel “Jurassic Park,” but after the success of the film adaptation where he survived, the author brought him back in the sequel, allowing Jeff Goldblum to reprise his role in subsequent films. Directed by Steven Spielberg, “The Lost World” also starred Julianne Moore, Vince Vaughn, Pete Postlethwaite, and Arliss Howard, and it grossed $619 million at the box office.
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Cube (1997)
“Cube” is our third film from 1997, but it stands out from the other movies released that year. It tells the story of five individuals trapped in a complex made up of cube-shaped rooms, many of which are filled with deadly traps. As they try to understand why they are there and where exactly ‘there’ is, they also struggle to survive. Despite receiving criticism for its weak acting and screenplay, “Cube” developed a cult following due to its unique concept and graphic violence.
Pi (1998)
Darren Aronofsky is well-known for his work on films such as “The Wrestler” (2008) and “Black Swan” (2010), but his debut film, “Pi” (1998), also received praise at the time of its release. Shot in black and white and clocking in at just 84 minutes, “Pi” follows mathematician Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) as he deals with a life consumed by numbers, headaches, paranoia, hallucinations, and social anxiety. This intelligent and captivating thriller earned Aronofsky a Best Director award at Sundance and a Best First Screenplay honor at the Independent Spirit Awards.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
John Nash, a brilliant mathematician portrayed by Russell Crowe, becomes disillusioned with his job at MIT and is intrigued by a new opportunity to work for the Pentagon. Tasked with uncovering hidden clues that may lead to a Soviet bomb, Nash’s excitement quickly turns to confusion when he realizes that his boss and job are actually part of his own delusions due to his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. As he faces the risk of losing everything, Nash must find a way to use his intellect to regain control. “A Beautiful Mind,” released in 2001, is based on the true story of John Nash and received recognition at the Academy Awards, winning four out of its eight nominations including Best Picture and Director.
“Proof” (2005)
Following her father Robert Llewellyn’s death, a brilliant mathematician who suffered from mental illness, Catherine must cope with his loss, mend her relationship with her estranged sister, and confront her own intelligence and vulnerability to mental health struggles. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a former student of Robert who assists Catherine and eventually becomes involved with her. Although “Proof” did not fare well financially in 2005, it received overall praise and Gwyneth Paltrow received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
“21” (2008)
The MIT Blackjack Team was a group of students and former students from MIT who aimed to beat casinos at blackjack using card counting and other mathematical techniques. “Bringing Down the House,” a 2003 book based on their story, was later adapted into the 2008 film “21,” which starred Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Liza Lapira, Aaron Yoo, and Jacob Pitts. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the movie was a commercial success.
“Agora” (2009)
Did you ever think about who the first female mathematician in recorded history was? The answer is Hypatia, who was not just a mathematician, but also a philosopher and astronomer. She lived in Egypt during the fourth century, in a time of great religious conflict. Despite the challenges she faced, Hypatia preserved and shared knowledge from the classical era, but tragically lost her life in the process. In 2009, Rachel Weisz played this influential figure in the Spanish film “Agora,” which premiered at Cannes and went on to become the highest-grossing film in Spain that year. The film received 13 Goya Award nominations, even though it only made back a little over half of its $70 million budget at the box office. In addition to Weisz, Oscar Isaac and Max Minghella had supporting roles in the film.
“Moneyball” (2011)
Before the 2002 MLB season, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), listens to advice from a young Yale graduate named Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Brand suggests that the team should sign players based on their on-base percentages and advanced statistics known as sabermetrics, instead of relying on traditional scouting methods. Despite not spending money on high-profile players, Oakland has a remarkable season. This story is not fictional; it actually happened 17 years ago (though the real name of Brand is Paul DePodesta), and sabermetrics have since revolutionized the sport. Inspired by the book “Moneyball” from 2003, the film did not win any Oscars or Golden Globes, but it received 10 nominations across both events.
“Travelling Salesman” (2012)
We are unable to provide a clear explanation of the unresolved “P vs. NP problem” in computer science, but the 2012 thriller “Travelling Salesman” focuses on this issue. The movie follows four mathematicians who successfully solve the problem and explores the potential consequences if the solution is shared with the world. Directed and co-written by Timothy Lanzone, “Travelling Salesman” received positive reviews from critics and was selected to be screened at the New York International Film Festival.
“The Theory of Everything” (2014)
Although “A Brief History of Time” was written by the late Stephen Hawking, “The Theory of Everything” is based on the book “My Life with Stephen” written by Jane Hawking, his wife of three decades. The 2014 romantic drama starred Felicity Jones as Jane and Eddie Redmayne as Stephen, with Redmayne winning Best Actor awards at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Jones also received nominations at both events. Directed by James Marsh, “The Theory of Everything” received widespread praise and earned $124 million at the box office.
“The Imitation Game” (2014)
The movie “The Imitation Game,” which was based on the life of Alan Turing and the biography “Alan Turing: The Enigma,” was extremely successful. It made $234 million at the box office, received almost unanimous praise, won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (Graham Moore), and received seven other nominations. Benedict Cumberbatch played Turing, a talented British mathematician and cryptanalyst who led a team in cracking codes to help the Allies during World War II. Turing, who is now considered a pioneer in theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, was not fully appreciated during his lifetime, in part because he faced prosecution for homosexuality in 1952. Keira Knightley, who co-starred in the film, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
“X+Y” (2014)
Nathan Ellis was diagnosed with autism at the age of 9, but he possessed a remarkable ability for understanding numbers. After studying math for seven years, Ellis (played by Asa Butterfield) is chosen to represent the U.K. at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). He is taken out of his comfort zone and must learn to adapt to new situations, overcome his distrust of people, and conquer his fear of failure. The British drama “X+Y,” also known as “A Brilliant Young Mind,” is loosely inspired by the early life of Daniel Lightwing, the 2006 IMO runner-up.
“The Man Who Knew Infinity” (2015)
Srinivasa Ramanujan, a talented mathematician from a poor background in India, attended Cambridge and made significant contributions to the field of mathematics in his short life. Despite his death at the age of 32 in 1920, his research has since been validated and continues to inspire new areas of study. His life story was portrayed in the 1991 biography “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” which was later made into a 2015 film featuring Dev Patel as Srinivasa, alongside Jeremy Irons, Devika Bhise, Toby Jones, and Stephen Fry.
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
“Hidden Figures,” which received three Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture), tells the true story of black female mathematicians who were instrumental in the early years of NASA. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe portrayed real-life NASA employees Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, respectively. Spencer was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at both the Oscars and Golden Globes.
“Gifted” (2017)
In a 2017 drama, a talented first grader named Mary finds herself at the center of a custody battle between her grandmother and uncle. While her grandmother wants to send Mary to a far away public school to focus on math, her uncle prefers her to have a normal childhood. The uncle believes this is what Mary’s late mother, a mathematician who tragically passed away, would have wanted for her daughter instead of pushing her to follow in her footsteps. With stars Chris Evans, Lindsay Duncan, Octavia Spencer, and Jenny Slate, the film grossed $43 million at the box office on a $7 million budget.
