There are a wide variety of scientists in the world, and many have movies made about them. As students return to school, they'll be studying science and history, and they'll need some understanding of who many of these scientists are and the contributions they made to our world. We've compiled a list of movies about some of the scientists who shaped the world we live in today.
Some of the scientists on this list your students will have heard of, and some they may not have.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
The world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking's wife, Jane Wilde Hawking, wrote a memoir, and this film is an adaptation of her beautiful work. The film shows the man as a regular person, moving through life with hopes and ambitions, and sharing love with an indomitable woman as they voyage through life together. But it also displays his genius and illustrates his harsh diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The film has first-rate scripting and acting and expresses the pair's strength and resilience to persevere.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film would do well for math and physics students. It shows how a genius physicist can also be a well-rounded person.
Read our review of The Theory of Everything.
Temple Grandin (2010)
This animal scientist, still working and teaching today, profoundly changed livestock handling. This biography of Temple Grandin describes her autism and how she came up in a world that didn't know how to diagnose or even manage the condition. Using the visual spatial reasoning correlated with her autism, she launched more humane livestock facility design. Through excellent portrayal, the film shows her characteristic way of thinking and demonstrates her robust advocacy for humane livestock handling procedures and the, sometimes controversial, autism advocacy she has done through the years.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film might do well for 4H and FFA students and anyone learning about animal husbandry. The enlightening illustration of autism would also serve to help all young folks understand their peers.
Read our review of Temple Grandin.
Marie Curie, The Courage of Knowledge (2016)
A number of films have covered Marie Curie over the years, but this one is special: it shows the famous physicist and chemist from a point of view sanctioned by the Curie Institute. The film focuses on the scientist's fight for recognition, not necessarily awards, but acknowledgement of her work, in the painfully male-dominated world in which she worked and lived.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film may do well in history classes, as it was primarily set in the actual lab in Paris where she did her work. Some young folks may struggle with it, as it is in French with English subtitles. However, that feature may make it ideal for students studying French.
Read our review of Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge.
Hidden Figures (2016)
In a time when women and Black people were summarily dismissed as "less than," this powerful film tells the story of three Black women whose contributions were essential to the computational efforts behind NASA's Mercury program. These unsung heroes are brought to light in this film, along with their extraordinary contribution to the space race. Confronting racial and gender discrimination, these women met the challenges of their era and took on key roles in launching astronauts into space. The award-winning film delivers robust performances and engaging storytelling, and it demonstrates the power of determination and perseverance.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film would support learning in women's studies and Black studies, as well as science and math classes. It reveals the uphill battle minorities have had to fight and the value of the education and understanding these women brought to the Mercury program.
Read our review of Hidden Figures.
Creation (2009)
This film, released as part of the celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species," is about Charles Darwin's twenty-year delay in publishing his seminal work. The film centers on the years following his return from his voyage of discovery, presenting the uncertainty he faced after his long-awaited homecoming and the struggles he encountered with his contentious and radical research. The film is visually impressive and a powerful tribute to one of history's most significant scientists.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film would support young folks studying biology, turning the man who figured out the process of evolution into a real, fully fleshed out person. It would also support outdoor studies, helping kids understand how plants and animals have become what we see around us today.
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2016)
In the early 1900s in India, a young man named Srinivasa Ramanujan was teaching himself groundbreaking mathematical work. He was a self-taught mathematical genius who chose to write correspondence to a professor at Cambridge in England. The two men were worlds apart, but they had math in common, and through their correspondence they developed a relationship. Even though World War I was raging, Ramanujan chose to travel to Cambridge, and the film centers on his collaboration with his mentor, the Cambridge professor G.H. Hardy. As Ramanujan faced obstacles and prejudice far from home, the film reveals his abundant talent, determination, and passion for numbers. Acclaimed as a cinematic masterwork, the film features splendid performances and highlights the power of perseverance and friendship.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: Math students might well appreciate learning about someone with such a passion for numbers and such an ability to see beauty in them.
Read our review of The Man Who Knew Infinity.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
This film is a biography of a mathematical genius challenged by significant mental health troubles. John Forbes Nash, Jr. was a mathematical genius who had already earned a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking theories in economics when he was struck by schizophrenia. At the time, the available medicine might have dampened his genius along with his symptoms, so he chose to fight his illness largely on his own. Nash had a loving wife who supported him through these unimaginable hardships, and he fought for his sanity using reasoning and strength of will.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film may only be appropriate for older students, as some scenes of Nash struggling with his condition are emotionally charged and may be disturbing.
Read our review of A Beautiful Mind.
Breaking the Mould (2009)
Many of us learned that penicillin was developed from the mold that grows on bread, but there's a lot more to that story. This film, although a bit obscure, tells the broader story of how the groundbreaking drug was developed. Alexander Fleming is known as the inventor of penicillin, but a whole team worked on the discovery. Fleming may have come up with the initial idea, but Howard Florey and his team developed the means to cultivate the mold at scale and determined how to extract its active ingredient. The script runs a bit dry at times, but the acting brings well fleshed out characters to life.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film helps biology students understand the story behind penicillin and the scientific process itself. Students who may not be as confident in themselves and their skills might also appreciate learning about this lesser known, yet crucially important, figure from the past.
Tesla (2020)
There have been a number of films about Nikola Tesla through the years, but this one offers a newer take on his life. The film presents a unique evaluation of the quirky scientist, some have suggested he may have been otherworldly, a savant, a genius, or all of the above. His life makes for fascinating storytelling, and the cinematics in this film convey the era in which he worked well enough to transport the viewer. The film captures his unyielding pursuit of innovation and his relentless fight for recognition, standing as a fitting tribute to a man whose brilliance still inspires people today.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: Young folks studying film may appreciate this picture for its cinematics, and budding physicists will want to know this piece of the field's history. It may also help illuminate the "alternating current" versus "direct current" battle that determined how the world would receive power from the electrical grid.
October Sky (1999)
When Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son, was coming up through school, our society was in the midst of the space race. Homer was captivated by watching rockets launch and determined to build rockets of his own. But growing up in a coal mining town, he was expected to become a coal miner himself, and he had other plans. He and a few friends built a rocket as an entry in the school science fair, and his passion was fueled by the adventure of the experience. Homer used that passion for rocketry, along with his drive, to make his dream of working in the real space race come true.
Why it's great for schools and libraries: This film shows young people the value of dreaming big and finding a way to make those dreams come true.
Read our review of October Sky.
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