Unstoppable technological advancement has irrevocably changed history by profoundly transforming our daily lives with things like smartphones, electric scooters, and drones.
While it is almost impossible to imagine the future today without these tools, the truth is that we have done so for many years.
Strangely, some of the most futuristic technology predicted to exist in the future is said to be found in sci-fi movies.
Learn which billion-dollar Hollywood movies have inspired technological advancements.
Airport Body Scanners – Airplane II, 1982
Nobody could have predicted that an American parody film sequel, as deceptive as Airplane II might have been for some audiences, would ultimately foreshadow one of the most significant technological advancements currently taking place.
In one scene of the 1982 movie, people boarding a lunar shuttle must pass through a body scanner, which at the time was completely impractical.
Who would have thought that by 2009, body scanners would be the norm at airports and would finally reach a tech industry valuation of $382 million?
Digital Billboards – Blade Runner, 1982
In a different 1982 film, a technical development called interactive panels was foreseen that would begin more than 20 years later and eventually play a significant role in the advertising sector.
The movie Blade Runner was created in 2019, and although it was released in 1982, it was ahead of its time in several ways.
One was the concept of a contemporary billboard, which was completely impractical in the 1980s.
Every major city in the world now has automated billboards with technology worth $ 31.71 billion.
Earbuds – Fahrenheit 451, 1966
The development of earphones was tremendous and the main element started as voluminous.
Back in 1966 the movie Fahrenheit 451, which was far from becoming a fact, presented the idea of earbuds as the most horrendous, yet highly useful element.
Although earbuds have improved in productivity in the last few decades, Apple introduced the now popular EarPods in 2016, which is on the road to hit a $15.8 billion market size by 2025.
Video Calling – A Space Odyssey, 1968
Video conferences are now more important than ever in how we communicate and collaborate with our friends and family.
Video calls were not feasible in the 1960s, despite the fact that they are today virtually as common as regular calls.
The necessity of video chats was often highlighted in 1968’s “A Space Odyssey,” even though the technology was still in its infancy at the time.
In the same year, the technology was introduced.
3D Printing – Weird Science, 1983
Years ago, no one could have predicted 3D printing in the form it is in today, and it was a surprise to see that a movie’s plot really foresaw the technology.
Even though it may not be the same kind of 3D printing as what we do now, the idea was undoubtedly there.
In the 1983 film Weird Science, two people successfully “printed” a lady using computer data and images. Currently, 3D printing is valued at $35.6 billion.
Military Drones – The Terminator, 1984
Because The Terminator is so clearly detached from reality, there are many aspects of the film that are also remarkably predictive.
However, the movie did predict one thing for the future: armed drones, which are now a $26.8 billion market in the technological sector.
Even though drones have been around for a while, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that commercial and militaristic drone usage started to become commonplace.
Smart Homes – Demon Seed, 1977
The concept of the intelligent house and how the technology revolution in our homes may completely change our way of life were first introduced to us by Demon Seed in 1977.
Surprisingly, smart homes were introduced to the market around the end of the 1990s and started producing gadgets needed for a carefree and uncomplicated life.
Smart home technology is now worth $23 billion.