Gattaca (1997)

Ranked #11 of 100 · Scientific accuracy 8/10 · Overall 7.5/10

#11
Gattaca
1997
7.5/10
Entertainment Value
7/10
Scientific Accuracy
8/10
Cultural Impact
7/10
Prescience
8/10
Official Trailer

Gattaca is quietly one of the smartest films on this list. Even the title is spelled with G, A, T and C - the four letters of DNA. It imagines a world where your genes decide your future, and anyone conceived the old-fashioned way is written off from birth. The scary part? Very little of it is far-fetched now. Screening embryos for genetic conditions is already possible, and DNA testing is everywhere. Where the film is a bit generous is in how much it assumes our genes decide - in reality, most traits depend on lots of genes, our environment, and plenty of luck. But then again, that's really the point of the film. It's cool and a little cold, but it stays with you.

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