Films About Maths
Films about maths often delve into the beauty, mystery, and complexity of mathematics, exploring the lives of groundbreaking mathematicians and the profound impact their work has on the world. These films can range from biographical dramas and documentaries to fictional narratives where mathematics plays a central role in the plot, often highlighting the passion and perseverance of those who push the boundaries of human knowledge. Here’s a list of films that creatively engage with the subject of maths, capturing the imagination of audiences while shedding light on intricate mathematical concepts and the extraordinary minds that navigate them.
“Good Will Hunting”, 1997
Director: Gus Van Sant
This film tells the story of Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT with a prodigious talent in mathematics. After assaulting a police officer, Will avoids jail time by studying mathematics and undergoing therapy, exploring themes of genius, trauma, and redemption.
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser, Scott William Winters, John Mighton, Rachel Majorowski;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Good Will Hunting” on the website imdb.com
“The Imitation Game”, 2014
Director: Morten Tyldum
Chronicling the life of Alan Turing, a mathematician who played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code during World War II, this film delves into his contributions to computer science and the tragic consequences of his homosexuality at a time when it was criminalized in the UK.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, James Northcote, Tom Goodman-Hill;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: biography, war, drama, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 114 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Imitation Game” on the website imdb.com
“Hidden Figures”, 2016
Director: Theodore Melfi
This inspiring film focuses on the true story of three African-American women mathematicians at NASA who were instrumental in the success of the early space missions, overcoming rampant sexism and racism in the process.
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Kimberly Quinn;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Hidden Figures” on the website imdb.com
“The Man Who Knew Infinity”, 2015
Director: Matt Brown
This biographical drama explores the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a self-taught Indian mathematician whose contributions to number theory, continued fractions, and infinite series revolutionized the field.
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel, Devika Bhise, Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Northam, Kevin McNally, Malcolm Sinclair, Raghuvir Joshi, Dhritiman Chatterjee;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 108 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
“Pi”, 1997
Director: Darren Aronofsky
A psychological thriller that follows Max Cohen, a number theorist who believes that everything in nature can be understood through numbers. His obsession leads him on a spiral into madness as he searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.
Starring: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart, Stephen Pearlman, Samia Shoaib, Ajay Naidu, Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao, Espher Lao Nieves, Joanne Gordon;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: horror, science fiction, thriller, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 84 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
“Proof”, 2004
Director: John Madden
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this film examines the relationship between a young woman and her father, a brilliant but mentally unstable mathematician. After his death, she struggles with her own genius and mental health, questioning her father's legacy and her identity.
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Danny McCarthy, Hope Davis, Tobiasz Daszkiewicz, Gary Houston, Anne Wittman, Leigh Zimmerman, Colin Stinton;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Proof” on the website imdb.com
These films, each in their own unique way, explore the profound impacts of mathematics on both the world and the individuals who study it, celebrating the intellectual and emotional journeys of mathematicians in their quest for truth and understanding.
In the realm of cinema, films about mathematics uniquely bridge the gap between the abstract beauty of numbers and the rich tapestry of human emotion and experience. Through narratives that range from the struggles and triumphs of historical figures to the mind-bending explorations of theoretical concepts, these films do more than just entertain. They demystify complex ideas, making them accessible and engaging to a broad audience and, in so doing, celebrate the universal language of mathematics. Whether portraying the intense dedication of mathematicians or the profound impact their work has on society, these films underscore the intrinsic connection between the mathematical disciplines and our daily lives. By offering viewers a glimpse into the extraordinary minds that have shaped our understanding of the world, films about mathematics invite us to appreciate the elegance and power of the mathematical universe, reminding us that within equations and numbers lie stories of human endeavor, imagination, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
