Neil deGrasse Tyson Names the ‘Least Scientifically-Accurate’ Sci-Fi Movie Ever Made

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Sci-fi films frequently emphasize storytelling and visual appeal over scientific precision, as their main objective is to provide entertainment rather than instruction. The ideas behind them, such as space exploration or advanced technology from the future, are usually products of imagination, rather than established science that we fully comprehend, given our current grasp of physics remains limited in many areas.

Film creators sometimes use artistic license to enhance the story’s suspense or clarity for viewers. Generally, such deviations from reality don’t bother many spectators, but Neil deGrasse Tyson is an exception to this rule.

Renowned scientist Tyon frequently calls attention to scientific errors in popular movies, particularly science fiction ones, not with the intention of dampening enjoyment, but to promote more authenticity. He regularly underscores implausible ideas such as artificial gravity or sound propagation in space, offering explanations grounded in actual scientific principles.

Previously, Tyson criticized Michael Bay’s 1998 thriller ‘Armageddon’ as the most unscientific film. But later on, he asserted that ‘Moonfall’ outdid it in terms of ridiculousness, even outdoing Disney’s ‘The Black Hole’ when it came to scientific mistakes. Tyson couldn’t help but chuckle while explaining how ‘Moonfall’ exceeded both films in its disregard for accurate science.

The movie was about a pandemic, featuring Halle Berry, where Earth’s moon was getting closer, and they discovered it was hollow. Inside, there was a creature made of rocks residing within. The Apollo missions aimed to visit and nourish the lunar creature. I was certain that ‘Armageddon’ had a firm grip on this concept, but it seems otherwise.

‘Moonfall’

In this story, an unexpected event causes the moon to depart from its usual path and hurtle towards our planet, posing a severe threat of destruction. A team consisting of skilled astronauts and researchers uncovers a hidden force responsible for this lunar shift. Their mission becomes deciphering how to halt this force before it’s too late. They embark on a perilous journey into space in an attempt to prevent the Earth from suffering devastation at the hands of the approaching moon.

‘The film ‘Moonfall’ generally received unfavorable criticisms and failed to captivate viewers. This could be for various reasons distinct from those associated with Neil deGrasse Tyson.’

During his appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Neil deGrasse Tyson pointed out that occasionally Hollywood gets things correct. He believes the movie “Titanic” could have been more authentic if it had a scientist like Matt Damon’s character from “The Martian.” This role, which Tyson appreciates for its faithful representation of science and space exploration, was portrayed in the film by Matt Damon.

Tyson has critiqued science fiction movies on his StarTalk channel, commending films such as ‘Interstellar’, ‘Gravity’ and ‘Arrival’ for their scientific authenticity, while appreciating the fun factor in movies like ‘Back to the Future’, despite their lack of scientific precision.

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2025-01-13 12:13