“Minority Report” and gesture-controlled computers. (Photo: Instagram/Reproduction)
“Starship Troopers” and “Fake News.” (Photo: Uproxx/Reproduction)
Robert Redford’s “The Candidate” foretold comical and surreal political campaigns 40 years before the age of Donald Trump. (Photo: Archive)
Rosie the Robot, proto-automated cleaning machine in The Jetsons cartoon and feature film. (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
The “Skype” calls of “Back To The Future Part 2.” (Photo: Dailymail/Reproduction)
The film also predicted The Apprentice, in a way. (Photo: Archive)
“Trip To The Moon,” the first feature film to depict one. (Photo: Archive)
The TSA was predicted by “Airplane 2: The Sequel” (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
The “mobile phones” of the Star Trek universe. (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
The Uber-creepy driverless cars of “Total Recall.” (Photo: Archive)
“Network” predicted modern-day TV anchor meltdowns and suicides. (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
“War Games,” and the relevancy of computer hacking. (Photo: Wikipedia/Reproduction)
Survivor anyone? The deadly reality show of “The Running Man.” (Photo: Wikipedia/Reproduction)
A Batman vs. Superman ad in “I Am Legend.” (Photo: Archive)
The designer – and high-maintenance – pets of “Gremlins.” (Photo: Flickr/Reproduction)
The drone-attacks of the Terminator franchise. (Photo: Archive/Reproduction)
The Matrix franchise predicted its own future! Peace lasted as long as it could – until gamers renewed the war online. (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
The digital billboards of “Blade Runner.” (Photo: Archive/Reproduction)
The WTC taking a hit in “Armageddon” before the real-life terror attack. (Photo: Youtube/Reproduction)
The genetic science of “Jurassic Park.” (Photo: Wikipedia/Reproduction)
Don’t ask Siri to open the doors. HAL 9000 from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” (Photo: Archive)
The androids of “Metropolis.” (Photo: Wikipedia/Reproduction)
Advanced cosmetic surgery in “Face Off.” (Photo: Instagram/Reproduction)
The Tron franchise predicts computer programmers getting too inventive for their own good. (Photo: Wiki/Reproduction)
Hoverbikes do exist in nascent form today – not quite as agile as these from “Return of the Jedi.” (Photo: Archive)
Science fiction movies have often gotten it wrong – watch early Star Trek and you’ll hear many references to “taped” recordings – but overall the genre has succeeded in predicting many inventions and new lifestyles. Bizarro-world satires set in the present or near-future are have also been no slouch when it comes to accurate premonitions.
Click through our gallery of fantastical films foretelling the future!