Science has been responsible for countless improvements on the way we live. From the curing of diseases to faster transportation and even robotic automation, the effects of science have become ubiquitous in the 21st Century, as reported by Live Science. But these breakthroughs wouldn’t have been achieved without rigorous testing beforehand, and obviously not every test and experiment is a success, a fact that movies and literature loves to play on.
Humans are curious by nature, so it makes sense that many movies are keen to explore where this curiosity could potentially lead them, but as the saying goes ‘curiosity killed the cat’ (or entire civilizations in some cases). Regardless of the intention behind such research, whether well-meaning or not, the ‘scientific experiments gone wrong trope’ has been a staple of science fiction movies for as long the genre has existed. Here are some of the most notable movies that showcase just how wrong it can go.
7 The Fly
20th Century Fox
One of two movies on this list to feature the wonderful Jeff Goldblum. This time around, he is playing the role of the guinea pig in an experiment that was intended to finally nail down the science behind teleportation (and forever put airlines out of business). At first, all looks good as Goldblum’s character is successfully teleported from one pod to another. Little did they know, though, that a pesky housefly had entered the pod with Goldblum. The result? Over the rest of the movie, he begins to gradually transform into a hideous human-sized fly, as well as picking up some of its habits. Thanks to director David Cronenberg’s warped imagination and his love of grotesque practical effects, The Fly is a (rather unpleasant) feast for the eyes, to say the least.
6 Frankenstein (1931)
Universal Pictures
At only 20 years of age, in 1918, Mary Shelley had written what would become one of the most well-known and influential stories of all time: Frankenstein. A cornerstone of gothic literature, various stories and adaptations have been brought to the big (and small) screen many times over the century that followed. The story is about scientist Viktor Frankenstein and his attempt to bring to life a being of his own creation, but after disappointment with the product of his experiment, the creature is shunned by Frankenstein and humankind in general. As a result, it grows resentful and comes back for revenge. The first major appearance of Frankenstein and his monster was in the 1910 Frankenstein silent movie. He was resurrected again in 1931 by Universal Studios in what is probably its most iconic iteration, going on to be selected by United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’
5 The Invisible Man (2020)
Like Frankenstein, movies inspired by H.G Well’s Victorian sci-fi horror have been plentiful. Based on a scientist desperate to find a way to allow humans to become invisible at will, he manages to have seemingly achieved this goal and now possesses this immense power. But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility, and unfortunately the subject of this experiment is one of the most irresponsible people imaginable and uses these powers for nefarious and deadly purposes. Surprisingly throughout its many adaptations the most recent The Invisible Man, starring Elisabeth Moss, is arguably the best. Thanks to its superior character development, its tension building, and dark tone, viewers were treated to a genuinely scary and emotionally engaging horror that received critical acclaim.
4 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Walt Disney
Taking a more light-hearted and family friendly approach to disastrous science experiments, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is about an eccentric scientist who creates a shrink ray gun that can shrink whatever object it is fired at. What could go wrong you ask? Well, in this case, the ‘father of the year’ somehow fails to keep the majorly dangerous science gun out of the reach of children, which results in his kids getting shrunk! The film is actually a fine mixture of fun, excitement, and humor as the children, now only a quarter of an inch in height and having been discarded in the trash, have to work together to make it through the backyard and overcome the dangers within. Just imagine potentially being over-powered by a single ant, and you’ll get the idea.
3 Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The first Planet of the Apes trilogy, in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control, are among the most iconic movies within the sci-fi genre. Unfortunately, the 2001 Tim Burton reboot failed to recapture that same magic, and the poor response led to any plans of further sequels to be abandoned. Fast-forward to 2014, and in steps Rupert Wyatt to try and resurrect the beloved franchise. Rise of The Planet of the Apes was a huge success with critics and fans alike, in large thanks to Andy Serkis’ performance as Caesar. But take a deeper look, and it’s the humans who unfortunately were cause of this whole angry ape debacle. What started as a well-intentioned experiment to cure Alzheimer’s escalated into monkeys taking over the world, a cautionary tale, perhaps, about the dangers of testing on animals.
2 The Nutty Professor (1996)
The Nutty Professor had viewers mesmerized by Eddie Murphy’s prowess at undergoing major transformations to portray several characters, including Sherman Klump, a scientist whose experiment creates his more attractive and charismatic alter ego, Buddy Love. Unfortunately, not everything works out as well as Sherman had initially hoped, as Buddy Love grows more and more egotistical, creating more problems than solving them and hoping to take over Sherman’s body for good. This remake of the classic film garnered generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success. Aside from being peak Murphy humor, it’s also quite an emotional ride with a positive message about loving yourself for who you are.
1 Jurassic Park
It’s hard to say whether the experiments being carried out at Jurassic Park were ever really well-intentioned, but needless to say: the idea was cool as hell! In this 1993 Steven Spielberg blockbuster, a team of genetic scientists, funded by a wealthy businessman, create a wildlife park of ‘de-extinct’ dinosaurs. Amazing as this sounds, there is clearly so much scope to go wrong with resurrecting some of the most dangerous animals to ever walk the earth. And obviously, following some kind of sabotage, things do go wrong — very wrong. With multiple casualties and absolute chaos as the dinosaurs break free and run amok, you’d think that everyone would learn from their mistakes, but apparently not as a further five movies have been made (with a sixth due soon), wherein these dinosaurs continue to wreak havoc.
