Heroes come in many forms. While the most popular ones these days seem to wear capes and have fantastical super powers, there’s something to be said about a genius. Brainpower is something which should never be underestimated. There have been some really great movies out there about brilliant people. If you’re looking for a movie that is a little more on the cerebral side, and which features some brilliant minds, check out our list. There’s some serious IQ power here. You might just feel a little smarter yourself after having watched these flicks.
This is an incredible movie about a positively brilliant real-life person that will give you all the feels. Benedict Cumberbatch beautifully plays the genius British cryptanalyst Alan Turing. Turing was responsible for helping to break the code of enemy forces during World War II, along with his other likewise super-intelligent teammates. However, in spite of him being integral in shifting the tide of the war effort, Turing was still treated horribly by others. Turing was also an exceptional mathematician, computer scientist, and philosopher. He is also rather famous for the Turing machine. He is vastly regarded as the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. You need to see this film.
This is another movie that is sure to pull at your heartstrings. It’s also based on an actual person, the brilliant John Nash. Nash was a Nobel Laureate in the field of economics. However, he also made great strides and contributions in areas like differential geometry and game theory with his expertise in mathematics. He also suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. The movie is a beautiful, inspiring, and emotional journey through the ups and downs of his life. Well worth a watch.
This film, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, was the highest-grossing film the year it was released. Cruise plays a selfish rich boy who seeks out a brother (Hoffman) he didn’t even know he had until their mutual father dies and leaves everything to his brother. When Cruise tracks down his brother, he finds him in a mental institution. Hoffman’s character has savant syndrome, which means he excels in certain areas far past the abilities of most people. In this case, he has amazing recall, can count cards, and is pretty much a human calculator. The character was based in part on an actual person by the name of Kim Peek, who was a real-life savant. This is a flick you won’t regret watching.
No matter how you may feel about Facebook or its creator Mark Zuckerberg, the fact remains: the guy is brilliant. It’s generally said that Zuckerberg’s IQ is around 150 or so, give or take a point or two. While he may not be the most likable person on the planet, the story of how Facebook got its start, and what happened after it really took off, makes for an interesting movie. It’s even certified 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
