30+ Must Watch Mathematics Movies

Cinema is said to be the most expressive way of getting a message across to the masses. Anything from patriotism to Angst, the big projector serves as an effective way to connect the audience with a motion. Although, there are some movies that provide more than just an emotion, which come under the genre of informative or educational movies. So, let’s explore some of the most remarkable works of cinema which provide an insight into the world of Numbers, the best Mathematics movies the world has ever seen!

Best Mathematics Movies List 2021

1. The Imitation Game
2. N is a Number: A Portrait of Paul Erdös
3. A Beautiful Mind
4. Good Will Hunting
5. Travelling Salesman
6. The Calculus of Love
7. The Man Who Knew Infinity
8. The Theory of Everything
9. 21
10. Stand and Deliver
11. A Brief History of Time
12. Sneakers
13. Hidden Figures
14. Infinity
15. Cube
16. Pi
17. Proof
18. Agora
19. Money Ball
20. X+Y
21. Gifted
22. A Brilliant Young Mind
23. Codebreaker
24. Fermat’s Room
25. The Oxford’s Murders
26. Enigma
27. Moebius
28. Mr Nobody
29. Queen of Katwe
30. The Martian
31. An Invisible Sign
32. Hidden Figures
33. The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Also Read: Top 10 Business Movies of All Time

The Imitation Game

“Was I God? No. Because God did not win the war. We did.”

Released in 2014 and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the fabled cryptographer Alan Turing, The Imitation Game revolves around Alan’s initial years and the events that sparked his interest in cryptography. During the Second World War, British Intelligence was unable to make a decryption system in response to the groundbreaking German Enigma machine. This led to the induction of Alan in the Cryptography team, where he himself developed a machine using his cryptography and mathematical skills which could decipher the German messages with ease. Such was the excellence of his work that the ‘Turing Machine’ of yesteryears developed into the modern computers that we use today. This movie shows us the various aspects of the life of an unsung war hero, who had to commit suicide because of societal rigidity with homosexuality, making us take a long look at what matters more for human welfare.

If you are inspired by the storyline of this Mathematics movie,
then a career in cryptography and network security is definitely your cup of tea!

Also Read: 20 Best Stock Market Movies of All Time

N is a Number: A Portrait of Paul Erdös

“A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.”

N is a Number is a documentary of globally celebrated mathematician, Paul Erdos, who is known for his contributions to number theory, combinatorics and Probability. The 58-minute film, produced and directed by George Csicsery follows the Mathematician on his various works and explores how he conducted himself in his personal life. Highly devoted to the study of Mathematics, Paul is said to devote over 20 hours per week to his research work, all of which translated into a whopping amount of research papers that he published, somewhere more than 1500. 

Just like Paul Erdos in this Mathematics movie,
you can also make a career in Mathematics and Computing!

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A Beautiful Mind

“Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself.
It is the only way I will ever matter.”

Released in 2001, A Beautiful Mind is a drama closely based on the life of renowned American Mathematician John Nash. In order to make a name for himself, Nash looks to publish his own idea as a work submission during his college career. Soon after, he starts suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia, which makes him see and experience imaginary people. This causes a huge strain on his personal life and career, as he starts acting out due to his condition. However, he refuses to be on medication and works in the field of Mathematics vehicles dealing with his symptoms. The movie ends with Nash receiving the Nobel Prize for his valuable work on Game Theory, showing he succeeded in doing what he desired the most-being someone who mattered. The movie not only gives a close look at the life of a Mathematician but also brilliantly portrays the struggles that Nash faces on a daily basis, making it easily one of the greatest Mathematics movies ever.

Also Read: PhD in Mathematics

Good Will Hunting

“You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.”

Starring A-list Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting is a well-known feature film released in 1997. In the movie, Damon plays Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT who happens to be a genius at Mathematics. His intellect was discovered by a professor when he finds Will solving an advanced math problem which no one in his class could. What follows is the Professors quest to help Will bring out his repressed feelings and fears so that he can get the recognition he deserves. Like most Mathematics movies, it covers the Mathematical capability of the protagonist, while it also touches upon sensitive topics of human nature, Psychology and child abuse. And deservedly, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won Academy and Golden Globe awards for Best Screenplay.

Also Read: What is the Difference Between Mathematics and Statistics?

Travelling Salesman

“Don’t blink. You might miss something.”

Released in 2012, the title of the movie “Travelling Salesman” hints towards the celebrated mathematical problem of P versus NP. The US Government brings together four prominent mathematicians in a bid to solve this equation and tries to bribe each of them to sell their part of the equation. The offer brings forth a severe ethical dilemma in front of the Mathematicians, as they believe that this singular algorithm mathematical solution can change the way the world works around us, giving almost unrestricted access to all data on the face of the planet to the USA. Although the movie has a mathematical equation at the heart of it, it touches upon the human psyche and ethical duties. One of the most awarded Mathematics movies ever, this movie won the Best Feature Film Award at Silicon Valley Film Festival in 2012, also getting nominated at the New York Film Festival.

The Calculus of Love

Written and Directed by Dan Clifton and starring Keith Allen as Mathematician AG Bowers, this 15-minute long short film explores the 250-year-old problem known as Goldbach Conjecture. In the movie, AG Bowers starts receiving anonymous letters that hint at the solution of the problem, and the Mathematician devotes all his life to finding a solution to it. The movie not just familiarises the viewers with an engaging Mathematical concept, but it also shows the inner desire of Bowers to attain glory by solving the conjecture at all costs, which makes it one of the most remarkable Mathematics movies, albeit a short one.

Just like these Mathematics Movies, have a look at the best Motivational Movies of all time!

The Man Who Knew Infinity

“You wanted to know how I get my ideas. God speaks to me.”

There is not a single Mathematics student in India who is not familiar with the name of S.Ramanujan. Growing up in a small Indian town, Ramanujan earns a life-changing admittance at Cambridge University, at the backdrop of World War 1. With the help of his professor G.H Hardy, Ramanujan stuns the whole Western world with his Mathematical theories, while fighting against racial prejudice prevalent in society in those times. However, he succumbs to respiratory diseases at the young age of 41, triggered due to change in climate and social alienation. This movie is a must-watch for anyone who wishes to watch Mathematical movies, as well as those who seek a story of struggle, hard work and utmost brilliance.

List of 15 Motivational Science Quotes for students!

The Theory of Everything

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavour. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.”

Released in 2014. One of the most brilliant minds of our times, Stephen Hawking and his life journey. The movie follows the educational journey of Stephen Hawking at Cambridge, where he went to research the Cosmos at a higher level. His professional career is shown tied tightly with his personal affairs, and how the love of his life chose to marry him even when the doctors gave him 2 years of life at most. This Mathematics movie is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see the universe through the eyes of the greatest Cosmologist of modern times.

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21

“You know what’s worse than a loser? Someone who won’t admit he played it wrong.”

Released in 2008, 21 is a movie revolving around Ben Campbell, a Mathematical genius studying at MIT who wishes to join the Harvard School of Medicine. Together with his professor, he comes up with a plan to ace at Blackjack by counting cards and using basic probability to win every time without fail. This movie portrays the wonders of Mathematics by applying it in real life, all the while focusing on the personal growth of the protagonist. For any gambling and probability enthusiast, this Mathematics movie is a must-watch. 

Stand and Deliver

“Tough guys don’t do math. Tough guys fry chicken for a living.”

Released in 1988, stand and deliver is an American drama film that is said to be the true story of a high school Mathematics teacher, Jaime Escalante. Starring Edward James who plays the role of Jaime, the movie shows the struggles of Latino students in getting basic education, due to several societal norms and prejudices. The teacher perseveres with them, helping all of them ace their personal as well as school tests as the students prepare to take AP Calculus at higher studies. This is one of the most inspiring Mathematics movies, showing how a willing teacher can change the course of his students’ lives.

This sums up our picks for the best Mathematics movies to watch. If you have a passion for Mathematics and are looking for a suitable university to pursue your dreams, connect with us at Leverage Edu. We provide student aid services that will help you enrol and cement your place in your dream university. To begin your journey with us, book a free meeting with our career experts today!