13 Movies That Depressingly Predicted The Future

5. Full Body Scanning - Total Recall

Videodrome Saw
TriStar Pictures

One of the most memorable moments (of which there are many) in this classic Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring sci-fi actioner sees Arnie's Douglas Quaid fleeing his pursuers through a subway system.

However, he has to pass through a full body x-ray scanner, which produces a scan of his skeleton and quickly ascertains that he's carrying an unauthorised firearm.

In the late 2000s, many airports worldwide began making use of full body scanners, proving hugely controversial due to privacy concerns and the arguably unnecessarily invasive nature of the scan compared to the implied security benefits.

Reality arguably took the future presented in Total Recall one step further, because while the movie's scanner shows an inoffensive, anonymous skeleton, the real-world scanners actually create an image of the naked body, which is obviously much more embarrassing and concerning.

By 2012, though, the U.S. instituted legislation which meant the nude body scans had to be converted into more cartoonish images to protect the privacy of anyone scanned.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.