Films About Mathematicians: A Journey Through Numbers

Description: While not strictly about a mathematician, Will Hunting is a janitor with a genius-level understanding of mathematics, showcasing the potential and personal conflicts of mathematical talent.

Fact: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay, which won them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Description: While not directly about mathematicians, this film involves a group of strangers trapped in a maze of cube-shaped rooms, each with deadly traps, requiring mathematical and logical thinking to escape.

Fact: The film was made on a very low budget, with much of the set being built from recycled materials.

Description: Set during WWII, this film follows a young mathematician, Tom Jericho, recruited to break the German Enigma code, blending historical events with a fictional narrative.

Fact: The film was inspired by Robert Harris's novel of the same name, which was loosely based on real events.

Description: This film portrays the life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who made significant contributions to game theory, differential geometry, and partial differential equations. It's a poignant exploration of genius and mental illness.

Fact: The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture. John Nash himself appeared in a cameo at the end of the movie.

Description: Based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, this film shows how a group of students use their mathematical skills to count cards and win millions in Las Vegas casinos.

Fact: The film was inspired by the book "Bringing Down the House" by Ben Mezrich, which recounts the real-life events of the MIT team.

Description: Focuses on Alan Turing, the mathematician who cracked the German Enigma code during WWII, highlighting his contributions to computer science and the personal challenges he faced due to his homosexuality.

Fact: Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Turing. The film was criticized for historical inaccuracies but praised for its emotional depth.

Description: This film tells the story of Stephen Hawking, focusing on his early life, his work in theoretical physics, and his relationship with his first wife, Jane Wilde.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne won an Oscar for his portrayal of Hawking, and the film was nominated for Best Picture.

Description: A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature, leading him into a spiral of obsession and madness.

Fact: The film was shot in black and white, and its director, Darren Aronofsky, used a very low budget to create a visually striking narrative.

Description: Based on the play by David Auburn, it explores the relationship between a father, a renowned mathematician, and his daughter, who inherits his mathematical genius but also his mental instability.

Fact: Gwyneth Paltrow stars as the daughter, Catherine, and the film was adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Description: A series of murders in Oxford linked by mathematical symbols and logic puzzles, involving a student and his professor, played by Elijah Wood and John Hurt respectively.

Fact: The film is based on the novel by Guillermo Martínez, which explores the philosophical implications of mathematical logic.