10 Heartfelt Movies and Shows Like Breakthrough

Description: A gripping tale of a NASA mission gone wrong, showcasing teamwork, ingenuity, and problem-solving under extreme pressure to bring astronauts safely back to Earth.

Fact: The famous line 'Houston, we have a problem' was slightly altered from the actual transmission. The film used NASA's reduced-gravity aircraft to simulate weightlessness.

Description: A scientist's quest to make contact with extraterrestrial life, blending hard science with philosophical questions about humanity's place in the universe.

Fact: The film is based on Carl Sagan's novel. The Arecibo Observatory, featured in the movie, was later used in real-life SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) research.

Description: A heartfelt story of a young man's passion for rocketry, overcoming obstacles in a small mining town to pursue his dreams, emphasizing the power of curiosity and perseverance.

Fact: The film is based on Homer Hickam's memoir 'Rocket Boys.' The real-life Homer Hickam makes a cameo appearance as a mining engineer in the movie.

Description: This biographical drama follows a mathematician's struggle with schizophrenia while making significant contributions to game theory, blending personal struggle with intellectual brilliance.

Fact: The film is based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Some scenes were shot at Princeton University, where Nash actually studied and worked.

Description: A science fiction epic that combines theoretical physics with emotional storytelling, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and humanity's quest for survival among the stars.

Fact: The film's black hole, Gargantua, was rendered using equations from physicist Kip Thorne, resulting in the first accurate visualization of a black hole. The cornfield scenes were real and grown specifically for the movie.

Description: A visually stunning survival story set in space, focusing on an astronaut's struggle to return to Earth after a catastrophic accident, blending science with human resilience.

Fact: The film's opening shot is a continuous 12-minute take. Sandra Bullock trained for months to perform the physically demanding role, often suspended on wires for hours.

Description: It tells the story of a mathematician who cracks the Enigma code during WWII, focusing on the intersection of genius, secrecy, and personal adversity.

Fact: The film is based on the biography 'Alan Turing: The Enigma' by Andrew Hodges. Turing's work is estimated to have shortened the war by two years and saved millions of lives.

Description: This film explores the life of a brilliant scientist overcoming physical limitations to make groundbreaking contributions to science, emphasizing perseverance and intellectual triumph.

Fact: The film is based on the memoir by Jane Hawking, which details her life with Stephen Hawking. Eddie Redmayne spent months studying ALS to accurately portray Hawking's condition.

Description: A story of survival and ingenuity as an astronaut stranded on Mars uses his scientific knowledge to stay alive and signal Earth for rescue, blending humor with intense problem-solving.

Fact: The film is based on Andy Weir's novel, which was initially self-published. NASA consulted on the film to ensure scientific accuracy, particularly regarding Martian conditions.

Description: It highlights the untold story of African-American women mathematicians who played crucial roles in NASA's space missions, showcasing determination and scientific achievement against societal odds.

Fact: The movie is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. Katherine Johnson, one of the main figures, verified the calculations for John Glenn's orbit around Earth.