1. Airport Body Scanners – Inspired by Airplane II, 1982

Despite its mixed reception, Airplane II surprisingly predicted a major tech advancement. In a 1982 scene, passengers boarding a lunar shuttle walk through a body scanner that seemed far-fetched at the time. This scene, however, sparked the imagination of many tech innovators, leading to the development of body scanners that would become a standard at airports by 2009, with the technology reaching a market value of $328.2 million.

2. Digital Billboards – Featured in Blade Runner, 1982

Another film from 1982 anticipated a technology that wouldn't appear until over 20 years later but has since become crucial to advertising: digital billboards. Blade Runner, set in 2019, was remarkably ahead of its time, introducing the concept of digital billboards—a notion far beyond what was possible in the 1980s. Today, digital billboards are ubiquitous in major cities worldwide, with a market value of $31.71 billion, all thanks to the visionary impact of Blade Runner.

3. Earbuds – Featured in Fahrenheit 451, 1966

The evolution of earphones has been remarkable, evolving from bulky devices to sleek earbuds. In 1966, Fahrenheit 451 introduced the concept of earbuds as a futuristic, albeit shocking, technology. This evolution, from the futuristic concept to the sleek EarPods, is a journey that brings back nostalgic memories. The renowned EarPods are projected to reach a market value of $15.8 billion by 2025.

4. Video Calling – Featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968

Nowadays, video calls are a fundamental part of how we stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. However, in the 1960s, this technology was yet to be available. Despite its development during that time, the significance of video calling was notably showcased in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The technology became available later that year.

5. 3D Printing – Featured in Weird Science, 1983

Decades ago, the concept of 3D printing seemed like a far-fetched idea, but one film from the 1980s surprisingly anticipated it. While not identical to the 3D printing we use today, the film Weird Science (1983) explored a similar idea. In the movie, two characters' print' a woman based on images and data fed into a computer. Today, 3D printing is a booming industry valued at $35.6 billion.

6. Military Drones – Featured in The Terminator, 1984

While The Terminator ventured far from reality in many ways, it surprisingly predicted a significant future technology: weaponized drones, now worth nearly $26.8 billion in the tech market. Although drones have been around for decades, it wasn't until the early 2000s that both commercial and military applications of drones became commonplace.

7. Smart Homes – Imagined in Demon Seed, 1977

In 1977, the film Demon Seed offered a vision of what smart homes could become, showcasing how home technology might transform our daily lives. Interestingly, smart home technology began emerging in the late 1990s and has since evolved into essential gadgets that enhance convenience and comfort. Today, the smart home market is valued at $23 billion.

8. Hoverboards - Back to the Future II, 1985

Back to the Future II was truly ahead of its time, envisioning several tech innovations that would eventually become billion-dollar industries. One of these was the hoverboard featured in the 1985 film. While actual hoverboards didn't hit the market until a decade later and don't quite hover as depicted in the movie, today's self-balancing devices are a close approximation. This technology is now valued at $3.34 billion.