The cinema effect: Turning films into a gateway to science

The science fiction film Project Hail Mary, currently in theaters, is attracting the attention of the public and the scientific community thanks to its scientific content. It manages to interest viewers in complex and cutting-edge topics, from astrophysics to language, without sacrificing entertainment. Yet not all films achieve this balance. Many have promoted inaccurate or even misleading scientific ideas and, through their broad reach, helped shape a distorted public perception of science.