10 Best Math Movies for Students

A Post By: Anthony Persico

What Are The Best Math Movies for the Classroom?

Are you looking for school appropriate movies to share with your kids?

Whether you want to give your kids a break from testing, supplement your instruction, or share some well-earned Friday fun time, showing a math-themed movie in class can be an educational and enjoyable experience.

While it can be challenging to find movies that are directly related to mathematics, there are plenty of creative ways to appropriately show full movies and movie clips in your classroom.

Many movies have strong mathematical elements that can be used to spark discussions and help your kids make connections with what they are learning in class. For example, in Pixar’s WALL-E, the main character spends his days compressing garbage into cubes and stacking them into massive piles. The applications to lessons on volume and surface area are practically endless!

So, if you are struggling to find a math movie that is right for your kids, check out the following list, get the popcorn ready, and enjoy!

*Disclaimer: You should always get permission from your administration and use discretion before showing any movie or movie scene to your kids.

Hidden Figures (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Why? Hidden Figures is an incredible and inspiring movie that demonstrates the power of mathematics and the fact that the subject is open to individuals of all genders and backgrounds.

The Man Who Knew Infinity (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy.

Why? The Man Who Knew Infinity is simply a fantastic story about the rise of a famous mathematician and a beautiful mentorship that allowed him to overcome great odds to change the field of mathematics forever. While the movie is not very well known, it is a must-see for any math enthusiast.

A Beautiful Mind (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: After John Nash, a brilliant but asocial mathematician, accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.

Why? A Beautiful Mind is more than just an interesting tale about a paranoid mathematician, it shares several examples of how beautiful mathematics truly is and how it applies to our everyday world.

Queen of Katwe (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: A Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess.

Why? This relatively unknown Disney movie about 10-year-old Phiona and her incredible rise to become a chess master might be my favorite of any of the movies on this list. If you are looking to open up the possibilities of mathematics to a diverse group of students, Queen of Katwe is an excellent option.

Moneyball (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.

Why? You won't find a movie that demonstrates the tremendous role that mathematics plays in professional sports better than Moneyball. Showing the full movie will give your kids a better idea of how mathematics applies to the real world as well as possible career paths, such as becoming a Major League Baseball scout, that require a deep understanding of applied mathematics.

Stand and Deliver (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a Hispanic neighborhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to help gang members and no-hopers pass the rigorous Advanced Placement exam in calculus.

Why? Stand and Deliver is an incredibly inspiring true story that is a must-see for teachers and students alike. If you are looking to motivate students of any background and inspire them to reconsider their personal limits and potential for growth and achievement, then showing Stand and Deliver is a no brainer.

The Martian (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Why? The Martian is probably the best STEM movie ever. There are countless scenes where Matt Damon has to use mathematics and mathematical reasoning to overcome challenges and advance his quest for survival. If you are looking to show your kids that math can take you places, then The Martian is your best choice!

A brilliant young mind (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis:A socially awkward teenage math prodigy finds new confidence and new friendships when he lands a spot on the British squad at the International Mathematics Olympiad.

Why? A well-done dramatic movie that focuses on themes such as autism, love, and IQ, particularly in mathematics though in a good way rather than in a boring way that would’ve made everyone hate this movie. Well done and very delicately handled the way the pressures put on our youth of today, especially those with so-called “ gifted abilities. “

October Sky (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

Why? October Sky is another awesome STEM-themed movie with plenty of examples of how mathematics can be applied to the real-world. This teacher-favorite is popular with students because the main characters are rebellious (in a good way) grade-school students.

Back to the Future (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.

Why? You can never go wrong with this 1985 classic, which comically explores math in the context of time travel. If you have not seen Back to the Future in a while, you'll be surprised by how many references are made to math topics including rates and unit rates, probability and statistics, and estimation. Check out this Education Week journal on the mathematics of Back to the Future for more ideas.

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