We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Entertainment

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Accurately Did “Soylent Green” Predict Life in 2022?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 2,565
References
Share

Spoiler alert: Soylent Green is people. You already know that if you've ever watched the 1973 dystopian thriller Soylent Green, starring Charlton Heston. As famous as that last line is, the film would have seemed squarely in the realm of science fiction to audiences in the 1970s. An incredulous New York Times reviewer said that Soylent Green "occasionally (is) frightening but it is rarely convincingly real."

What makes it relevant today is that the film is set in 2022, and the reality it forecasts isn't entirely unfamiliar. Among the terrors that plague mankind in the movie are overpopulation and climate change. They are both much worse than we know (so far), but exaggeration is not exactly rare in cinema. The movie also predicted assisted dying (now legal in several countries), as well as our love of video games (the video game industry is now bigger than movies and music combined.)

A global shortage of fresh food is at the core of the plot, and the film's title, Soylent Green, refers to a wafer-like food product that is supposedly derived from ocean plankton, but is actually made of dead bodies. And while we have yet to unwittingly consume our companions, there is a real meal-replacement product made by Soylent Nutrition – thankfully made from algae, not humans. Or so we're told ...

Movie predictions:

  • Network (1976) accurately portrayed a future TV world where reality was ratings gold.

  • The original Star Wars (1977) was the first film to foresee holograms. In fact, they can now be projected from droids. Thanks, R2D2.

  • James Bond's car in Die Another Day (2002) used a cloaking mechanism to become invisible. We're not there yet, but reports are that the military is working on it.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://direct.wisegeek.com/how-accurately-did-soylent-green-predict-life-in-2022.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.