FADE IN: INT. FACTORY - DAY

Maybe it's time to look at science, technology, engineering, and mathematics stories over more superhero films featuring Batman and Spiderman

It’s award season and Hollywood could use a few more engineering and manufacturing stories. For every new Batman script, there’s 15 engineering and manufacturing tales that would make far more interesting origin stories. Here’s some thoughtful and funny quotes from some of our personal favorites:

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Abe (Martin Landau) while discussing Preston Tucker’s (Jeff Bridges) concept for an automobile:

“Einstein’s in the idea business; he makes up numbers so high only dogs can hear them. But what does it cost him? A piece of paper, a couple of pencils.”

Gung-Ho (1986)

Hunt Stevenson (Michael Keaton) leads his American workers to try and compete with automobile production numbers in Japan. Chaos ensues:

“Now on these last few we might need to cut a few corners. Just little things, like… engines.”

The Martian (2015)

Mark Watney (Matt Damon) tries to stay alive on Mars:

“I’m left with only one option, I’m gonna have to science the sh#$ out of it!” 

Hidden Figures (2016)

Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) discussing the obstacles as her and her coworkers attempt to move their way up the NASA pipeline.

“Every time we have a chance to get ahead, they move the finish the line.”

Steve Jobs (2015)

Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogan) discusses Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) potential legacy:

“We will know soon enough if you are Leonardo da Vinci or just think you are.”

Real Genius (1985)

Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) tries to understand what’s going on inside the head of uptight teenage prodigy Chris Knight (Val Kilmer).

Professor Hathaway: When you first started at Pacific Tech you were well on your way to becoming another Einstein and then you know what happened?

Chris Knight: I got a haircut?

Black Panther (2018)

Shuri (Letitia Wright) spends much of the film in her state-of-the-art lab in Wakanda rolling her eyes at the people around her:

“Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.”

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) discussing the difference in vehicles:

“We’re lighter, we’re faster, and if that don’t work, we’re nastier.”

The Aviator (2004)

Howard Hughes (Leonardo DeCaprio) and Glenn Odekirk (Matt Ross) discuss airplane engineering issues:

Hughes: So, if the struts won’t sustain the engine we need—then we gotta get rid of them.

Odekirk: Then the top wing falls off.

Hughes: Let it.

Odekirk: What?

Hughes: Who says we need a top wing? Who says we need anything?

Fletch (1985)

Ace reporter Irwin M. ‘Fletch’ Fletcher (Chevy Chase) pretends to know his way around an airplane and responds humorously to a mechanics question about the bypass line:

“It’s all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads, and I’m gonna need ‘bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.”

Okay, maybe Fletch isn’t exactly a movie that focuses on manufacturing, but we absolutely love the line, “It’s all ball bearings nowadays,” and should really consider making some Power Transmission Engineering T-shirts with this quote!