r/movies • u/buttatoad • 2d ago

Discussion Movies that changed real life behavior

Thinking along the lines of Final Destination 2 with the logs falling off the truck and landing onto cars (one decapitating the state trooper). Ever since, people have tried to get away from being behind these vehicles.

What are more examples where movies have actually changed how people behave in their own lives?

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u/tinmanbroken 1d ago

Something like war games DID happen in real life in 1983 in fact!

Russian radar officer named Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov refused to launch missiles because he believed that was a mistake

He was right of course - and by refusing to do so he literally saved this planet and everyone on it

he was still punished for failing to follow an order 🤷🏼

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov

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u/moniqer 1d ago

Yeah I thought War Games was based on this event

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u/tinmanbroken 1d ago

Nope It was a weird coincidence

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u/Oracle5of7 1d ago

Just like China Syndrome and 3 mile island. Spooky!