An Astronomer Ranks the Accuracy of Movie Eclipses

In anticipation of the upcoming eclipse, I go through five ... no,wait, SEVEN movies that depict eclipses. What do they get right? What do they get wrong? Let's talk about it.
Time stamps:
00:00 - Introduction
4:22 - Apocalypto
10:08 - The Mummy
12:42 - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
15:14 - Fantasia
17:35 - Moon Knight
20:34 - Barabbas and Dolores Claiborne
22:44 - Outro
Big thanks to ‪@Ericstrains‬ for providing the video of the 2017 eclipse.

[@RealBLAlley]

Your take on Tomb Raider perfectly illustrates the need for storytellers to depict the natural world accurately. It adds verisimilitude not only for reality but for the fiction present within the story. There are many other examples where it would added more excitement, also.

[@DirtyHairy1]

Another fellow astronomer said, that if there was interstellar tourism, then all alien races would visit Earth to whitness a total eclipse, because it's a really rare series of events that makes that possible. (having such a large moon, having the planet inhabitable while it's in the right distance, etc.)

[@MrAwning]

Yes, why we come, it is.

[@marienbad2]

So what your saying is that Area 51 is really an interstellar hotel?

[@FarrellMcGovern]

I was hoping that you were going to do the eclipse from the movie Ladyhawke. It was a great scene, and I would love to hear your analysis of the scene.

[@ericjome7284]

Arguably the film where the eclipse is the most central to the story.

[@bastiangugu4083]

You are absolutely right. Nothing can convey the sensations the experience of a total eclipse gives one. I saw one some years ago in a perfect spot atop a mountain, and for the first time I could understand why our ancestors got so worked up about it. :-) Not only got it dark, but also significantly colder, and the light around the horizon was unreal. All the dogs in the vicinity started to howl. I can only say, if one has the chance to see one, one should definitely go.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

There is no way any photographer could capture the beauty of the corona as it shimmers and radiates those vivid colors

[@michaelnash2138]

You missed a pretty good movie eclipse in "Dragonslayer". It occurred, IMHO, for ambiance while the wizard fought the dragon, but it was fairly realistic otherwise. Darkness only when the sun was obscured and a "diamond ring" at the end.

[@karltons9873]

I saw Delores Claiborne shortly after watching the 2017 eclipse. The lighting was so perfect it made me wonder if the filmmakers had experienced an eclipse or they just lucked out.

[@adrianwebster6923]

There is an Italian film, Farinelli that has an eclipse at or near the end. What I enjoyed about it is it shows an 18th century viewing party with special viewing glass etc. It does contain a brief moment of self harm towards the end of the scene so maybe not a scene for review but still one of the few eclipse scenes I remember from film and with some historical context. you can find clips of the scene on youtube.

[@jackbohn232]

Obscure seventies sci-fi film called "Phase IV" (Directed by Saul Bass, most famous then (and now, I guess) for innovative opening credit designs.) This movie opens with first-person narration from one of the characters, and... I guess it's best to think of it as graphic design, because what it looks like is the Sun passing in front of the Moon. Don't look at it with the naked eye! It will hurt your brain!

[@jpotter2086]

I love the wild ecleticism resulting for such a small sample size. Tomb Raider to Fantasia to Moon Knight ... this Time Machine is giving me whiplash! :D

[@joshuamccarroll2188]

I had just recently finished your et close encounters video - I was going to bed but I can definitely spare 25 mins for one of your videos - Cheers Mate.

[@necrogon22]

Just checked the solar eclipse calendar map, Spain is ganna be a very popular destination in the coming years!

[@weepingscorpion8739]

I experienced the March 20th, 2015 eclipse here in the Faroe Islands. It was pretty amazing. The day started very overcast and everybody feared that we would miss it but a few minutes before totality, the skies cleared and we got a great look at it. I think it lasted about 4 minutes. There are various videos of this eclipse but perhaps the most unique is the music video for the song "Deyðir varðar" (Dead Cairns) by Faroese doom metal band Hamferð which was shot during the eclipse itself. It's out on KZbin.

[@LoyaltotheNightsky]

Are you familiar with the band Hamferð? Love those guys!

[@weepingscorpion8739]

@@LoyaltotheNightsky I am. I did a big boo-boo in my comment. Deyðir varðar is by Hamferð and not Hamradun. That was a big oof. :D But yes, I am familiar with Hamferð.

[@arianaalioth]

Hey Dr Siegel dont forget the best one: Barabbas! Which filmed an actual February 1963 TSE and the reactions from the actors were mostly genuine cus noone had ever seen one before.

[@ryklatortuga4146]

... I love Ellipses

[@sinisterintelligence3568]

There is an episode of the animated series "Samurai Jack" which depicts an eclipse that awakens a demon.

[@LonewolfOfSD]

I went to Nebraska for the 2017 eclipse and heading to Texas for this one after I found an affordable motel in the Dallas area.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thanks Mike. Always love your videos and this is no exception. See you next week.

[@MichaelSiegel14]

The aforementioned Atlas Obscura article has posted www.atlasobscura.com/articles/eclipse-movies-and-film

[@perttisuorsa4678]

Very interesting ! Thank you for this !

[@Ericstrains]

Nice video!

[@thewhiskybowman]

I was expecting A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to make an appearance in this. Although honestly I can't remember much about how accurate it was, just there was one in it. It has been a while since I saw it!

[@Zundfolge]

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949) with Bing Crosby has an eclipse scene in it (clearly based on the Christopher Columbus story).

[@kilroy987]

There was also an eclipse in Dragonslayer, no doubt because of the eclipse that was televised in 1979. I thought it looked pretty good, but of course, the timescale is off on that one too.

[@Ptaaruonn]

IMHO, the best eclipse of cinema is on Riddick 1: Pitch black :D

[@MichaelSiegel14]

That's a fun movie with a really interesting concept. Didn't include that one as I was thinking of Earth eclipses. :)

[@Ptaaruonn]

@@MichaelSiegel14 ;) Yes, I understand, it wouldn't really fit this video, which was awesome by the way.

[@everettharris967]

I really hope Netflix's 3 Body Problem is on your to-do list.

[@MichaelSiegel14]

I am planning to watch it soon.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

4:38 mayans, do have: knifes, pyramids, jewelery, calendars, enthusiasm Mayans, do not have: sunglasses

[@arianaalioth]

Oh never mind you did remember it!!!!!!

[@jmklemann]

Forbidden Planet!

[@inhumanmusic1411]

You should cover Ladyhawke.

[@ericjome7284]

I wonder about films that have comets or a distant supernova. Not the kind where the comet hits the Earth.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

11:49 give a guy the power to move the moon, lets not do that again

[@kenknowlton3085]

As an astrophysicist, how rare is it that the moon is just the right size and just the right distance from the Earth to totally eclipse the sun with just an edge visible to create the halo appearance?

[@MichaelSiegel14]

Eclipses range from complete coverage to annular, where you have a thick halo around it. There are a couple of year, but most aren't visible from inhabited areas.

[@kenknowlton3085]

@MichaelSiegel14 Thanks but let me clarify. I wasn't referring to frequency and type of eclipse visible across the Earth. What are the chances/likelihood of having a moon, just the right size/distance from the planet for this phenomenon to occur? How many other planets in the solar system have moons that almost exactly eclipse Sol like our moon?

[@darcyj19]

Come to Australia in July 2028.

[@tomhahnl1927]

What about 'Pitch Black' one if not the best Movie Eclipse in History of film 😉

[@alecity4877]

sadly I will have to wait to 2026 to get to see a total solar eclipse since I can't get to the US for this one.

[@MichaelSiegel14]

Hope you get to see it!

[@alecity4877]

@@MichaelSiegel14 thank you! Probably will thanks to currently living in Spain, would be a short train ride to get to the full eclipse path.

[@Enigmanaut]

A notably bad one from TV: Heroes. They show it being an Eclipse in New York City and Tokyo simulaneously, and supposed smart guy Mohinder describes an Eclipse as "a global event". No, Mohinder! An eclipse is a local event!

[@MichaelSiegel14]

I thought of including that one! I wasn't terribly familiar with the series but came across that scene. Yeah, eclipses are not visible worldwide.

[@kenthvad1]

well done sir. but this material is easymode. try to explain flat earth movement to me. i challenge you

[@rayfighter]

when you say there are some who still believe the Earth is flat in 2024, people shake heads and laugh. When I say how can some still believe in gods in 2024, people give me funny looks...

[@marcusdirk]

@@rayfighter Because it's easy to prove the Earth isn't flat, by demonstrating that it's round: they're exclusive. It's less easy to prove there is no god, because demonstrating DNA, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, astrophysics etc. does not rule out god: they're not exclusive. You might disprove many things people have _said_ about god over the millennia, but that's another matter!

[@rayfighter]

@@marcusdirk I meant Abrahamic religions, and their personal 3 omnis nonsense. While I agree that flat earth is a good quick lacmus test, I think that superstition should be the next rationality test.

[@marcusdirk]

@@rayfighter If it's hard to disprove (or prove) god, it must be even harder to disprove (or prove) god's nature! You're right about superstition, just as Michael Faraday lamented how superstitious the society of his own time was, and worked hard to popularise science to the general public. We appreciate his namesake doing the same on this channel 🙂. Yet Faraday had a deep faith: his search for scientific laws went along with his belief that "God has been pleased to work in his material creation by laws".

[@rayfighter]

@@marcusdirk looking back at giants of science, I'm charitable - if it was me living in 19th century, I would be some variety of a cultural Christian too. But in 2024, regarding Christianity, I am an antitheist, not just an atheist. Regarding the deism, I have to remain undecided.

[@arianaalioth]

Hey Dr Siegel dont forget the best one: Barabbas! Which filmed an actual February 1963 TSE and the reactions from the actors were mostly genuine cus noone had ever seen one before.