Disaster movies help inform moviegoers about the potential for a public health catastrophe, but most people are not very well-equipped to take any preventative or reactionary measures in the real world. Fortunately, there are numerous educational and career opportunities that can give interested individuals the necessary training to help themselves and others. For example, the CDC focuses on keeping the public safe from the many disasters that Hollywood has brought to the big screen.
Five of the Best Movies that Depict Public Health Disasters
1. Contagion
The 2011 global epidemic movie “Contagion” highlights the very real danger of not following basic hygiene guidelines. In fact, the CDC has stated that the most important lesson viewers can glean from “Contagion” is that they must wash their hands before and after preparing food. If the casino chef in the film had either washed his hands or worn gloves while handling food, the contagion most likely would never have spread. This one thoughtless act led to millions of fatalities.
2. Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as a real life legal assistant and activist. Brockovich became involved in a case of corruption and environmental pollution that led to many people being poisoned. The movie is a dramatized version of the true events that took place in a small California town. Ultimately, Brockovich was able to bring justice to the injured parties, and the Pacific Gas & Electric Company had their illegal practices made public. Cases of this nature continue to happen, which makes it vital for environmentalists and the legal community to work together for the greater good.
3. Outbreak
A star-studded cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey, showed viewers what could happen if a deadly virus was able to escape from an isolated area. Often referred to outside the film as a hyper version of Ebola, the fictional Motaba virus is airborne and extremely deadly. At the same time, internal government and military debates may lead to an entire valley being firebombed for the second time in less than 30 years. “Outbreak” shows the speed and confusion that can accompany an airborne virus, and it also forces people in a position of power to consider the value of human life. After all, covering up a previous wrongdoing should never take precedence over helping people and delivering a potentially life-saving vaccination.
4. Twelve Monkeys
Most of this Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt and Madeline Stowe film from 1995 focuses on a future society’s efforts to understand how a deadly virus was released that took the lives of 99 percent of the world’s population. One of the most interesting takeaways from “Twelve Monkeys” is that it is critical not to get hung up on one preconceived notion, especially not without any viable proof. “Twelve Monkeys” also predicted the need for enhanced airport security, and it is less likely that the scenario that is carried out in the movie would actually work today.
5. 28 Days Later
Public health disasters are horrific, so it is no wonder that the horror genre has tackled these issues so many times. One of the best examples is “28 Days Later,” which combined a growing interest in zombies with the very real threat of a widespread contagion. Although many people refer to the victims in this film as rage zombies, the reality is that they are not the undead. They have actually become infected with an incurable virus that was being used during chimpanzee experiments. Therefore, “28 Days Later” touches on public safety and the need to use humane testing practices.
Some of the plots depicted in the previously listed films are not very realistic, but they do make it clear that viruses and fear can spread quickly. Fortunately, people who work in the public health industry have the ability to make a huge difference in the lives of others.
