Ethan Hawke’s Sci-Fi Classic Turns 28 and Feels More Relevant Than Ever
Ethan Hawke’s 1997 sci-fi film Gattaca turns 28 today, and its story about genetics and destiny feels more relevant than ever.
Directed and written by Andrew Niccol in his feature debut, the film stars Hawke and Uma Thurman, with Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal, and Alan Arkin in supporting roles.
Gattaca imagines a future where children are engineered through genetic selection to have the best traits. Vincent Freeman, played by Hawke, is born naturally and faces discrimination because of his “inferior” genes.
He dreams of going to space but must fight against society’s prejudice to make it happen. The film explores ideas of destiny, human potential, and the moral questions raised by genetic engineering.
The movie’s title comes from the four letters of DNA—Guanine, Adenine, Thymine, and Cytosine, emphasizing its focus on genetics.
While the film earned critical praise, including nominations for Best Art Direction at the Academy Awards and Best Original Score at the Golden Globes, it was not a box office hit. Despite this, it sparked discussions about eugenics, genetic discrimination, and ethical concerns around reproductive technology.
Gattaca has influenced popular culture and science debates. Bioethicists, including James Hughes in his book Citizen Cyborg, discussed its portrayal of genetic selection as fear-inducing but also as a tool to consider regulation and privacy in genetic testing.
In 1997, molecular biologist Lee M. Silver told Nature Genetics that Gattaca is essential viewing for geneticists to understand public perceptions of their field. Politically, U.S. Senator Rand Paul referenced the film during a speech, noting its depiction of eugenics in relation to real-world policy debates.
Critics widely appreciated the film. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 82% approval rating, with reviews praising its intelligence and thought-provoking themes. Roger Ebert called it, “one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas.” Gene Siskel highlighted the “smart script”, while James Berardinelli noted its “energy and tautness”.
Even though it’s over two decades old, Gattaca continues to resonate. Its dystopian vision of genetic control and questions about fairness, destiny, and identity are increasingly relevant as real-world technology and genetic research advance.
From my perspective, Gattaca is more than a sci-fi classic; it’s a cautionary tale that challenges us to think about the ethical limits of science and how society treats human potential. Its message about fairness, ambition, and personal determination is timeless.
What do you think—has Gattaca stood the test of time, or does it feel too far-fetched today? Share your thoughts in the comments.