Over the years, plenty of movies have offered us a glimpse into the future, all based on their own predictions. But one thing they all seem to have in common is our growing dependence on technology, and how it starts to take on more human-like qualities. One movie that really explored the idea of human-AI relationships — and, in a way, predicted AI becoming a stand-in for real human connection — starred Joaquin Phoenix in 2013. Looking back now, that same role has fans doing a bit of a double take.
The movie in question is Her
, the Academy Award-winning sci-fi romance. According to the IMDb synopsis, the film is set in 2025 and follows Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who falls in love with an operating system powered by artificial intelligence, designed to grow and adapt. With 2025 here now, the movie suddenly feels like a prophetic glimpse into the age of advanced artificial intelligence.
highkey https://t.co/hOzdCzKcXB pic.twitter.com/b66uhnhj8y
— zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) January 1, 2025
In the movie, Phoenix’s character forms a deep emotional connection with the AI, named Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. The Black Widow
actress also had some first-hand experience with how AI can be dangerous
. And considering how quickly human-AI relationships are developing, the movie’s premise feels almost prescient after more than a decade. And fans are definitely feeling it too.
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Fans pointed out how eerily accurate the 2013 movie was in predicting the future of AI, and how it would take over the world and minds.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Her is gaining a whole new fanbase
While shows like Black Mirror
often paint a dark, dystopian view of the future, Her
showed that maybe technology and humans can coexist without everything falling apart. In Her
, fans saw that the future might not look too different from today. Even a decade after its release, the movie still serves as a reminder of how disconnected our lives can be — and now, fans are more intrigued than ever by Spike Jonze’s vision.
That’s so weird that it was so accurate like there are fully people in “relationships” with ai… scary
— brigid (@maybebrigid) January 2, 2025
I feel like this could actually happen now. Good prediction
— Jay (@Im_Anon123) January 2, 2025
The fact that this movie is almost entirely possible today
— Adebola (@adebola_io) January 2, 2025
A lot of fans have gone back to rewatch the movie after having this weird ‘aha’ moment.
Rewatch time! https://t.co/q1ajNu2q7F
— dosto ka dostoevsky (@criticism_kumar) January 2, 2025
its TIIIIIIIIMMMEEE https://t.co/gX2GYgvmZt
— arte (@vveirdog) January 2, 2025
I guess it’s finally time to watch Her https://t.co/hvcCdOFcYh
— sreejith (@Srejitk) January 2, 2025
The 2013 film showed how both loneliness and heartbreak can be tied to AI in the future- even though back then it seemed absurd. But with AI taking center stage in conversations around the world these days, Her
feels a lot more relevant today than it did when it first came out.
What do you think about Her
? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!