Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Matthew McConaughey as Joseph "Coop" Cooper and Anne Hathaway as Dr. Amelia Brand in Interstellar.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
Killers of the Flower Moon
Apple TV Plus The 10 best movies on Apple TV to stream right now (November 2025)
Drama Movies The 10 best drama movies of all time, ranked
Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Movies The 32 greatest movie trilogies of all time
Best Spider-Man movies
Marvel Movies Best Spider-Man movies ranked, from No Way Home to Across the Spider-Verse
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker
Movies Fans are debating the best trailers of all time: "May even be better than the film itself"
The Long Walk
Horror Movies The best Stephen King adaptations ranked, from Carrie to The Long Walk
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in La La Land
Movies The 32 greatest Los Angeles movies of all time
A girl's head smiling during one of the best scary movies, House.
Horror Movies I've seen over 500 horror movies, and these are the scary must-watches to add to your Halloween playlist
James Franco in Oz the Great and Powerful
Movies The 32 box office hits you've probably forgotten about
Great Gerwig's Booksmart
Movies The 32 greatest high school movies
Stephen King
Horror Movies Stephen King names his favorite movies of all time, excluding his favorite Stephen King adaptations
Okja
Sci-Fi Movies The 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix to watch right now
Tom Hanks in Sully
Movies The 32 greatest plane movies of all time
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

10 Movies That Wouldve Been Drastically Changed By Smartphones

Features
By Total Film published 14 March 2014

SPONSORED by Sony

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Jaws

Jaws

Brody’s attempts to convince the Mayor of Amity Island that there’s an enormous man-eating shark nibbling the locals falls on deaf ears.

However, had Brody snuck a quick selfie with Jaws the moment he first saw him, the forthcoming wave of bloody, tourist-eviscerating munch-times whole thing would’ve been quickly averted.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Before Sunrise

Before Sunrise

One of the most emotional cliff hangers in movie history comes from Before Sunrise’s heart-wrenching finale.

When Jesse and Celine are forced to go their separate ways after a heady, intoxicatingly romantic day and evening together, they vouch to rely on a simple spoken promise to bind them together, promising to meet back in the same spot months later.

Had they had smartphones on the other hand, they could’ve stayed in contact – and rung the moment the other didn’t arrive.

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
The Fugitive

The Fugitive

Dr. Richard Kimble accidentally Facebook checks into the Water Pipe he’s squirreled away hiding within.

Game over.

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Back to the Future

Back to the Future

Marty McFly essentially births rock music when he decides to play Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode to a host of unsuspecting high school prommees.

One quick use of Shazam, on the other hand, and he would’ve been found out for the sneaky musical maestro he really was.

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Fight Club

Fight Club

One of the greatest movie twists in modern history could’ve been averted very, very quickly had smartphones been around.

***SPOILER ALERT***

After a movie full of chaotic, anarchy-catalysing escapades, it’s revealed that Tyler Durden is no more than a figment of the narrator’s fractured, sick psyche.

Had he attempted to take a photo of the two together – either on the plane, at their Fight Club or another – and the whole game would’ve been up.

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
The Matrix

The Matrix

What IS The Matrix? Neo’s mission to unravel its secrets leads to all manner of death-defying chase scenes, and more than a little mind-altering drug use.

A quick Google later, and Neo would be more than a little aware.

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Knocked Up

Knocked Up

Had Ben and Alison been looking for love on Tinder, it’s almost guaranteed that he would’ve tapped the big green tick, whereas she would’ve very quickly swiped to the right.

Drunkeness and resulting pregnancy averted.

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project

No matter how good or bad your phone reception; most smartphones have a handy feature that all but guarantees tracking your GPS in case of emergencies.

Cue a police search quickly and efficiently finding everyone’s favourite erstwhile Witch-bait trio.

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Toy Story

Toy Story

Let’s not kid ourselves – love Woody, Buzz and co or not, had smartphones been around during Andy’s childhood, he would’ve spent more time playing Angry Birds and less time pretending to be a member of the Star Commanders.

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Home Alone

Home Alone

Kevin McAllister’s surprisingly memory-averse parents could have solved their whole ‘oops, we left our child at home’ dilemma mere minutes after they left their house.

One quick phone call later - ‘Erm, Mum, have you forgotten anything?’ - and the whole movie would never have got going.

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Xperia Z2 from Sony

Xperia Z2 from Sony

Equipped with a 4K camcorder and a 20.7 MP camera, Xperia Z2 from Sony is just what budding filmmakers and photographers need to ensure their low budget shoots get the high quality treatment.

Whether it’s due to Sony’s award-winning G Lens or Intelligent BIONZ™ for mobile image-processing engine, or perhaps the long list of pre-installed Sony camera apps, such as the cool Timeshift video, which captures high speed clips at 120 frames per second and has the ability to select and slow down one or multiple sections of your clip, there’s never been a better time to document your ideas and bring those experiences to life.

Xperia Z2 not only offers market-leading 4K video capture, but just hook it up to a TV and you can zoom in on the action while it’s playing, even if you don’t have a UHD television. If you’re not up for shooting a potential classic, you can watch a couple on the go, instead. Filled with movie bundles, including Captain Phillips, you’ve always got a great film experience at the ready with Xperia Z2.

Click here to find out more!

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Total Film

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

Read more
Matthew McConaughey as Joseph "Coop" Cooper and Anne Hathaway as Dr. Amelia Brand in Interstellar.
The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
 
 
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein
The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
 
 
Killers of the Flower Moon
The 10 best movies on Apple TV to stream right now (November 2025)
 
 
The 10 best drama movies of all time, ranked
 
 
Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The 32 greatest movie trilogies of all time
 
 
Best Spider-Man movies
Best Spider-Man movies ranked, from No Way Home to Across the Spider-Verse
 
 
Latest in Movies
Colman Domingo as Bobby T in The Running Man
Colman Domingo based his The Running Man character on "old school" TV hosts like Jerry Springer
 
 
 in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie adds more star power, including The Odyssey and Captain Marvel actors as Princess Rosalina and Bowser Jr.
 
 
Princess Peach and Mario in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn't just adapting the Wii classic, it's also taking inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey
 
 
Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jumanji 3 has entered production, with star Dwayne Johnson confirming it will be the last film in the franchise: "What a massive, fun, heartfelt adventure"
 
 
Florence Pugh in Malevolent
Florence Pugh candidly reveals the horror movie she regrets making: "It's probably the one movie that I wish I never did"
 
 
Buzz Lightyear and Woody in Toy Story 5
First Toy Story 5 trailer has Pixar fans very confused: "Disney is basically saying Toy Story 4 is skippable"
 
 
Latest in Features
Tides of Annihilation key art
My most-wanted game of 2026 stars Shadowheart from Baldur's Gate 3 as a modern Arthurian knight with deadly Devil May Cry combat moves, and I swear it's going to be huge
 
 
Glen Powell and Colman Domingo in The Running Man
The Running Man Easter eggs: all the Stephen King references we spotted in the new film
 
 
The Outer Worlds 2
In a curious crossover of stuff I love, The Outer Worlds 2 improves one of Avowed's jankiest features – and the only game I can compare it to isn't even an RPG
 
 
Glen Powell as Ben Richards in The Running Man
The Running Man ending explained: All your biggest questions answered on the Stephen King adaptation
 
 
Monster trucks and jeeps parked outside a church in Mexico in Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is one of gaming's greatest car modding games, and I'm flying like a Bulleit in my restomod monstrosities
 
 
Black Ops games in order: A group of soldiers holding guns during Black Ops 7.
How to play all the Call of Duty: Black Ops games in order
 
 
  1. Key art for Possessor(s) with Luca and Rehm against a demonic city - used on the PS Store
    1
    Possessor(s) review: "Smart ideas are quickly buried in this demonic Metroidvania that's far too mundane and dull in a sea of sharp competition"
  2. 2
    Lumines Arise review: "Just as effective as Tetris Effect, block matching to a beat becomes a transcendent experience"
  3. 3
    Anno 117: Pax Romana review: "Whether dealing with rivals through warfare or diplomacy, there's a great deal to like in this engrossing city builder"
  4. 4
    Arc Raiders review: "The most memorable multiplayer experiences I've had all year – this shooter is tense but wonderfully approachable"
  5. 5
    Battlefield Redsec review: "Ticks all the right boxes for a battle royale, but it's not especially unique"
  1. Glen Powell as Ben Richards in The Running Man
    1
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  2. 2
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  3. 3
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  4. 4
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  5. 5
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  1. Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, looking scared, in Pluribus.
    1
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  2. 2
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  3. 3
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  4. 4
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  5. 5
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...