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
Ghostface in Scream (1996)
Horror Movies Scream 7 unveils extremely nostalgic popcorn bucket ahead of the horror sequel
The Beauty
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (January 23-25)
Pyramid head peering through bent bars in Return to Silent Hill
Horror Movies Return to Silent Hill is a disaster, and proof that Hollywood still hasn't figured out how to adapt horror video games
Dune
Movies Movie release dates 2026: Every major film coming to cinemas and streaming
Charlize Theron and Keke Layne in the Netflix fantasy movie, The Old Guard.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne in The Rip.
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
Dylan O'Brien as Bradley in Send Help
Horror Movies Sam Raimi had creative "disagreements" with one of his Send Help stars, but the director ultimately admitted he was wrong
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
Stephen McKinley Henderson in Dune
Movies The 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now
The 30 best horror movies of all time: pictures from The Wicker Man, The Shining, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Hereditary.
Horror Movies The 30 best horror movies that will haunt you long after the credits roll
Dylan O'Brien as Bradley in Send Help
Horror Movies Send Help producer reveals the surprising on-set hazard that had to be removed from the thriller's set: killer coconuts
Amanda Seyfried as Nina and Sydney Sweeney as Millie in The Housemaid.
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
Scream 7: a screenshot of Ghostface holding a knife during Scream 6.
Horror Movies Scream 7 release date, cast, plot, trailer, and everything else we know so far
Marlon Brando and James Caan in The Godfather
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Mission Impossible movies in order: Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt hanging from a wire during the first Mission Impossible movie.
Mission Impossible Movies How to watch the Mission: Impossible movies in order
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • 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. 

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
GamesRadar+
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Year in Review: The Best of 2025 main listing image for Best Movies of 2025 featuring images from Weapons, Superman, Sinners, and The Long Walk
The 25 Best Movies of 2025
 
 
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time: pictures of Alien, Arrival, Terminator, Brazil and 2001.
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time
 
 
Charlize Theron and Keke Layne in the Netflix fantasy movie, The Old Guard.
The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
 
 
Marlon Brando and James Caan in The Godfather
The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
 
 
Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State
The 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix to watch right now
 
 
Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne in The Rip.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reveal Netflix’s way of moviemaking involves reiterating the plot “for people on their phones”
 
 
Latest in Movies
Uma Thurman's Devora Kasimer sitting at a make up table looking at a group of bloody ballerinas in her mirror
Kill Bill star's bloody new thriller movie about a killer ballerina gets its first images
 
 
Laurence Fishburne
The Matrix and John Wick star Laurence Fishburne has joined the cast of Mike Flanagan's new Exorcist movie
 
 
Jack O'Connell and the Jimmies in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has been pulled from theaters after a significant box office drop
 
 
Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars fans have uncovered a new dimension to Qui-Gon and Darth Maul's Phantom Menace showdown
 
 
Saw X
Saw creators wanted to kill Jigsaw and move on after Saw 3 because they didn't want to be "one-hit-wonders"
 
 
Jessie Buckley as Agnes in Hamnet
Hideo Kojima reckons Eternals' Chloe Zhao "must be a witch" after being blown away by her new Oscar-nominated drama
 
 
Latest in Features
Horizon Hunters Gathering screenshot showing the team of hunters assembling together
Horizon Hunters Gathering: Everything you need to know about Guerrilla's new co-op action game
 
 
Onimusha Way of the Sword
25 years later, Onimusha developers break down why Capcom's samurai action series is primed for a comeback
 
 
A woman playing a game with a controller using the Steam Frame
Despite its pricing delay, Valve's Steam Frame could still turn out to be the VR market's Steam Deck moment
 
 
XCOM 2 screenshot showing an alien brute with a plasma gun
10 years later and with no XCOM 3 in sight, I'm in love with XCOM 2 now more than ever
 
 
Big in 2026
Control Resonant may be an action-RPG, but Remedy isn't veering into hellishly-challenging territory: "There are no parries, there is no back-and-forth with a single enemy"
 
 
Gale clutches his glowing chest, clearly in pain and discomfort
My favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companion got more love in the latest MTG Secret Lair, but I can't stomach buying it
 
 
  1. A pudgy cat stands on the player's arm in Nioh 3 and emits a warm glow, with a rickety wooden bridge in the background, cropped
    1
    Nioh 3 review: "Brutal samurai and ninja clashes across wide maps avoid retreading Elden Ring – this Soulslike is all demon killer, no filler"
  2. 2
    This Lord of the Rings card game is a puzzle-solving masterclass
  3. 3
    Highguard review: "A fresh but muddled FPS genre mashup that needs refinement if it's to have any staying power"
  4. 4
    This hidden role board game makes me feel like a puppet master, so Traitors fans should listen up
  5. 5
    Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems, the challenge remains surmountable"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

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...