50 Movie Inventions We Want To Buy

Datas Inventions The Goonies (1985)

The Movie Invention: There’s no end to Data’s creativity when it comes to his inventions, which include a handy zip-line and a (somewhat malfunctioning) robo-punch.

What We’d Do With It: We’d wear that belt all day every day, just in case we find ourselves in need of a helping hand. Or corkscrew. Or zip-line.

Paulies Robot Rocky IV (1985)

The Movie Invention: Sort of looks like an alien, but is actually a mass of cogs and wheels, Paulie’s robot is a futuristic invention that helps Paulie around the house – and genuinely seems to care for him.

What We’d Do With It: Turn him into a slave, of course. That’s what robots are there for, right?

Time Machine The Time Machine (1960)

The Movie Invention: Built to resemble a large clock, H George Wells’ invention is the ultimate in kitsch time travel.

What We’d Do With It: We’d take a leaf out of Sheldon’s book in The Big Bang Theory and use it as a comfy living room chair.

Rebreather Thunderball (1965)

The Movie Invention: James Bond needn’t worry about drowning when he’s got this handy little device on him – it helps him breathe under water, and is considerably smaller than an oxygen tank.

What We’d Do With It: Become a mermaid.

Flying Cab The Fifth Element (1997)

The Movie Invention: A future taxi that has the ability to fly. In fact, it doesn’t even have wheels, that’s how often it touches tarmac.

What We’d Do With It: Make a fortune as the only flying cab in the world.

Heat Ray Gun War Of The Worlds (1953)

The Movie Invention: An incredibly powerful ray gun that can reduce anything to smouldering ash within seconds. We hadn’t a hope really, had we?

What We’d Do With It: Use it to do a spot of renovations on the house.

Golden Gun The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

The Movie Invention: The weapon belonging to assassin Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee).

What We’d Do With It: Use it as a coffee table ornament – that’s what it looks like anyway, right?

Continuous Orgasm Loop Brainstorm (1983)

The Movie Invention: The Hat, a computer that records the pleasurable sensations experienced by an individual’s brain onto tape for others to enjoy. One rather clever individual, Gordo (Jordan Christopher), creates a tape that’s one continuous orgasm – enough to nearly kill somebody.

What We’d Do With It: Bit obvious, isn’t it?

Esper Photo Analyser Blade Runner (1982)

The Movie Invention: A clever contraption that is able to zoom into a photograph to give an impossible close-up. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) uses it when he’s hunting for clues.

What We’d Do With It: Become a futuristic detective. Or work for Heat ’s ‘ring of shame’ department. Both would be awesome.

Machine Gun Leg Planet Terror (2007)

The Movie Invention: Had your leg chewed off my zombies? No worries – you can become an awesome freedom fighter by having a machine gun attached to your stump.

What We’d Do With It: Hobble slightly, probably.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.