The Movie Physics of Falling

The Movie Physics of falling

For the sake of story, or for the theme of the movie, falling physics can be changed.

James Bond Goldeneye: Sean Beans death scene.

• the fall from that height would have obliterated the body
• We would have expected him to accelerate more from the fall.
• The impact we are given, feels like he just fell from five feet.

Austin Powers: Fall from the top of a building.

• The fall is at a constant speed. The characters would have surely died from the momentum.
• Same thing happens, they are unscathed after hitting the ground

Ultraviolet: Motor bike falling, and reaction of actress

• The motor bike hitting the ground is unrealistic in timing.
• The hang time is too long.
• The entire motor bike chase seen has falling action that is too even.
• Here body doesn’t have a realistic reaction to the impact after hitting the ground.

- Whether done on purpose or created out of laziness, fall physics are constantly changed in movies.