Uncovering the Plot of the Most Bonkers Sci-Fi Movie of the 60s

Fantastic Voyage, a 1966 sci-fi film, has become more renowned for the creations it inspired than the movie itself. The movie is about a miniaturized submarine that gets injected into a human body. It has generated several parodies and tributes, such as South Park and the film Innerspace. The famous song by Coolio with the same name also contributes to the legacy of Fantastic Voyage.

There are various reasons for this odd discrepancy, but the unclear perception of the film possibly began on February 26, 1966. A print edition of the story appeared in the Saturday Evening Post almost six months before the movie's release on August 16, 1966. Fantastic Voyage was serialized in the Post until March of that year, and the author was science fiction legend Isaac Asimov. However, this was not entirely accurate. While Asimov wrote the book version, the movie was not based on his writing. The script for the film was created before Asimov was asked to write a novelization based on that script. This led to a common misconception that Asimov came up with the concept of Fantastic Voyage, although it was not his original idea.

Interestingly, Asimov was initially reluctant to write the novelization because he thought that the central science fiction concept of miniaturization was too ridiculous. However, his adaptation of the film did not achieve the same level of popularity as the movie. The reason for this might be that the film has stood the test of time due to its impressive visual effects, while Asimov's prose version did not age as well.

The story remains the same in both versions. In the 1960s, a Soviet scientist named Dr. Jan Benes defects to the United States and offers the country his latest miniaturization technology. However, Soviet spies within the US assassinate Dr. Benes, and his life hangs in the balance. A top-secret branch of the US military devises an unconventional plan to save him. They plan to use the latest version of miniaturization technology to shrink a submarine carrying a specialized team to a microscopic size and inject it into Dr. Benes's body. The team's goal is to use a laser to eliminate the blood clot in his brain and save his life, enabling him to share the secret of making miniaturization permanent with the US military. The current version of miniaturization technology only lasts for an hour, after which everyone will return to their normal size. Therefore, it is crucial to exit the body before that time.

Since its release, the movie "Fantastic Voyage" has gained a reputation that has only grown with time. Although you might not see any connection between the 1994 Coolio song and the movie, one can't help but wonder how Coolio managed to fit so many people in the TARDIS-like trunk in the music video. It's quite evident that Coolio used the same technology from the "Fantastic Voyage" to shrink them. Over time, "Fantastic Voyage" has become a popular sci-fi reference point, often used as a punchline.

In a 2014 episode of "Doctor Who" titled "Into the Dalek," the main character, played by Peter Capaldi, discovers that he's about to be miniaturized. His reaction to the idea is hilarious as he quips, "Fantastic idea for a movie. Terrible idea for a proctologist."

Even after 57 years since its release, "Fantastic Voyage" remains an incredible concept for a movie. It's worth revisiting this classic film just to experience how this peculiar premise once felt entirely new.

You can currently stream "Fantastic Voyage" on HBO Max until February 28.