INFORMS Open Forum

Analytics in Pop Culture: Where Have You Seen It?

  • 1.  Analytics in Pop Culture: Where Have You Seen It?

    Posted 09-16-2025 15:30

    We all know analytics powers the real world, but have you ever seen it sneak into your favorite movie, show, or book?

    Whether it’s a detective using deductive reasoning like a data scientist, a sci-fi AI making predictions, or a character optimizing their way out of a sticky situation, pop culture is full of hidden nods to operations research and analytics.

    One fun example: Moneyball (2011) shows how the Oakland A’s used data analytics to build a competitive baseball team on a budget. It’s a classic case of predictive modeling and optimization in action!

    What’s your favorite example of analytics or OR in pop culture?
    Bonus points if you can quote it or link to a clip!



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    Garrett Johnston
    Membership Engagement Coordinator
    gjohnston@informs.org
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