Summary

• Bullets can't be curved as shown in 2008's Wanted
• MythBusters proved the bullet curve isn't possible
• Centripetal force and Magnus effect are theoretical possibilities, but they are difficult to utilize.

The 2008 action movie celebrated writer Mark Millar and received a positive reaction from audiences and critics. It boasts solid critical scores for an action movie and grossed $342.5 million at the box office, becoming a hit for Universal Pictures.

Given its success, it's surprising that Wanted never received a sequel, despite the prospects of it being discussed for over a decade. The option was discussed, and a sequel was planned that would have expanded the world, introducing many new characters. Angelina Jolie wasn't interested in returning, but there were still plans to continue without her, with McAvoy's character now being fully trained. Despite being a standalone, Wanted is still a beloved movie with lots to discuss, including the physics of the signature action movie.

Bullets Can't Be Curved As Shown In 2008's Wanted

MythBusters Proved The Bullet Curve Isn't Possible

While the move feels rather Matrix-like, all it requires in Wanted is for the character to swing their arm around while following, resulting in the bullet following that curve. It was such a fascinating physics question that the MythBusters had to step in and try it out. In the segment, they first attempt to repeat the process of how it's done in the film, but the strength of the human arm isn't enough to re-direct the bullet.

Next, they set up a rig to add twice the strength and speed of a human being to the motion. Despite the machine's help, the bullet still fires through three walls in a straight line. There was zero deviation from the bullet being swung into motion from where it would track had it been fired normally. Therefore, the process of curving a bullet in Wanted is entirely fictional. Attempting to curve the shot would only add risk to an already dangerous action, so don't try it at home.

Is Curving A Bullet Completely Impossible? What Science Says

There Are Theoretical Possibilities, But It Couldn't Work Like In Wanted

Isaac Newton's laws of motion suggest that an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it, and bullets are included under this umbrella. Gravity is an example of an outside force that would eventually curve the bullet downward, but that's not quite what was happening in Wanted. The two scientific possibilities that could see a bullet be curved are centripetal force and the Magnus effect.

The Magnus effect regards the change in the direction of an object that's spinning (like a curveball in baseball), so a bullet could potentially curve if it's fired in a spinning motion. However, due to the weight of a bullet, this would be tricky to pull off. Centripetal force would require a secondary push from the barrel of a gun, launching it in a direction perpendicular to the one it's fired in. These options are far more difficult to utilize than Wanted would make it seem.