The Incredible Shrinking Man

What happens when evidence flies in the face of established knowledge? At first, everyone tries to convince Robert Scott Carey that he’s imagining things when his shirts seem to be getting bigger and the scale tells him he’s dropping pounds.

Eventually, even the nay-sayers have to admit he’s turned into “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957). Eventually, a scientist with a deeply authoritative voice and white lab coat informs Scott that exposure to a mysterious fog followed by a walk through a cloud of pesticide likely caused his condition. As doctors race to discover a cure, Scott’s relationships dwindle down to a complete dependence on his wife, Louise—until he meets Clarice, who’s just about his size.

This classic sci-fi was remade in 1981 as “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” a comedy starring Lily Tomlin.