Robot uprising

As seen in: WALL.E, Terminator Salvation, Transformers, Iron Man

Terminator's John Connor should have painted his house in stripes. According to robots expert Dr Robert Richardson of Leeds University, the best way to survive a robot uprising is to confuse them.

Robots have vision sensors which allow them to perceive you, so if one gets hold of you, you're stuffed, he explains. To avoid that happening, trick them into not knowing where you are. Their vision systems struggle with complex things. Patterns on straight lines in different orders can confuse them, so paint your room with lots of lines; they won't know what's going on. However, their audio and thermal sensors could be difficult to escape from.

Robots have been used in Iraq but they were controlled by humans. A robot uprising would be different. The main problem is robots don t have the ability to reason, says Dr Richardson. They won t know who s a friend and who's a foe. If it was to happen, surround yourself with technical people; they'd know how to exploit any kinks in the armour.

Survival chances: you're dead

Serial killer

As seen in: The Cottage, Prom Night, Untraceable, Hatchet, Vacancy

Want to avoid being sliced and diced by a Michael Myers type?

The best way to escape a movie-style slash and dash death is to have lots of friends on Facebook, according to top criminologist, professor David Wilson.

"If you have power, a voice, money and friends who'll notice if you disappear, then a serial killer won't touch you," he reckons.

"Movie characters who are slaughtered by a serial killer have none of those things, which is why they're picked off first. Plus, if they look like us, we're going to be more sympathetic, so with the exception of American Psycho, you don't often see prostitutes or tramps being the focus of a serial killer."

And Wilson, author of Hunting Evil: Inside The Ipswich Murders, says that once a serial killer has his night-vision goggles set on you, there's not much you can do to stop him making a suit from your skin. "Once they're into a killing cycle, you won't know what's going to happen," he says. "'Act' serial killers like Michael Myers do it quickly but 'process' killers like Hannibal Lecter do it slowly. Pleading for your life is what they want to hear so it's only going to delay the inevitable."

Survival chances: none

Alien invasions

As seen in: Avatar (2009), X Files, I Want To Believe, Mars Attacks, Aliens v Predator Requiem, Cloverfield, The Invasion, Signs

Batten down the hatches and prepare for war if Aliens invade. According to sci-fi author and theorist Darrell Bain, if alien earth intruders do arrive, they won't be playing nice.

"The chances of an alien invasion in our lifetime are very slim, but possible," he admits. "There is undoubtedly other life out there. And if they do invade, they're most likely going to be nasty. It takes a competitive nature to devise space flight, especially space flight to other planets."

And once they arrive, Darrell warns it will take more than Mel Gibson and a bottle of Volvic to send them packing.

"Mankind's chances of survival against a hostile invasion are slim," he says. "But the more our technology progresses, the better our chances will be. Our world is divided into nations competing against each other which will go against a unified defence, but on our side is our war-like nature."

And for a chance of surviving a close encounter of any kind, Darrell has three pieces of advice.

"I'm sure we'd defend ourselves from a hostile attack every damn way we could by trying every weapon in our arsenal and then go on to devise others according to the nature of the aliens. But if happened tomorrow, you should hide, prepare for guerrilla warfare or join the military."

Survival chances: zilch

Car chase

As seen in: The Bourne Ultimatum, The Quantum Of Solace, Speed Racer, Vantage Point, Death Proof; Harold And Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay;

Whether you're driving an Aston Martin or a Nissan Micra, the only way you're going to win in a car chase is if you've got good technique, according to British stuntman Terry Grant. Terry, whose team of drivers were used by the James Bond producers for the forthcoming Quantum Of Solace, says it's skill, not speed, that will shake off a pursuer.

"Being in a car chase is like a game of chess: don't do anything rash, keep a cool head and you'll come out on top," he says. "Speed is important but not as much as technique. If you have a more powerful car, that will help if you're going straight line. If you have technique you can get away from someone driving a better car.

"A car chase is a battle, so you can slow them down, block them in, or trick them into crashing or giving you space. If you're doing the chasing and coming to a bend, accelerate before you get to the bend and nip in front of them."

Terry says that where heroes like Jason Bourne go right and their assailants go wrong is by being observant. "Be in control; it's all about your emotions," he says. "Don't look at the end of your bonnet. There are various things you can do to escape somebody if you know what's coming up on the road ahead.

"If you're being chased then aim for a motorway where you can put your foot down. Or head for somewhere that's not going to be clogged up by a lot of other cars. Unless you're out nicking cars and regularly being chased by police, the average driver probably wouldn't do well in a car chase; 99% will get caught or crash."

Survival chances: poor

Interrogation

As seen in: Casino Royale, Jumper, Rendition, Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

It would take more than Sharon Stone uncrossing her legs to stop former British Army intelligence operative Drew McAdam from getting the information he wants. But McAdam says that what information you give up depends on who's questioning you.

"Your survival depends on the interrogator," he says. "If they're not bound by the Geneva Convention, like Bond's captors in Casino Royale, you're screwed. They will do anything to get you to talk. But if the interrogator is bound by rules then to beat him, decide what you can say and don't expand on it at all, ever."

McAdam says that interrogators are trained to spot signs of weakness. "Most are trained in body language, so watch what you're doing with your hands as they are the most expressive part of you," he says. "If you are hiding your palms, you're lying through your teeth. When you start showing them, you're opening up. Keep your body language closed: arms crossed, legs crossed. Don't fidget, keep your eyes straight ahead and be prepared for verbal sucker punches.

"The golden rule is to say, 'I'm sorry, I can't answer that' in the hope that person will get pissed off and interrogate someone else. But if your interrogator is hostile, you stand no chance."

Survival chances: only if you play ball

Held hostage

As seen in: Rambo, 10,000BC, Gone Baby Gone, The Hostage, The Negotiator, John Q, The Cottage

Annoy the guy who's taken you hostage, and chances are you won't make it to the end credits. And that's also the case in real life, according to Jerry Garrett of the Texas Association Of Hostage Negotiators. He's trained negotiators around the world in the art of persuading hostage takers to set their victims free.

"Hostage situations are typically violent; you should try to stay calm," explains Jerry. "It's difficult but don't become part of the problem. Comply with the hostage takers' demands and stay optimistic. If they put you on the phone to the negotiator, give as much information as safely possible. Avoid challenging or berating the taker - he's under a great deal of pressure."

And the rules are the same if you're caught up in a bank raid. "Hostage situations involving a botched robbery may lead to some opportunity of conversation but again, don't become part of the problem. If the hostage taker wants to talk, best to listen and not attempt to be their friend.

"And only escape if it is clear you can do it without injury. But less than 5% of hostage situations involve strangers - most are with people you know.

"Most hostage films are far-fetched; there hasn't been a film that properly sums up what we do. And we're not excited about teaching our techniques to the bad guys through movies. Actual negotiations are really not that glamorous."

Survival chances: good