[RightFighter]

What’s wrong with the name “Unobtainium”? Oakley has been using that name for years for the rubber that they use on their sunglasses. In a sci-fi movie designed to appeal to kids - that name is perfect to convey the fact that this material is hard to obtain.

From an Oakley product description: Add that to the comfort of a Three-Point Fit plus UNOBTAINIUM® components that increase grip with sweat, and you’ve got the closest thing to an unfair advantage in sports competition.

[Rummyfan]

What’s wrong with the name “Unobtainium”?

How about hardtofindium? Or rareashensteethium? Or anhonestdemocratium? Or perfectmanium? Or..... That's the best he could come up with?

[TalonDJ]

Unobtainium is a joke. An inside joke for engineers laughing at people that can't figure out that some things can't be built. You know, like the morons that ask why a whole plane is not made of whatever the 'black box' is made out of. It is the ultimate cop-out for a writer to unimaginative to come up with something for the plot. "I need this thing to be invulnerable. I know, magic! No this is sci fi... unobtainium!" Adamantium is similarly stupid but at least it requires more than a 2nd grade vocabulary to spot how big the handwaving is. Might as well call it ‘strong-ium’.

[Stoutcat]

Criminy! Just call it wonderflonium and be done with it! Just don't bounce it for heaven's sake!