So you would like to watch more movies like Hackers (1995)? Or maybe movies based on computers and technology? Then welcome to my list!
Since there aren’t many hacking movies around, I had to loosen the definition of hacking to include different genres of hacking (whilst trying to keep the list cohesive but most likely failing badly, haha).
This list of movies won’t teach how to hack. If you’re young then you will find all this very cool and won’t question the veracity of these movies (i know i didn't). Sadly when you get older, you start taking a deeper look at things and realise with regret how laughable all these English majors/story-writers are at writing a good techy script for us.
The problem is that real hackers or engineers can't really "write" without making things choky or boring (for example this very intro, lol!) and English majors lack all manner of practicality and think that owning a smartphone makes them a "hacker." So sadly I cannot crown any single hacker movie made as best in class. They all lack in "something" to make them a great movie.
I hope my list will satisfy any nerd, tech savvy person, gamer, programmer, virtual reality fan, university and pre-university IT/Software Dev/CompSci/Eng students. If you think I missed a movie title, just drop a comment below.
End of Line. (Tron). Cheeeeese!
.:: Please, if you're going to export my list like that Indian kid did (all his movies are in same order as mine), then at least remove the description I've typed next to each movie. This is my personal touch to an otherwise boring robotic listing. Thanks. ::.
Since there aren’t many hacking movies around, I had to loosen the definition of hacking to include different genres of hacking (whilst trying to keep the list cohesive but most likely failing badly, haha).
This list of movies won’t teach how to hack. If you’re young then you will find all this very cool and won’t question the veracity of these movies (i know i didn't). Sadly when you get older, you start taking a deeper look at things and realise with regret how laughable all these English majors/story-writers are at writing a good techy script for us.
The problem is that real hackers or engineers can't really "write" without making things choky or boring (for example this very intro, lol!) and English majors lack all manner of practicality and think that owning a smartphone makes them a "hacker." So sadly I cannot crown any single hacker movie made as best in class. They all lack in "something" to make them a great movie.
I hope my list will satisfy any nerd, tech savvy person, gamer, programmer, virtual reality fan, university and pre-university IT/Software Dev/CompSci/Eng students. If you think I missed a movie title, just drop a comment below.
End of Line. (Tron). Cheeeeese!
.:: Please, if you're going to export my list like that Indian kid did (all his movies are in same order as mine), then at least remove the description I've typed next to each movie. This is my personal touch to an otherwise boring robotic listing. Thanks. ::.
WarGames (1983)
A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III. (114 mins.)
Director: John Badham
“ A bit of time travel... to 1983. This movie is about a hacker kid who gets into troubles with the US military after his (dial-up) modem software auto-dials and connects to a real WW3 simulation computer! It's a good movie, came at a time when people were wondering and worrying about machines replacing them in the workplace. It's not such a bad movie but granted, it has some age on it and this will show. ” - Natasha266
2.
Hackers (1995)
A young boy is arrested by the U.S. Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday... (107 mins.)
Director: Iain Softley
“ Hackers 1 - My first ever computer hacker movie - A rather cool insight into this pretentious underground world. Whoever wrote the lines of this movie should be shot, they are quite lame by today's standard and probably back then too. If you're watching this movie, it will be purely for the hacking scenes and awesome acid/techno soundtrack. I also loved Angelina Jolie in this movie, such an edgy & attractive tom-boy, maybe her best role up to now (not seen movie "Gia" yet)! Unfortunately Hackers was a downfall for Jonny Lee Miller ("Sick Boy" from Trainspotting). And Hackers couldbe or is probably Ian Softley's one-hit wonder!
P.s. I am not a betting person but I will bet that all LulSec and Anonymous members have seen this movie at least 20 times and know all the lines by heart! "Hack the planet!" ” - Natasha266
P.s. I am not a betting person but I will bet that all LulSec and Anonymous members have seen this movie at least 20 times and know all the lines by heart! "Hack the planet!" ” - Natasha266
3.
Swordfish (2001)
The world's most dangerous spy is hired by the CIA to coerce a computer hacker recently released from prison to help steal $6 billion in unused government funds. (99 mins.)
Director: Dominic Sena
“ If you didn't start your hacker movie journey with "Hackers (1995)" then it's very likely that you did so with "Swordfish." It's a movie about a bank robbery where dirty money laundered by the US gov is being stored in some bank but has to be digitally transferred to a foreign bank account where it will be used for more evil purposes.
This operation will require sophisticated hacking and only one hacker in the whole world is fit for the job! Not saying anymore. It's an ok action-thriller, was the second hacker movie I ever watched. ” - Natasha266
This operation will require sophisticated hacking and only one hacker in the whole world is fit for the job! Not saying anymore. It's an ok action-thriller, was the second hacker movie I ever watched. ” - Natasha266
4.
Takedown (2000)
This film is based on the story of the capture of computer hacker "Kevin Mitnick". (96 mins.)
Director: Joe Chappelle
“ Also known as "Hackers 2" on the world wide web! It is based on a true story of an old legendary hacker called Kevin Mitnick. Those looking for a lonesome cowboy hacker movie ('Cowboy Bebop' style, haha) will love this movie. What's good about it is that they are not afraid to throw in complicated hacker lingo every now and then. This is unlike most new hacker movies which concentrate on visuals and sound effects, and may throw the term "DDOS" as a means to say "hey this is real tough hacking movie." If you're going to make a hacker movie then at least have a feel for the subject. Stanford SCPD offers expensive rubbish courses on Computer Security, so go ahead and enrol. I did and it's useless for anything practical but if you want anecdotes or have a feel for the subject then their superficial courses are right for you or budding story writers. ”- Natasha266
5.
Antitrust (2001)
A computer programmer's dream job at a hot Portland-based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti-trust problems. (109 mins.)
Director: Peter Howitt
“ This movie is also known "Hackers 3" thanks to Limewire. A bit of a stinker with superbly bad acting & script. The intro sequence is a display of HTML code. For those not in the know, this is NOT something to be impressed with. Anyway, you've got to be disappointed in the same order as I was, so you better watch this CRAPPY movie! I think the story is partially based on the early days of Microsoft - an unscrupulous thuggish company investigated and busted under US & EU anti-trust laws. Shame on you Bill Gates!
Even though "Hackers 3" is a stinker, it didn't ruin Ryan Phillippe's movie career. He went on to play in such great movies as "Breach" and "Stop-Loss." Two excellent movies to watch, if you haven't done so already! ” - Natasha266
Even though "Hackers 3" is a stinker, it didn't ruin Ryan Phillippe's movie career. He went on to play in such great movies as "Breach" and "Stop-Loss." Two excellent movies to watch, if you haven't done so already! ” - Natasha266
6.
Untraceable (2008)
FBI agent Jennifer Marsh is tasked with hunting down a seemingly untraceable serial killer who posts live videos of his victims on the Internet. As time runs out, the cat and mouse chase becomes more personal. (101 mins.)
Director: Gregory Hoblit
“ A top-notch movie on how FBI agents track and fight online crime, in this case: gruesome video murders broadcasted online using low TTL web servers (i.e. untraceable). You will be set in the mood of the movie right from the start. Well written (from a computer security point of view) and intense suspense which will keep you glued to the screen from from start to finish. Keep snacks & drinks nearby. (A good purchase or gift idea too). ” - Natasha266
7.
Eagle Eye (2008)
Jerry and Rachel are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move. (118 mins.)
Director: D.J. Caruso
“ A US military A.I becomes self-righteous after discovering that politicians are just scumbags. Take a number sweetheart! The A.I "brain" computer hacks simpleton machines (which presumably run Windows) and also bullies civilians to achieve her goals. Not really Terminator 2's Skynet, which uses only machines to fight for its ideology - kill all humans! If you like Eagle Eye then you will laugh at its budget sister "Echelon Conspiracy" which I won't even list here. But if you do watch both, you'll be able to tell how a few millions in additional movie funding can change a movie from turd to gold. ” - Natasha266
8.
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
John McClane and a young hacker join forces to take down master cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel in Washington D.C. (128 mins.)
Director: Len Wiseman
“ Nice to see Bruce Willis and the Die Hard franchise catch up with the Internet age. Justin Long plays in it (he's from the Mac vs. PC adverts). The plot: Our society has an unhealthy reliance on computers and networks which are inherently insecure. So why attach critical services to the internet? Who are those dumba** IT contractors who develop such poor systems and flog it to corporations and the government? Isn't all that an accident in waiting? In this movie, a disgruntled ex-security advisor cashes-in on all this by wreaking havoc on the national computer systems (gov, energy, traffic, etc...). A top-notch action-hacking movie. Definitely a keeper! ” - Natasha266
9.
Reboot (2012 Short Film)
A young female hacker awakens from a traumatic event that she scarcely remembers, and an iPhone glued to her hand... (40 mins.)
Director: Joe Kawasaki
“ The 40 min runtime length of this film goes fast. I have to be frank with you: Besides the obvious, I didn't get what this movie was about! Were they trying to make a deeper point than shutting down everything we take for granted? Because if it's just about shutting down everything electronic then I wasn't impressed. But if this is your cup of tea, then a watch the tv-series "Revolution 2012" for different take on this same idea. ” - Natasha266
10.
TRON (1982)
A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program. (96 mins.)
Director: Steven Lisberger
“ Not so much hacking but teleportation of a physical humanbeing inside a computer world - circuit-carved landscape and programs potrayed as people who interact with each other. (Did "Matrix 2" use this movie as a seed idea?) If you like technology or studied Operating Systems at university, then you'll see the obvious terminology connections... and maybe enjoy them. Geeeeks!
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this movie was considered a flop when it first came out, just like Kubrik's "2001 Space Odyssey," but later, massive sales/rentals from VHS, VCD and DVD proved that this movie was just ahead of its times! ” - Natasha266
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this movie was considered a flop when it first came out, just like Kubrik's "2001 Space Odyssey," but later, massive sales/rentals from VHS, VCD and DVD proved that this movie was just ahead of its times! ” - Natasha266
11.
eXistenZ (1999)
A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged. (97 mins.)
Director: David Cronenberg
“ VR Gaming - If you liked The Matrix and teleporting your mind into a computer generated avatar, then you'll love the weirdness and twists in eXistenZ. In this movie, a bunch of gamers jack into a Cluedo-type computer game and try to complete it. It's a pretty good movie, so don't watch it if you're tired or about to go to bed. ” - Natasha266
12.
Avalon (2001)
In a future world, young people are increasingly becoming addicted to an illegal (and potentially deadly) battle simulation game called Avalon... (107 mins.)
Director: Mamoru Oshii
“ VR Gaming - A virtual reality movie where players plunge into a virtual game world (Avalon) using wires and VR goggles. I can't remember all the details but the movie revolves around Pro level gaming (playing for a living), each level getting progresively harder and so-called allies more deceitful. The colour palette of this movie reminded me of "Delicatessen (1991)." ” - Natasha266
13.
Gamer (2009)
In a future mind-controlling game, death row convicts are forced to battle in a 'Doom'-type environment. Convict Kable, controlled by Simon, a skilled teenage gamer, must survive thirty sessions in order to be set free. Or won't he? (95 mins.)
“ VR Gaming - This movie has a bit of everything: VR, computers and hacking. The usual Virtual Reality concept is about controlling a digital avatar in a digital world. In Gamer, you control real people in the real world which is where the game happens. (I thought was a great twist on the VR concept). The rest is same old, same old: Successful programmer is drunk with power and turns into an evil CEO who corrupts the world we live in but, is being fought by a hacking group called "HumanZ." ” - Natasha266
14.
Surrogates (2009)
Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others' surrogates. (89 mins.)
Director: Jonathan Mostow
“ Hacking comes in a lot of guises but it's main objective stays the same: 'To use what you know or have to disable, change or take over a system.' Wow what a mouthful, can't believe i just came up with that definition.
Surrogates has an interesting take on the Virtual Reality concept, in that you control a robot (a surrogate) to do your job in the real world (watch "Gamer (2009)" for yet another different take on VR). The hacking part comes from a secret military weapon which not only kills the mechanical surrogate but its user too! The weapon obviously falls in the hands of someone who is against the surrogate society and you will have to watch the movie to know what happens in the end. ” - Natasha266
Surrogates has an interesting take on the Virtual Reality concept, in that you control a robot (a surrogate) to do your job in the real world (watch "Gamer (2009)" for yet another different take on VR). The hacking part comes from a secret military weapon which not only kills the mechanical surrogate but its user too! The weapon obviously falls in the hands of someone who is against the surrogate society and you will have to watch the movie to know what happens in the end. ” - Natasha266
15.
Deja Vu (2006)
After a ferry is bombed in New Orleans, an A.T.F. agent joins a unique investigation using experimental surveillance technology to find the bomber, but soon finds himself becoming obsessed with one of the victims. (126 mins.)
Director: Tony Scott
“ Spoiler alert: I would never have guessed that this movie would quickly revolve around some serious time viewing and time travel technology. In a few words, it's a great cop/detective/forensic drama wrapped in sophisticated technology. A must-see, at least once because after that you will get it and will not want to watch it again, much like the movie "Next (2007)." ” - Natasha266
16.
Source Code (2011)
A soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. A mission he has only 8 minutes to complete. (93 mins.)
Director: Duncan Jones
“ Anyone who's done any programming at university will probably call this title misleading (w.r.t actual source codes). I was really annoyed actually. This movie has nothing to do with computer codes. Instead it is about time travel which is quite fitting for Jake Gyllenhaal who's played in such movies as Donnie Darko (time travel) and "Prince of Persia (2010)" (time travelling dagger) and now this. Methinks he should get a BSc (Hons) in Time Travel. ” - Natasha266
17.
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
Computer scientist Hannon Fuller has discovered something extremely important. He's about to tell the discovery to his colleague... (100 mins.)
Director: Josef Rusnak
“ A bit similar to The Matrix except that this movie deals with layers of simulated virtual worlds which encompass each other. At each level, their creators enters them for pleasure of exploring them. It's very important to understand the simulation bit here because scientists run simulations all the time (like weather forecast, except in this case, it's like the game Civilization). There are no evil computers in this movie, just flawed human nature. It's a murder mystery movie wrapped in a modern cocoon. ” - Natasha266
18.
The Matrix (1999)
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. (136 mins.)
Director: The Wachowski Brothers, The Wachowski Brothers
“ The Machine finally took over the world and enslaved all of humanity in a bid to extract electrical energy from them. This is a different type of hacking movie. When Neo frees his mind and discovers his new powers, a new world of possibilities opens up to him. This is similar to finding a backdoor to a secure website. Once you've got root access, it's yours baby! I did not like Matrix 2 and 3, so I won't be listing them here. You'll be better off watching "Animatrix" which explains how "The Matrix" came into being or where the Wachowski brothers got their ideas from. ” - Natasha266
19.
TRON: Legacy (2010)
The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. He meets his father's corrupted creation and a unique ally who was born inside the digital world. (125 mins.)
Director: Joseph Kosinski
“ Sequel to "Tron (1982)." It wasn't to my taste. The makers of this sequel focused more on graphics and music rather than the story. It was full of idiotic non-logical, non-computer ideas. For instance, why are 4 chicks in stupid white heels dressing up Sam Flynn? And what's up with having a night club? What the heck is that got to do with programs. Tron 2 did not really compute. I think Disney thought they'd pull the wool over our eyes with a crappy story wrapped in sleek graphics and Daft Punk music.
I wouldn't recommend this movie, but if you are not from the old generation, then you will most probably love this movie. ” - Natasha266
I wouldn't recommend this movie, but if you are not from the old generation, then you will most probably love this movie. ” - Natasha266
20.
Virus (1999)
When the crew of an American tugboat boards an abandoned Russian research vessel, the alien life form aboard regards them as a virus which must be destroyed. (99 mins.)
Director: John Bruno
“ I can't believe I forgot to add this old movie to my list! A virus (comet of electricity) from deep space hacks MIR space station (now ISS) and lands into US research ship in the Pacific. That's where it hacks into the ships electronics and takes over. From then onwards, the movie jumps into Chain Saw Massacre mode because self-aware computers and humans don't mix. There may or may not be a cyborg in it. ” - Natasha266
21.
Paycheck (2003)
What seemed like a breezy idea for an engineer to net him millions of dollars, leaves him on the run for his life and piecing together why he's being chased. (119 mins.)
Director: John Woo
“ Mildly related to hacking... Ben Affleck plays the role of a hardware hacker or reverse engineer. He gets into some serious trouble after completing one of his longest and highest paid assignment. The movie revolves around puzzle solving and I ain't revealing any more because it's the kind of movie you watch once, get it and move on. ” - Natasha266
22.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker. (158 mins.)
Director: David Fincher
“ Even though the 2009 original version is by far the best, visuals can be very important to set you in the mood for a good hacker movie. This movie is not truly about hacking, more historical crime solving which these days require a Mac and Google search. The main actress plays the role of a butch goth orphan rogue expert hacker. Some rough PG scenes in that movie, be warned. As for the hackings, you the viewer interprete what she's doing as hacking and the movie director gets away with skipping over what kind of hacking she's doing. I'm sure this kind of stuff will keep freshers/freshmen entertained. ” - Natasha266
23.
The Social Network (2010)
Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the cofounder who was later squeezed out of the business. (120 mins.)
Director: David Fincher
“ So this movie falls in the "Tech" side of my list, not hacking even though there's a minuscule bit of that when Zuckerberg creates a girl comparison website. This movie is about Facebook and how the idea wasn't really Zuckerberg's. If you watch "Pirates of Silicon Valley" you'll understand how things work in the US-of-A. This movie tells you the interesting Facebook story by juggling scenes from the Winklevoss and Eduardo Saverin depositions. I feel very sad for Saverin, it must have been an unpleasant life experience to have known and worked with Zuckerberg.
I hope people will also take from this movie that dropping out of university is not such a bad thing! It's not the end of the world. Otherwise you work hard for 3 or 4 years and end up with a clogged up brain and no real-life skills. Best to get an idea and be first to market! If it fails, go back to uni. They want your money, they will take you back. ” - Natasha266
I hope people will also take from this movie that dropping out of university is not such a bad thing! It's not the end of the world. Otherwise you work hard for 3 or 4 years and end up with a clogged up brain and no real-life skills. Best to get an idea and be first to market! If it fails, go back to uni. They want your money, they will take you back. ” - Natasha266
24.
Betas (2013 TV Series)
In Silicon Valley, the right algorithm can make you a king. And these four friends think they've finally cracked the code. (27 mins.)
“ TV-series comedy produced by Amazon, probably to rival the nerds in The Big Bang Theory. Betas is about a group of young programmers who are forming a start-up. I've reached episode 4 and I think I will stop watching this fakery. It's bad enough that watching TBBT feels like watching the old Friends series. Completely pointless. ” - Natasha266
25.
We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012 Documentary)
A documentary on the workings and beliefs of the self-described "hacktivist" collective, Anonymous. (93 mins.)
Director: Brian Knappenberger
“ Not seen it yet. ” - Natasha266
26.
Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013 Documentary)
A documentary that exposes what corporations and governments learn about people through Internet and cell phone usage, and what can be done about it ... if anything. (79 mins.)
Director: Cullen Hoback
“ This is a must-see documentary on the state of surveillance that we live in, both from the government (NSA, GCHQ, ...) and private companies (Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Microsoft, ...). The government will say that it is to monitor terrorists but very often it's regular citizens like you and me who fall prey to their dumb red-flag systems. This documentary also looks into ever changing T&C agreements that we click through like zombies and what they mean to companies who implement them. This documentary isn't very technical. I hope they do a sequel because in my view, there's a lot more to say on this topic and they need to go in way more technical details. They did discuss CarrierIQ and (sort of) deep-cookies but not PRISM or leaks from Wikileaks. ” - Natasha266
27.
Grandma's Boy (2006)
A 35 year old video game tester has to move in with his grandma and her two old lady roommates. (94 mins.)
Director: Nicholaus Goossen
“ I didn't initially add this movie to my list because it's to do with game testers but on second thought, games are technology too so it should be in the list. In this movie, a pot-head game tester (the bald guy from Little Nicky. Yes, am not kidding, it's him!) has his idea stolen by a freakishly nerdy superstar game programmer. But that's around the two-thirds mark of the movie. Before that, you'll be entertained with generous helpings of pot-head humour, relocating to his grandma's house and playing video games. ” - Natasha266
28.
Revolution OS (2001 Documentary)
While Microsoft may be the biggest software company in the world, not every computer user is a fan of their products... (85 mins.)
Director: J.T.S. Moore
“ Please don't equate open-source community to the vegans of computing, they are very real and important for users who want to know exactly what sort of code is running on their machine, as opposed to opaque software from Microsoft and Apple (which have security flaws everywhere and are regularly exploited by rogue hackers, NSA, GCHQ and the likes). This documentary traces the evolution of the Linux OS (Linus Torvalds who solved the kernel problem) and the GNU manifesto/movement (Richard Stallman). ” - Natasha266
29.
The Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires (1996 Documentary)
Three part documentary that shows the insight look at the history of computers, from its rise in the 1970s to the beginning of the Dot-com boom of the late 1990s.
“ A great piece of investigation of the early OS industry brilliantly researched and put together by none other than Robert Cringely! This pre-dates the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)," so you might want to see Cringely's documentary first. This documentary will no doubt be watched for decades to come and by nerds all over the world! Just wished Cringely did an unpdated Bluray version. ” - Natasha266
30.
Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999 TV Movie)
History of Apple and Microsoft. (95 mins.)
Director: Martyn Burke
“ A comedy documentary movie about world's most popular Operating Systems - Windows & Apple. Spoiler-alert: How Apple stole the user-interface and mouse from Xerox, Microsoft stole these from Apple and then took over the world. It's kind of yucky how Microsoft has a history of latching itself on a host and then sucks the life out of it. Poor, poor Nokia! Why did you sign a deal with MS or Ctrl-Alt-Del as I like to call them! ” - Natasha266
31.
Jobs (2013)
The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century. (128 mins.)
Director: Joshua Michael Stern
“ Didn't learn a thing from this that I didn't know from the previous Apple or Steve Jobs docu-movies. Actually this one had the chance to cover iPod, iPhone and iPad era but it didn't. It stuck to the old script of original Macintosh, the Lisa and hiring of that Pepsi guy. What was new was the hiring of that British designer who designed the see-through iMac (or something). ” - Natasha266
32.
Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy (2011 Documentary)
(50 mins.)
Director: Laura Craig Gray, Tristan Quinn
“ BBC documentary released right after Steve Jobs died. It retraces his life before and during Apple - the highs and lows. The end is quite touching (it's the Stanford speech). Am not a fan of Apple (their cut for App/Content sold on iTunes is a whopping 30%), but for those who are fans this is a documentary for you! ” - Natasha266
33.
The Italian Job (2003)
After being betrayed and left for dead in Italy, Charlie Croker and his team plan an elaborate gold heist against their former ally. (111 mins.)
Director: F. Gary Gray
“ Seth Green is "The Napster" and the hacker of this group of thieves. If you are into carefully calculated heists involving cars and hacking traffic lights and other systems, then you will like this movie. It's nothing compared to the original British version of The Italian Job (with Michael Caine who's now Batman's butler). I only watched it because gorgeous Charlize Theron played in it! She's so good. Watch "Monster (2003)" if you don't believe how talented and versatile she is. ” - Natasha266
34.
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science. (108 mins.)
Director: Brett Leonard
“ Am only adding this because it deals with virtual reality, but it is a pathetic movie. I remember watching it as a kid and thinking "why are the graphics so lame?" In my opinion, adding CGI to a movie should be a BIG decision. The director should weigh this decision against "how convincing the CGI will look now and 10 years from now." Look at the liquid-metal morphing scenes from "Terminator 2 (1991)." It's 2012 and they still look fresh & real. This is what am talkin' about! ” - Natasha266
35.
Sneakers (1992)
A security pro finds his past coming back to haunt him, when he and his unique team are tasked with retrieving a particularly important item. (126 mins.)
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
“ This old movie is kinda thin on hacking -- turns out it's more of a spy movie but since I listed Disclosure (1994), I cannot not list Sneakers. Sneakers starts with the arrest of a hacker but not his friend who by a stroke of luck went to buy pizzas. Years later, the one who got away finds himself tasked to find an electronic box. But when he discovers that this box is a universal decryption box (i.e. nothing encrypted can be remain a secret anymore - gov, banking, army...), everything goes pear-shaped and he has to set everything back to normal. ” - Natasha266
36.
The Net (1995)
A computer programmer stumbles upon a conspiracy, putting her life and the lives of those around her in great danger. (114 mins.)
Director: Irwin Winkler
“ Thanks to "@Smitty Perceptor" for his suggestion. I only recently got hold of this old movie and am happy to list it here. This movie depicts the early days and therefore fears of computerisation and growth of the internet -- i.e. your life and who you say your are, are completely defined by what's held in government, police & medical databases.
That's right baby, one click and all this can change and now you're a ghost or criminal. If you were afraid that your Operating System was spying on you then get ready for the fear that your anti-virus software was in reality a trojan horse created by criminals to have access to your system and sensitive government records! ” - Natasha266
That's right baby, one click and all this can change and now you're a ghost or criminal. If you were afraid that your Operating System was spying on you then get ready for the fear that your anti-virus software was in reality a trojan horse created by criminals to have access to your system and sensitive government records! ” - Natasha266
37.
Disclosure (1994)
A computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment by a former lover turned boss who initiated the act forcefully, which threatens both his career and his personal life. (128 mins.)
Director: Barry Levinson
“ I did say I would list technology-based movies here even though this one has more to do with sexual harassment lawsuit. It all happens within a company which plans to manufacture CD-ROM drives in Malaysia and a critical merger is coming up. CD-ROMs were about double-speed back then, I know this because I bought my first Creative CD drive along with a copy of Encarta when that movie was released!
The movie digs into the world of deceit and lies, friends you can no longer trust. The bits of virtual reality (head gear and glove) add a nice memorable touch to the whole film. ” - Natasha266
The movie digs into the world of deceit and lies, friends you can no longer trust. The bits of virtual reality (head gear and glove) add a nice memorable touch to the whole film. ” - Natasha266
38.
Chain Reaction (1996)
Two researchers in a green alternative energy project are put on the run when they are framed for murder and treason. (107 mins.)
Director: Andrew Davis
“ This movie is not about computers or hacking but a technology to produce unlimited clean renewable energy. It still fits in my list since I never defined technology to start with. The plot: "The polluting Oil-Coal-Gas corporations don't like the idea of clean unlimited renewable energy one bit!" And that's about as much as I'm willing to give away on this old action thirller! Neo's in it. ” - Natasha266
39.
The Core (2003)
The only way to save Earth from catastrophe is to drill down to the core and set it spinning again. (135 mins.)
Director: Jon Amiel
“ Who'd have guessed that this movie would quickly transition into a "journey to the centre of the earth" type of movie? But not in the traditional Vernian way.
It's a technology-based movie but from time to time, they require the services of world's best hacker (aka "the rat") to control the flow of information on the web. He does a bit more than that towards the end of the movie. I generally hate movies that use "hacking" purely as a trending add-on (to make it more hip). But having said that, it's good for killing time. ” - Natasha266
It's a technology-based movie but from time to time, they require the services of world's best hacker (aka "the rat") to control the flow of information on the web. He does a bit more than that towards the end of the movie. I generally hate movies that use "hacking" purely as a trending add-on (to make it more hip). But having said that, it's good for killing time. ” - Natasha266
40.
Flash of Genius (2008)
Robert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper. (119 mins.)
Director: Marc Abraham
“ This is a slow movie and falls in the Mechanical engineering category. The real inventor of the windscreen wiper fights Detroit automakers (e.g. Ford) who stole his wiper idea after he demonstrated it to them. Abandoned by his colaborators and wife, it's a real uphill struggle for this family man.
It's not a high octane movie, very slow but it's definitely a technology-based movies and an engineer not giving up trying to clear his name in the courts. ” - Natasha266
It's not a high octane movie, very slow but it's definitely a technology-based movies and an engineer not giving up trying to clear his name in the courts. ” - Natasha266
41.
Something Ventured (2011 Documentary)
Apple. Intel. Genentech. Atari. Google. Cisco. Stratospheric successes with high stakes all around.... (84 mins.)
Director: Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
“ How venture capitalists and their millions in angel investments catalysed the Silicon Valley revolution (founding companies & research funding). Sadly this 2011 documentary is about the old days of VC (1970's). Still a great doc to watch if you want to cool off after 'The Social Network.' Amongst the companies discussed are: Intel, Tandem Computers, Atari, Genentech, PowerPoint and Cisco. ” - Natasha266
42.
Secret History (1991 TV Series)
Episode: The Secret History of Hacking (2001)
A history of hacking focusing on Captain Crunch, Steve Wozniak and Kevin Mitnick.
“ This is kinda old and maybe expired, but if you have nothing better to watch, it's basically a series of interviews of famous hackers: Captain Crunch, Kevin Mitnick and even the Woz (Steve Wozniack). Best to watch the movie I called Hackers 2 (Takedown). ” - Natasha266
43.
In the Realm of the Hackers (2003)
In the late 1980s two Melbourne teenage computer hackers known as Electron and Phoenix stole a restricted... (55 mins.)
Director: Kevin Anderson
“ Wanna know about hackers in the down under? This is hacking the Australian way. Again, it's a very old documentary but still watchable. If you feel nostalgic about dial-up modems, then watch this. ” - Natasha266
44.
Code 2600 (2011 Documentary)
CODE 2600 documents the Info-Tech Age, told by the events and people who helped build and manipulate it. It explores the impact this new connectivity has on our ability to remain human while maintaining our personal privacy and security. (82 mins.)
Director: Jeremy Zerechak
“ Documentary - Just seen the trailer on Youtube. I hope it will be current and teach me something new. It's on my to-watch list. ” - Natasha266
45.
The Fifth Estate (2013)
A dramatic thriller based on real events that reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century's most fiercely debated organization. (128 mins.)
Director: Bill Condon
“ Not seen it yet and was recommended to watch "Underground: The Julian Assange Story" instead. ” - Natasha266
46.
Her (2013)
A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need. (126 mins.)
Director: Spike Jonze
“ Saying that this movie revolves around O.S is not really accurate. It's another spin on A.I and what happens when humans interact with them. In this case, the A.I quickly evolves into a "connection hungry slut" and *beep* off with a bunch of other AI operating systems, leaving users with a blank computer and a broken heart... pretty much like real life then? The wife divorces the man for half his wealth and monthly payments while she bangs another man. I guess it's worth ONE watch. I personally thought it was a bit silly and got angry towards the end, as in how do you process a refund when your AI OS runs away after the 'limited' warranty has expired?
In that same A.I category, I'd recommend 'Bicentennial Man' and 'Robot & Frank.' Movies about A.I in pure software form is just weird (maybe not to Wolfram-Alpha people). ” - Natasha266
In that same A.I category, I'd recommend 'Bicentennial Man' and 'Robot & Frank.' Movies about A.I in pure software form is just weird (maybe not to Wolfram-Alpha people). ” - Natasha266
47.
Silicon Valley (2014 TV Series)
In the high-tech gold rush of modern Silicon Valley, the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success... (30 mins.)
“ Another pathetic tv-series aimed at nerds/techies. It's as lame as 'Betas.' My message is this: Just because I'm a nerd doesn't mean I have to like every piece of trash tv-series which are wrapped in technology (i.e. targeted at me). I'm not that pathetic. I'm even considering erasing TBBT from my TV schedule because it's too boringly stupid. At the point of writing this, I declare that TBBT is fit for 8-14 year olds. ” - Natasha266
48.
Delete (2012 Mini-Series)
A reporter and a young hacker uncover an artificial intelligence which has become sentient. It has one goal. Self preservation. Humans are trying to destroy it. So it's 'it' or them. (180 mins.)
Director: Steve Barron
“ A bit of a long movie (2h45m), not a great cast but a good watch in the end. A similar movie in that category would be "Eagle Eye" but this time the protagonists get closer to the A.I, trying to fight it with another A.I. which I thought was very original. Meanwhile the US military's methods fail to take it down (predictable). I was surprised the writers didn't think of letting the A.I take control of drones, maybe it wasn't in the budget? Since the movie follows a pretty simple plot, I can't say much for fear of spoiling it for ya. ” - Natasha266
49.
Halt and Catch Fire (2014 TV Series)
Set in the early 1980s, this series dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary... (60 mins.)
“ Felt the force was strong this new tv-series. From what I gathered in episode 1, it's about the reverse engineering of BIOS (Basic Input/Output System, a proprietary piece of magic which gives life to your computer). Am not sure how HACF got a whole tv-series out of this, but here goes, they want to build the first portably PC. This movie is great but wreaks in scummy feminist-driven agenda. It may sound harsh criticism but around the realese of this series, there was another tv-series called "Manhattan." That too was tainted by feminist ideal which started making me wonder: "Why do feminists feel they have to poison everything?" I think all normal people should be worried about this cancer which is affecting Hollywood movies and tv-series. ” - Natasha266
50.
Transcendence (2014)
A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence, takes on dangerous implications when his consciousness is uploaded into one such program. (119 mins.)
Director: Wally Pfister
“ A wife A.I scientist uploads her dying husbands mind into an A.I. network and after linking to the Internet, he becomes a massive A.I. who wants to do good for mankind. But some traditional folks don't see it that way. WAR! ” - Natasha266
51.
The Zero Theorem (2013)
A hugely talented but socially isolated computer operator is tasked by Management to prove the Zero Theorem: that the universe ends as nothing, rendering life meaningless. But meaning is what he already craves. (107 mins.)
Director: Terry Gilliam
“ Ok if I add this "strange" deranged comedy, I feel I will also have to add "A Beautiful Mind." Both deal with Mathematics. If I can rationalise having it on here, then fine it will stay. Give me time to mull over this because I am 50% sure this movie does not belong on this list. ” - Natasha266
52.
The Signal (2014)
On a road trip, Nic and two friends are drawn to an isolated area by a computer genius. When everything suddenly goes dark, Nic regains consciousness - only to find himself in a waking nightmare. (97 mins.)
Director: William Eubank
“ Saw a little bit of hacking in the first 5 minutes. Felt a bit wet in the downstairs area. This is what you want to see in any hacking/techy movies. So I'm adding this movie here but be warned, after the intro it's a different ball game - area 51 type of story and more... much more. ;) ” - Natasha266
53.
Scorpion (2014 TV Series)
An eccentric genius forms an international network of super-geniuses to act as the last line of defense against the complicated threats of the modern world. (43 mins.)
“ I think if you're really young then there's a chance you'll enjoy this (like I did watching A-team and MacGyver back in the days TV looked like microwaves). In my case, I tend to ask too many questions and quickly the flaws of the story are revealed. For instance, I developed massive disgust of tv-series Heroes halfway through season 1. When they recently released Heroes Reborn, I wanted to throw up after just 10min of episode 1.
In my honest opinion, the team in Scorpion are trying to act like hackers and failing miserably (I have same feelings about CSI Cyber). Besides this criticism, it's light-hearted and good for killing time, just like "Lone Gunmen." ” - Natasha266
In my honest opinion, the team in Scorpion are trying to act like hackers and failing miserably (I have same feelings about CSI Cyber). Besides this criticism, it's light-hearted and good for killing time, just like "Lone Gunmen." ” - Natasha266
54.
The Imitation Game (2014)
During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians. (114 mins.)
Director: Morten Tyldum
“ Very old school hacking, very! Good movie though. I say this because I was gripped from start to finish. My curiosity about Alan Turing (Sir) is probably to blame, but it was also well-scripted and the plot progressed smoothly (much like watching first hour of 'A Beautiful Mind'). In a nutshell this movie describes the building of the Enigma code breaking machine (not in great detail which is a shame for those of us who are engineers). The producers also didn't shy away from anti-homosexual laws which were very much in force during WW2 Britain. Alan Turing was posthumously pardoned by the Queen in 2013 for being a homosexual back then. How about posthumously condemning and arresting those who crafted such evil and discriminatory laws Madam the Queen who doesn't have to work for a living and has everything paid-for by taxpayers of all gender, race, religion and sexual orientation? ”- Natasha266
55.
Debug (2014)
Six young computer hackers, sent to work on a derelict spaceship, are forced to match wits with a vengeful artificial intelligence that would kill to be human. (86 mins.)
Director: David Hewlett
“ Not seen it yet. ” - Natasha266
56.
Lucy (2014)
A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. (89 mins.)
Director: Luc Besson
“ The dumbest movie of 2014 and it was made by a French producer, Luc Besson. This guy should seriously take his retirement instead of wasting other people's money on producing utter garbage for the eye. This movie is like a ball of garbage which grows bigger as it rolls downhill. I am sure, lots of people enjoyed it because of Scarlett and that main character is a woman. Well sorry but I need a lot more to not rate this 1/10. ” - Natasha266
57.
Blackhat (2015)
A furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners hunt a high-level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta. (133 mins.)
Director: Michael Mann
“ I keep falling asleep at the Chinese restaurant scene. Compounded with extremely poor lead actors (especially the female one whom I suspect is just an eye-candy element) and a story that's unable to retain my attention, i find myself unable to write a good summary here. I think I may have actually stopped caring what this movie was all about. :) ” - Natasha266
58.
CSI: Cyber (2015 TV Series)
Special agent Avery Ryan works to solve crimes as a CyberPsychologist for the FBI. (44 mins.)
“ Maybe younger me would have been dazzled by this tv-series but am old and more difficult to please. Besides the lead female investigator having a displeasing face and a large upper-body, the rest is just visual & sound effects. Maybe it should have come with an epilepsy warning? Usually when they go big on effects, you know a crucial part will take a hit - Plot development and choice of credible actors.
This new CSI series investigates a cyber crime one at a time and finds the culprit before end of the 42min episode. If you felt insulted by this series then please watch "Untraceable" or "Eagle Eye" to wash your eyes and ears. ” - Natasha266
This new CSI series investigates a cyber crime one at a time and finds the culprit before end of the 42min episode. If you felt insulted by this series then please watch "Untraceable" or "Eagle Eye" to wash your eyes and ears. ” - Natasha266
59.
Mr. Robot (2015 TV Series)
Follows a young computer programmer who suffers from social anxiety disorder and forms connections through hacking. He's recruited by a mysterious anarchist, who calls himself Mr. Robot.(49 mins.)
“ Immediately got a "Fight Club" vibe from it, not the fighting or the agenda but that introduction of a loner stuck in a dead-end job at a security company which works for an evil giant called "E" (not Enron, LOL). And this loner happens to have psychological problems too which will make this series that bit more interesting to watch. I could have done without the drug-taking scenes as this is not my cup of tea.
After just 10min of watching, I felt that the ingredients were right there for a good hacker series so I felt compelled to update my list. Bar any poisoning from toxic feminist/SJW writers, this tv-series is one worth waiting for and watching (on your own). I have no problems with a series being mostly White if this is how the author thought the story through (like when I think of a movie, most of my characters are Indian or Chinese.). Please do not disappoint #MrRobot. ” - Natasha266
After just 10min of watching, I felt that the ingredients were right there for a good hacker series so I felt compelled to update my list. Bar any poisoning from toxic feminist/SJW writers, this tv-series is one worth waiting for and watching (on your own). I have no problems with a series being mostly White if this is how the author thought the story through (like when I think of a movie, most of my characters are Indian or Chinese.). Please do not disappoint #MrRobot. ” - Natasha266
60.
Deep Web (2015 Documentary)
A feature documentary that explores the rise of a new Internet; decentralized, encrypted, dangerous and beyond the law. (90 mins.)
Director: Alex Winter
“ Narrated by Neo (Keanu Reeves). Talks about TOR, etc... ” - Natasha266
61.
Underground: The Julian Assange Story (2012)
A look at the early career of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange.(89 mins.)
Director: Robert Connolly
“ Many thanks to Russell Herrera for suggesting this movie. I will write a sidenote here when I watch it. ” - Natasha266
62.
The Hacker Wars (2014 Documentary)
Ripped from international headlines, The Hacker Wars takes you to the front lines of the high-stakes battle over the fate of the Internet, freedom and privacy. (91 mins.)
Director: Vivien Lesnik Weisman, Vivien Lesnik Weisman
“ I was watching a copy uploaded on Youtube. The linear pace and brash music made this unpalatable to me so at this point in time, I cannot write a snippet. Sorry. ” - Natasha266
63.
The Martian (2015)
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. (144 mins.)
Director: Ridley Scott
“ Adding this here is problematic as this opens a can of worms on what is so "hacking" about this movie? And if "problem solving" is really what this movie is about, then should I add all other space movies because they all went to space, faced a problem and solved it to come back home alive. However it is possible for a movie to belong in multiple lists. In my opinion, The Martian is really about problem solving but with a lot of focus on hardware and biological 'hacking' (e.g. creating the conditions to grow potatoes and scenes leading to hexadecimal and proper communication with NASA.).
Towards the end of the movie, I started reflecting on whether I was being true to my university education and going in the right direction to make my alma-mater proud. ” - Natasha266
Towards the end of the movie, I started reflecting on whether I was being true to my university education and going in the right direction to make my alma-mater proud. ” - Natasha266
0 comments:
Post a Comment