30. Gamer (2009)
Lionsgate Pictures
This movie is a cult favorite of video gamers: it depicts a dystopic future where the minds of state prisoners are computer-linked to the consoles of rich game players. The action is brutally violent, and the concept is over the top. But the computer graphics and special effects will slake the bloodthirst of action fans. The final 10 minutes is an eerie blend of hacking and megalomania: Michael C. Hall lipsynchs Sammy Davis Jr. while mind controlling his zombie soldiers...that scene alone is worth the price of the rental.
29. Disclosure (1994)
Warner Bros.
Disclosure is an excellent film, both for computer hacking and for the thrill of corporate espionage. A brilliant computer scientist gets passed over for a promotion, which goes to a love interest from his past. Michael Douglas and Demi Moore are splendid as this twisted plot of deceit and betrayal keeps audiences riveted for 90 minutes.
28. Swordfish (2001)
Warner Bros.
Over-the-top violence, preposterous situations, sexy women, and outstanding special effects make this a great popcorn rental. No, don't bring your brain to watch this, but if you like techno-thrillers, definitely rent this. John Travolta is the slimy villain, Hugh Jackman is the studly hero hacker, and Halle Berry is the mysterious damsel.
27. Untraceable (2008)
Sony Pictures
Untraceable is a suspenseful B-grade thriller. FBI Agent Marsh needs to stop a serial killer from slaughtering more victims, brutal acts which he broadcasts live on the Internet. Be warned: graphical violence. You'll want to watch a happy Disney movie after this disturbing cat-and-mouse thriller.
26. The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
Columbia Pictures
A very extreme version of "The Sims", this movie is about scientists who create a virtual world where participants plug in and take over a computer character's life. The characters are unaware of their puppet existence, but then a real life murder shakes the foundation of the game.
25. GoldenEye (1995)
MGM Pictures
Pierce Brosnan's 007 entry here revolves around stopping a 'Goldeneye' hacker program and weaponized satellite. Complete with beautiful female computer scientists and expensive stunt scenes, 007 takes on the digital threat using his Walther pistol and slick style.
24. Jurassic Park (1993)
Universal Pictures
This is such an entertaining movie! Even years later, the reptiles can make people jump out of their seats. And Wayne Knight portrays the loathsome hacker who steals the DNA secrets of the Jurassic project... and gets paid for his deceit in blood. Definitely rent this movie for the 5 minutes of hacker scenes, and the 110 minutes of action-adventure fun!
23. The Italian Job (2003)
Paramount Pictures
Modern heist movies always involve some sort of hacking. This particular heist movie is extremely entertaining, especially when the supposed true inventor of "Napster" is the main hacker. At least 20 minutes of hacking footage in this actioner. Definitely worth renting if you haven't seen it.
22. Tron: Legacy (2010)
Walt Disney Pictures
Most hacker movies are about heists or about virtual reality. In this latter case, Disney revisits the iconic world of "The Grid", where computer programs have become living humanoids in a gladiator-type society. While the actual hacker elements are minimal, this cult-classic sequel is a magnificently visual art film with an atmospheric sound score. Tron: Legacy is highly recommended for any fans of the original Tron, and for anyone who loves good CG effects.
21. The Net (1995)
Columbia Pictures
Sandra Bullock plays a software engineer who loses her identity to digital thieves. Filmed during the fanatic years of the then-novel World Wide Web, this film is now cliched. Nevertheless, fans of Sandra Bullock will still enjoy watching this B movie.
20. Revolution OS (2001)
Wonderview Productions
This documentary tells the story about the Linux operating system, and how it forwarded the philosophy of "open source" and free intellectual property. Not an action movie, but definitely interesting for people who want to learn more about why computer culture is the way it is. If you can find a copy of this, definitely rent it.
19. Deja Vu (2006)
Touchstone Pictures
While not exactly a 'hacking' movie, Deja Vu involves sophisticated computer intervention in time travel. Val Kilmer's team of FBI computer geeks adds technical believability to this fantastical story, the terrorism plot is harrowing, and Denzel Washington is always exciting to watch as he rushes to save the explosion victims and the pretty girls.
18. One Point O (2004)
Armada Pictures
Also known as 'Paranoia: 1.0', this film requires you to bring your brain. One Point O is a magnificent art film, and very different from Hollywood movies. An isolated young computer programmer receives mysterious packages, which leads him into a strange world of corporate conspiracy, mind control, and the bizarre lives of his neighbors. Not for impatient viewers, this film is slow, haunting, visually mesmerizing, and intensely meditative... every scene is staged to have its own special flavor. Many viewers recommend watching this film twice to catch all the clever details. If you're in that rare mood for something thought-provoking and deliberate, then definitely rent One Point O.
17. Takedown (2000)
Dimension Films
Also known as 'Track Down', this is the sensationalized story of famous phone phreaker, Kevin Mitnick. This is a definitely a B-grade movie, even a C- grade movie in many people's minds. But this flawed film is also cult classic amongst hackers.
16. Virtuosity (1995)
Paramount Pictures
Virtuosity is an interesting concept movie: the synthesizing of an artificial intelligence based on the minds of serial killers. Alas, the program manages to break free and assume physical form. It's a fantastical premise, yes, but action fans might really enjoy watching Denzel Washington chase down Russel Crowe.
15. The Core (2003)
Paramount Pictures
Disaster movies are not for everyone, but this B-movie is surprisingly entertaining. There are some noteworthy dramatic scenes and compelling themes of self-sacrifice and friendship. The "hack-the-world" segments are only about 10 minutes of the entire movie, but they are comedic segments, and should make geek-lovers smile.
14. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Columbia TriStar
Computer imagery and hacker technology abound throughout this bizarre movie. No connection to the Stephen King story, this B-movie is an exploration of a hypothetical future where scientists can manipulate people's brains with machines and drugs. Like similar stories, the experiment breaks free, and decides to take revenge on the experimenters. While the movie production quality and acting is forgettable, the concept and themes here are strangely haunting.
13. Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)
Warner Bros.
This is the flawed storytelling of how Apple and Microsoft came to be. While this movie got mixed reviews, many people have commented they loved it. Three dollars at your video store, and you can decide for yourself if this was a good film.
12. Antitrust (2001)
MGM Pictures
This movie has some strong points about it. Two idealistic computer whiz kids graduate from Stanford, and one of them enters the world of private sector programming. Sure enough, these two programmers find themselves in the middle of cybercrime scandals. Definitely worth renting for three bucks.
11. Hackers (1995)
United Artists
Don't bring your brain to watch this, either. The story is weak, and the hacking scenes are nowhere near reality. But you have to watch this just to say you did. You'll learn where the iconic names of "Zero Cool" and "Lord Nikon" come from. You'll hear some breakthrough techno music in the soundtrack. Plus: Angelina Jolie is reason enough for most men to rent this cult classic.
10. Foolproof (2003)
Alliance Atlantis
A lower-budget Canadian movie about hobby bank robbers, this was a delightful surprise to many viewers. Ryan Reynolds and his friends "virtually" rob banks for fun, but are blackmailed into doing a heist for real. This is a good action rental.
9. The Conversation (1974)
Paramount
While you won't see computers in this classic film, the theme of surveillance and the violation of people's privacy is so masterfully explored here.
**Related movie: The Conversation was re-imagined as Will Smith's Enemy of the State in 2001. The 2001 treatment of the story was designed as a modern techno thriller, and has some tremendous special effects and satellite surveillance sequences. Having Gene Hackman star with Will Smith makes it worth the price of a DVD rental.
8. The Matrix (1999)
Warner Bros.
This was such a groundbreaking adventure in reality and existentialism. No, you will not learn how to break into a Linux server by watching Trinity port-scanning with "nmap". But this movie is definitely cool, nonetheless.
7. The Score (2001)
Paramount Pictures
Edward Norton and Robert De Niro are fabulous in this heist flick. In a clever plot to rob a Montreal customs house of some royal artifacts, Norton and De Niro must break into the security systems with the help of a socially-awkward hacker who lives in his mother's basement. 10 minutes of hacking, and 100 minutes of phenomenal robbery storytelling!
6. Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
20th Century Fox
Leave it to Bruce Willis to save the world from uber hackers. Macintosh advertising personality, Justin Long, plays the reluctant programmer caught up in an digital terrorism scheme. Like Swordfish, this movie has over-the-top violence and outrageous action sequences, but if you liked the Die Hard series, definitely see this.
5. eXistenZ (1999)
Alliance Atlantis
A David Cronenberg film, this is the creepiest entry in the list. A game designer creates an artificial reality game that plugs directly into people's minds. The line between reality and game then blurs in a violent and gruesome way. This is very much a powerful art film, and not for everyone. Have a Disney movie ready to watch as a chaser after this show. Aptly so: our number 1 choice below is a Disney movie...
4. Wargames (1983)
MGM Pictures
Yes, this movie is very old, but it is still a pivotal film in many viewers' minds. A young man finds a back door into a military computer that is linked to the nuclear defense grid of the United States. A preposterous plot, but a compelling commentary on nuclear war and the destruction of the human race. You have to see this movie just to say you have seen it.
3. Sneakers (1992)
Universal Pictures
While dated, this movie was groundbreaking at the time, and is still charming to this day. The story revolves around two college buddies who take different paths in life. One becomes an ethical hacker, and the other...well, he is not quite so noble. Some great plot twists and comic scenes make this a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon at home.
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Alliance Films
She's a Swedish hacker who types on a Mac and lives with Asperger's Syndrome. She teams up with a journalist to solve a murder-mystery. And she has a dragon tattoo. Based on the Stieg Larsson novels, this film has earned international acclaim, and is likely to be remade in English, perhaps with George Clooney or Brad Pitt in a lead role. Warning: this movie does have graphic sexual content.
1. Tron (1982)
Disney Pictures
A classic! A hacker is transported into the digital universe of "The Grid", and must survive combat as a cyber gladiator in order to stop the villanous Master Control. The imagination behind this movie made big ripples in the science fiction world, and today, Tron is a cult classic that every computer user should see at least once.
