You’re in the right place if you’re interested in films that feature computer hacking or cybersecurity.
We’ve listed 30 of our favorite movies here to give you a glimpse into digital security and the dangers associated with cyber threats.
Stay One Step Ahead of Cyber Threats
While these movies may not always accurately portray hacking, they’ll entertain and spark curiosity.
Movies about hacking and cybersecurity can introduce you to essential concepts, such as encryption, authentication, social engineering, and the importance of safeguarding sensitive data.
As a result, you may be more inclined to explore the field further, whether by pursuing formal education or self-study.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite hacking movies, in no particular order, that you may be interested in watching.
Best Movies About Hackers and Cybersecurity
1. War Games (1983)
A young hacker accidentally accesses a military supercomputer, almost sparking a global conflict.
2. Sneakers (1992)
A team of security experts is blackmailed into stealing a powerful decryption device.
3. Hackers (1995)
A group of high school hackers uncovers a corporate conspiracy and must prove their innocence.
4. The Matrix (1999)
A computer hacker discovers the true nature of reality and fights against an oppressive system.
5. Swordfish (2001)
A skilled hacker is recruited to help steal billions of dollars from a government slush fund.
6. Takedown (2000)
Based on the true story of Kevin Mitnick, one of the most notorious hackers in U.S. history.
7. The Italian Job (2003)
A team of thieves uses hacking skills to manipulate traffic signals and execute a heist.
8. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
A cyber-terrorist attack on the United States puts an old-school cop and a young hacker together to save the day.
9. Blackhat (2015)
A furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners hunt a high-level cybercrime network.
10. Who Am I (2014)
A young German hacker joins a group of hacktivists and becomes involved in a dangerous game of cyber espionage.
11. The Conversation (1974)
A surveillance expert becomes obsessed with a mysterious recording that puts him in the crosshairs of a dangerous conspiracy.
12. Tron (1982)
A computer programmer is transported into a digital world and must fight for his life against the Master Control Program.
13. 23 (1998)
Based on true events, this film follows the story of a young German hacker who becomes involved in espionage activities during the Cold War.
14. Enemy of the State (1998)
A lawyer becomes the target of a rogue NSA official and a group of assassins after accidentally receiving evidence of a political assassination.
15. The Net (1995)
A computer programmer stumbles upon a conspiracy threatening her life and erasing her identity.
16. Firewall (2006)
A security expert is forced to rob a bank to save his family from a ruthless criminal who’s kidnapped them.
17. Antitrust (2001)
A young programmer uncovers a conspiracy within a powerful technology company and must take action to expose the truth.
18. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
This influential anime film explores a future where cybernetic enhancements and AI are commonplace and a special police unit investigates cybercrime.
19. The Social Network (2010)
The story of the founding of Facebook touches on issues of privacy, security, and intellectual property.
20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009/2011)
A journalist and a skilled hacker work together to solve a decades-old murder mystery.
21. Zero Days (2016)
A documentary that explores the world of cyber warfare, focusing on the Stuxnet worm and its impact on Iranian nuclear facilities.
22. Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
A TV series following a cybersecurity engineer and hacker who becomes involved in an underground hacktivist group attempting to take down the corrupt corporation he works for.
23. Snowden (2016)
A biographical film about Edward Snowden, an NSA contractor who leaked classified information about global surveillance programs.
24. Searching (2018)
A thriller that unfolds entirely on computer screens as a father desperately searches for his missing daughter using her digital footprint.
25. Upgrade (2018)
A technophobic man receives an experimental computer chip implant called STEM, which grants him superhuman abilities but has a hidden agenda.
26. Untraceable (2008)
An FBI cybercrime agent tracks down a serial killer who uses technology to livestream his murders.
27. Eagle Eye (2008)
Two strangers are manipulated by an unknown woman through technology, becoming pawns in a plot to assassinate a political figure.
28. The Circle (2017)
A young woman lands a job at a powerful tech company, only to discover the dark side of its information-sharing policies.
29. Hackerville (2018)
A Romanian-German TV series that follows a cybercrime investigator and a local cop as they hunt for a dangerous hacker.
30. The Great Hack (2019)
A documentary that explores the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the impact of data-driven political campaigns on personal privacy and democracy.
Summary
Watching movies about hacking and cybersecurity can be a valuable starting point for learning about the field.
While not always entirely accurate, these films can introduce essential concepts, spark curiosity, and foster an appreciation for the skills and ethical considerations involved in the profession.
As a result, viewers may be more inclined to explore the field further and take steps to protect their digital assets.
Top 10 Hacker Movies (Video)
"Amateurs hack systems, professionals hack people."
-- Bruce Schneier, a renown computer security professional
