Top 5 Hacker Movies You Don’t Want To Miss

Films focusing on hackers emerged at the twilight of the last century, paralleling the technological boom and uncovering the world of cybercrime. Similar to Martin Scorsese's insightful portrayals of the mafia, these hacker movies shine a light on the faces behind internet crimes.

Anyone might be behind these fictional online personas: it could be a charming young woman, a solitary young man, or even a group of high schoolers. Each has a unique tale to tell, filled with personal struggles and emotions, all driven by diverse motivations.

To truly grasp their essence, we've curated a list of the top 5 hacker movies. Make sure to jot them down and revisit them for a watch later.

Swordfish

A scene from Swordfish. Source – filmaffinity.com

Stanley, renowned as a top-tier hacker, has just been conditionally released early from a major cyberattack case. His life is a struggle; he's barred from even touching a computer, forcing him to live in destitution. He's also a father, but a court order keeps him from seeing his daughter.

Enter Ginger, an aide to a former CIA agent now turned criminal. She arrives at Stanley's doorstep with an offer: $100,000 for a meeting with her boss, Gabriel. Initially resistant, Stanley is swayed by the possibility of regaining custody of his daughter, leading him to accept the meeting.

Gabriel's scheme? To pilfer $9 billion from a covert U.S. government fund. But Stanley's hacking expertise is crucial for the plan's success. Beyond reuniting with his daughter, he's enticed with a $10 million offer. He agrees to join.

Released in 2001, “Swordfish” stars Hugh Jackman, known from “The Prestige,” John Travolta of “Pulp Fiction” fame, and Halle Berry, celebrated for her role in “Catwoman.” The film is a riveting blend of action and impressive special effects, earning a 6.5/10 rating on IMDb.

Sneakers

The central characters of Sneakers. Source – crimereads.com

Martin Bishop, a former hacker turned cybersecurity expert, heads a team adept at uncovering system vulnerabilities. This eclectic team includes:

• Donald Crease, an ex-CIA operative;
• Irwin ‘Whistler' Emery, a blind acoustics specialist;
• Darryl “Mother” Roskow, the go-to technician;
• Carl Arbogast, the team's prodigious and youngest member.

Their routine is upended when CIA agents proposition Martin with a heist to seize a special system crafted for the Russian government. Initially resistant, Martin is coerced into compliance, his identity at stake.

The CIA's offer? Clear Martin's criminal past and hand over $175,000 to the team. With this incentive, Martin assembles his crew, embarking on this clandestine venture.

“Sneakers” weaves a classic heist story, infusing it with a sense of long-standing friendship among the team. It's a mix of humor, witty dialogues, and a gripping storyline.

Debuting in 1992, the film enjoys a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb.

Who Am I

A scene from the Who Am I movie. Source – netflix.com

Benjamin is an introverted young man raised by his grandmother. His father left when Benjamin was just a child, and his mother took her own life. Working as a pizza delivery guy, he keeps to himself and leads a solitary life, with his only passion being computers and hacking.

His life takes a turn after he meets Max, a charismatic, self-assured hacker. Benjamin sees Max as his complete opposite. Max introduces him to his friends, and together they form the hacking group CLAY, an acronym for “Clowns Laugh At You.”

The film's concept might remind viewers of “Fight Club,” with Benjamin as the narrator and Max as Tyler Durden. There's even a frame in the movie featuring a poster of the said film.

“Who Am I” was financed by Netflix and directed by the German filmmaker Baran bo Odar in 2014. It has an IMDb rating of 7.5/10.

The Net

The Net movie poster. Source – plex.tv

Angela Bennett's life is deeply intertwined with her job as a computer service and virus eradication expert at Cathedral Software. Her world is largely confined to her work, with rare visits to her mother.

An online acquaintance reaches out to her with a unique request. He sends her a virus-infected program, seeking her expertise in neutralizing it. In a twist of fate, on the night he plans to visit Angela, he tragically perishes in a plane crash.

The film's core revolves around Angela as she grapples with a radical alteration of her identity, complete with a new name and life story. “The Net” explores the myriad of challenges in the digital age, ranging from personal data theft to the invasion of individual privacy.

Released in 1995, “The Net” holds an IMDb rating of 6.0/10.

Hackers

The central characters from Hackers. Source – rottentomatoes.com

The story begins with Dade Murphy, an 11-year-old computer whiz who disrupts 1,507 systems in a single day, causing a significant dip in the New York Stock Exchange. This audacious act drew police attention, leading to a hefty fine and a restriction from using computers until his 18th birthday.

The narrative then shifts to 1995, in New York City. Here, a now 18-year-old Dade encounters a group of teenage hackers. Together, they engage in various high-tech pranks, from setting off fire alarms to meddling with credit card records and TV network programming.

Their activities soon attracted the attention of a former hacker known as “The Plague.” Intent on executing a complex fraud, he aims to frame Dade and his group for it. Despite the challenge, Dade and his friends refuse to go down without a fight.

The movie not only explores the thrilling aspects of hacking but also delves into the interpersonal dynamics of its young characters. Film critic Roger Ebert particularly highlights this, noting:

The best thing in “Hackers” is the relationship that develops between Dade and Kate (Angelina Jolie), a brusque, self-contained girl who becomes his partner in the online war.

Released in 1995, “Hackers” has earned a 6.2/10 rating on IMDb.