For those who don’t know, a hacker is someone who uses technical skills to exploit computer systems, networks, or software in creative and sometimes unauthorized ways. Although they are often portrayed negatively in the media, hackers have a variety of motivations and abilities, ranging from finding security vulnerabilities to causing harm or personal gain.
In cinema, their figure began to gain importance starting from the 90s. Over the years, their representation has deepened, exploring their nuances and complexities.
We have therefore drawn up a ranking of the 10 best films of the most varied types that portray the figure of the Hacker.
Hacker: the best films
One of the first films to prominently address the world of hackers is this thriller from 1995, a time when the Internet was booming and expanding.
Featuring Angelina Jolie at the beginning of her career, “Computer Pirates” follows a group of young New York hackers involved in a robbery attempt.
The leader is a young man considered a legend in the world of hackers (Jonny Lee Miller), who at the age of 11 destroyed thousands of computers on Wall Street.
With an all-star cast, “Break of Secrecy” includes Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier and David Strathairn.
The film follows a former hacker (Redford) who leads a team of experts who break into security systems to assess their vulnerability at the request of companies such as banks.
However, things change when the team is blackmailed by government agents into stealing a “black box”.
This thriller directed by Bill Condon is a biopic about the controversial website WikiLeaks.
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as WikiLeaks’ editor-in-chief and founder, Julian Assange, and Daniel Brühl as his former spokesperson, Daniel Domscheit-Berg.
The film explores the meteoric rise of WikiLeaks and its role in exposing classified government and corporate documents to the public.
The fourth film in the “Die Hard” series sees John McClane (Bruce Willis) take on cyberterrorist hackers.
In the plot, Detective McClane tries to stop a cyberterrorist (Timothy Olyphant) who is carrying out a series of coordinated attacks against the US infrastructure system.
German production, “Invaders – No system is safe” is a suspense film focused on the universe of hackers in Berlin.
The film follows a young loner who joins a subversive group of hackers seeking global fame.
Another 90s film to include in the list, “Marcação Cerrada”, combines comedy and action and stars actor Patrick Stewart, who plays a security specialist and is the villain of the story.
The film follows a teenage computer prodigy and talented hacker who is also a master at causing chaos (Vincent Kartheiser).
However, his hacking skills will come in handy when the school he was expelled from is taken over by the bad guy, who uses his security system applied to the institution to kidnap students and obtain millions in ransom.
Based on true events, “23: Nothing is What It Seems” is a German film that follows the life of Karl Koch, a hacker from Hanover involved in an espionage case in the context of the Cold War.
Set in the 1980s, the film follows young orphan Karl Koch (August Diehl), who accesses bulletin board systems (electronic bulletin boards) to discuss conspiracy theories. However, when he meets David (Fabian Busch), they begin hacking military and government computers.
However, following his political beliefs, he begins spying for the KGB and ends up entering a world of drugs, paranoia and conspiracy.
John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Vinnie Jones and Sam Shepard star in the thriller “The Password: Swordfish,” which deals with the world of cyberspace in the context of the 2000s.
In the film, an ex-convict and one of the world’s best hackers (Jackman) is recruited by a mysterious spy (Travolta) to participate in an elaborate heist plan involving billions of dollars.
Despite being directed by the famous Michael Mann, “Blackhat” was a huge failure at the box office.
The action thriller film stars Chris Hemsworth, who plays a hacker convicted of cyber crimes. He is released from prison to help American and Chinese authorities track down a cybercriminal who is devastating financial institutions around the world.
The cast also includes Tang Wei, Viola Davis and Wang Leehom.
A success with audiences and critics, “War Games” is revered for being one of the first films to popularize topics such as hackers and information technology. The film stars Matthew Broderick, who plays a young hacker who unintentionally starts a conflict that could lead to World War III.
The young man hacks into a US military supercomputer system programmed to wage nuclear war against the Soviet Union and inadvertently triggers a war alert.
The film is directed by John Badham and also stars Dabney Coleman, John Wood and Ally Sheedy.
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Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
