1. Who Am I: No System is Safe (2014)

Who Am I: No System is Safe (2014) is a German cyber-thriller that dives deep into the world of hacking, digital anonymity, and the boundaries of friendship and betrayal. Directed by Baran bo Odar, the film revolves around a young and talented hacker, Benjamin (played by Tom Schilling), who forms a group of anonymous hackers with his friends. Their skills and the allure of cyber-fame lead them into dangerous territories, triggering a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game with both the authorities and the criminal underworld.

The film expertly blends suspense, mystery, and tension, playing on themes of idenтιтy and trust in the digital age. As the hackers’ illegal activities escalate, Benjamin finds himself questioning not only the limits of his own skills but also the motivations of those around him.

2. The Hacker Wars (2014)

The Hacker Wars (2014) is a documentary that takes a closer look at the underground world of hacking, focusing on the lives of hackers and digital activists who challenge government surveillance and corporate power. Directed by Vivienne Roumani, the film explores the stories of prominent figures in the hacking community, including the infamous Anonymous collective and key activists such as Aaron Swartz and Jeremy Hammond.

Through interviews, archival footage, and personal accounts, the documentary sheds light on the motivations behind the cyber-attacks, the consequences of hacking, and the blurred lines between digital activism and cybercrime. It also examines the broader political implications of hacking in the modern world and its relationship with issues like privacy, freedom of information, and government overreach.

3. Hacker (2016)

Hacker (2016) is a high-octane thriller that plunges into the underground world of hacking and cybercrime. Directed by Akan Satayev, this film follows a young hacker named Alex Danyliuk (played by Callan McAuliffe) as he uses his exceptional skills to navigate the dangerous world of digital warfare. When Alex and his friends become embroiled in a high-stakes plot involving money laundering and hacking on a global scale, they quickly find themselves in over their heads. With enemies closing in and the authorities H๏τ on their trail, Alex must outsmart everyone to protect himself and his loved ones.

The film explores themes of youth rebellion, the dark web, digital security, and the fine line between ethical hacking and criminal activity. It also highlights the consequences of engaging in cybercrime, as Alex’s journey takes him through a series of dangerous encounters in both the virtual and real world.

4. The Great Hack (2019)

The Great Hack (2019) is a powerful documentary that dives deep into the world of data privacy, political manipulation, and the role social media plays in shaping global events. Directed by Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, the film takes a close look at the controversial events surrounding Cambridge Analytica and how personal data was weaponized in political campaigns, most notably during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and Brexit.

The documentary follows key individuals, such as whistleblower Brittany Kaiser, who worked with Cambridge Analytica, as they expose the ways in which personal data was harvested and used to influence voter behavior. Through interviews and investigative reporting, The Great Hack shines a light on the consequences of data exploitation and the manipulation of public opinion in the digital age.

5. Open Windows (2014)

Open Windows (2014) is a high-concept techno-thriller directed by Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo. The film takes place entirely through the interface of a computer screen, using real-time video feeds, windows, and surveillance software to unravel a tense narrative of hacking, voyeurism, and digital manipulation.

The story centers on Nick Chambers (played by Elijah Wood), a devoted fan who wins an online contest to meet his favorite actress, Jill Goddard (Sasha Grey). But when the meeting is abruptly canceled, Nick is contacted by a mysterious hacker who offers him the chance to spy on Jill through her laptop and surveillance systems. What begins as pᴀssive observation soon spirals into a dangerous game involving blackmail, abduction, and cyber warfare, as Nick finds himself trapped in a web of deceit controlled by an unseen puppet master.

The film cleverly explores the blurred lines between reality and the digital world, using its unique format to immerse viewers in a nonstop cyber-thriller experience.

6. Firewall (2006)

Firewall is a high-stakes techno-thriller that stars Harrison Ford as Jack Stanfield, a veteran bank security executive who specializes in designing impenetrable systems. Set in a world increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime, the movie dives into a chilling scenario where the very system Jack built is turned against him.

When a ruthless criminal mastermind, played by Paul Bettany, takes Jack’s wife and children hostage, he is forced into a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly game of cyber-heist. The criminals demand that Jack use his skills to bypᴀss the security systems of the bank he works for and siphon $100 million into their offshore accounts. Jack must outsmart his adversaries, stay ahead of law enforcement suspicion, and use both old-school ingenuity and modern tech to save his family and protect everything he stands for.

A tense blend of family drama and technological suspense, Firewall explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the terrifying reality of how our connected world can be turned against us.

PH๏τOGRAPHS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, PUBLICITY OR REVIEWS OF THIS SPECIFIC MOTION PICTURE AND TO REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE STUDIO. NOT FOR SALE OR REDISTRIBUTION

7. Blackhat (2015)

8. Swordfish (2001)

9. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

10. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

11. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

12. Untraceable (2008)

13. Eagle Eye (2008)

14. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

15. TRON: Legacy (2010)

16. Snowden (2016)

17. The Fifth Estate (2013)

18. Algorithm (2014)

19. Anon (2018)

20. The Circle (2017)

21. Ghost in the Shell (2017)

22. Searching (2018)

23. Cam (2018)

24. Zero Days (2016)

25. Deep Web (2015)

26. Mr. Robot (TV movie/pilot) (2015)

27. Disconnect (2012)

28. Reboot (2012)

29. Cyberbully (2011)

30. The Code (2011)

31. iBoy (2017)

32. The Signal (2014)

33. Tai Chi Zero (2012)

34. The Den (2013)

35. Chatroom (2010)

36. Ratter (2015)

37. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009)

38. Panopticon (2012)

39. Men, Women & Children (2014)

40. Perfect Blue (2000)

41. The Social Network (2010)

42. Hard Candy (2005)

43. Kill Chain (2020)

44. The Imitation Game (2014)

45. The Internet’s Own Boy (2014)

46. We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012)

47. Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013)

48. The Cleaners (2018)

49. Coded Bias (2020)

50. Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021)

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.