18 Hacking and Programming Documentary Films

Alex Gibney's film examines Stuxnet, a computer virus created in 2010 by international cybersecurity experts. It's believed the virus was developed by the U.S. And Israel to disrupt Iran's nuclear facilities. But the sophisticated malware unexpectedly spread beyond its intended…

GET LAMP is a documentary by computer historian Jason Scott that explores interactive fiction, also known as text adventures.

In Silicon Valley, where technology thrives and pressure is constant, a story unfolds about the engineers at Netscape Communications. They make a daring attempt to rescue their company. *Code Rush* offers a close look at the intense human drama and…

This film chronicles the intense experiences of video game developers as they bring their creations to life and release them to players worldwide. It’s a story about the process of making video games, fundamentally exploring the act of creative expression…

This film delves into the world of Anonymous, the influential "hacktivist" group that has changed how people protest online. It begins by examining early hacktivist groups like Cult of the Dead Cow and Electronic Disturbance Theater, then follows Anonymous' emergence…

This inspiring documentary follows high school girls from across the globe as they use technology and teamwork to improve their communities. In 2017, the app market will be worth $77 billion, but over 80% of app developers are men. The…

The 1980s saw a global shift with the rise of affordable home computers like the Commodore 64, opening up digital art creation to a wider audience. Moleman 2 explores the demoscene subculture, primarily through the perspectives of Hungarian sceneres, with…

In 1986, Clifford Stoll, an astronomer turned computer scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, discovers a 75-cent discrepancy in the system's accounting records. Suspecting a hacker, he embarks on a quest to identify the person responsible. The film recounts his journey…

David Lightman is a gifted high school student with a knack for hacking. He enjoys trying to access unreleased video games by hacking into computer systems. One day, while exploring this hobby, he accidentally discovers the Defense Department's top-secret war…

Aaron Swartz was a brilliant programmer and advocate for social change. He made significant contributions to online activism and open access to information. However, his efforts led to a complex legal battle, tragically culminating in his death at the age…

TPB AFK is a documentary about three computer enthusiasts who revolutionized media sharing with their website, The Pirate Bay. The film explores how Tiamo, a beer-loving hardware expert; Brokep, an environmentally conscious activist; and Anakata, a paranoid hacker with libertarian…

Modern life is secretly controlled by algorithms – the programs that power everything from online searches and GPS to credit card security and global travel. Mathematician Professor Marcus du Sautoy explains the hidden world of these algorithms. He explores some…

Twenty-five years after the internet's creation, a major controversy has emerged: surveillance. Concerns are growing that governments and corporations are monitoring people's online activity. "Horizon" explores the hackers and scientists developing technology to counter this surveillance. This technology is controversial,…

**The Hacker Wars** is a film about the US government's targeting of hacktivists, activists, and journalists. It explores a conflict for control of information – a war for our minds.

This film explores the Free Kevin movement and the online community of hackers.

DEFCON is the world’s biggest hacking conference, taking place annually in Las Vegas. For its 20th year in 2012, the conference granted unprecedented access to a documentary crew. The film captures four days of the event, showcasing the people –…

Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania, a city of 120,000, is known internationally as Hackerville. In the past year alone, Romanian hackers stole $1 billion from the U.S. Criminals with names like Guccifer and Iceman have been apprehended for hacking into accounts belonging…

A teenage computer whiz's life changes when he's arrested for writing a virus. Banned from computers, he joins forces with new friends to expose a dangerous scheme by a ruthless hacker. They navigate the digital world, using their skills to…