# Hackers

> 1995 American crime film

**Wikidata**: [Q13908](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13908)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hackers

## Summary
Hackers is a 1995 American crime film directed by Iain Softley, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie. The film follows a group of young hackers who uncover a corporate conspiracy and must use their skills to clear their names.

## Key Facts
- Release date: September 15, 1995 (United States)
- Director: Iain Softley
- Writers: Rafael Moreu
- Main cast: Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, Renoly Santiago, Laurence Mason, Lorraine Bracco, Fisher Stevens, Alberta Watson, Penn Jillette, Wendell Pierce
- Production companies: United Artists, Suftley
- Country of origin: United States
- Genre: Crime, thriller, techno-thriller, drama
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Budget: $20,000,000
- IMDb ID: tt0113243
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 33%
- Metacritic score: 46/100
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10 (as of data cutoff)
- Box office: $1,573,479 (domestic opening weekend)
- Box office total: $7,100,000 (domestic)
- Language: English
- Color: Color
- Sound mix: Dolby SR
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
- Film negative format: 35 mm
- Cinematographic process: Spherical
- Printed film format: 35 mm
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 41

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Hackers?**
Hackers follows Dade Murphy (Jonny Lee Miller), a young hacker who moves to New York and joins a group of teenage hackers. They uncover a plot by a corporate security expert to steal millions through a computer virus, and must use their hacking skills to expose the conspiracy and clear their names.

**Who are the main actors in Hackers?**
The film stars Jonny Lee Miller as Dade Murphy, Angelina Jolie as Kate Libby, Jesse Bradford as Joey Pardella, Matthew Lillard as Emmanuel Goldstein, Renoly Santiago as Ramon Sanchez, Laurence Mason as Paul Cook, Lorraine Bracco as Margo, Fisher Stevens as Eugene Belford, Alberta Watson as Lauren Murphy, Penn Jillette as Hal, and Wendell Pierce as S.S. Agent Richard Gill.

**What genre is Hackers?**
Hackers is primarily a crime film with strong elements of techno-thriller and drama. It explores themes of hacking, corporate corruption, and teenage rebellion in the early days of the internet.

**Was Hackers a commercial success?**
No, Hackers was not a commercial success. It had a budget of $20 million but only grossed $7.1 million domestically, making it a box office disappointment. However, it has since gained a cult following.

**What is the cultural significance of Hackers?**
Despite its initial commercial failure, Hackers has become a cult classic and is notable for its early portrayal of hacker culture and the internet. It has influenced later films and TV shows about technology and hacking, and is remembered for its distinctive visual style and soundtrack.

## Why It Matters
Hackers matters as a cultural artifact that captured the zeitgeist of the early internet era and hacker culture. Though not a commercial success upon release, it has become a cult classic that influenced how technology and hacking were portrayed in popular media. The film introduced many viewers to concepts like computer viruses, network security, and the potential dangers of corporate control over technology. Its visual style, featuring neon colors and futuristic computer interfaces, has been widely referenced and parodied. The film also launched the careers of several actors, most notably Angelina Jolie, and remains a nostalgic touchstone for those who came of age during the early days of personal computing and the internet.

## Notable For
- Launching the career of Angelina Jolie in a major film role
- Featuring an early portrayal of hacker culture and internet technology in mainstream cinema
- Developing a cult following despite initial box office failure
- Its distinctive visual style with neon colors and futuristic computer interfaces
- An influential soundtrack featuring electronic and techno music
- Early roles for several actors who became prominent in later years
- Its portrayal of teenage rebellion through technological means
- Being one of the first major films to explore themes of corporate corruption and computer security

## Body

### Production and Development
Hackers was directed by Iain Softley and written by Rafael Moreu. The film was produced by United Artists and Softley's production company Suftley. Principal photography took place in 1995, with the film being released on September 15 of that year. The production had a budget of $20 million, which was considered substantial for a film with relatively unknown leads at the time.

### Cast and Characters
The film features a young ensemble cast led by Jonny Lee Miller as Dade Murphy (also known as "Crash Override"), a skilled hacker who was banned from using computers until his 18th birthday. Angelina Jolie plays Kate Libby (also known as "Acid Burn"), a talented hacker who becomes Dade's rival and love interest. Matthew Lillard portrays Emmanuel Goldstein (also known as "Cereal Killer"), a member of the hacker group. The cast also includes Jesse Bradford as Joey Pardella, Renoly Santiago as Ramon Sanchez (also known as "Phantom Phreak"), and Laurence Mason as Paul Cook (also known as "Lord Nikon").

### Plot Summary
The story follows Dade Murphy, who moves to New York with his mother after being banned from using computers due to a childhood hacking incident. At his new school, he discovers a group of teenage hackers and joins their ranks. When Joey accidentally hacks into a corporate computer system and downloads a portion of a dangerous virus, he draws the attention of both the Secret Service and the virus's creator, Eugene Belford (also known as "The Plague"). The young hackers must work together to expose Belford's scheme to steal millions from the company while clearing their own names.

### Technical Aspects
Hackers was filmed on 35mm film using spherical cinematographic processes, with a theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The film features Dolby SR sound and was printed on 35mm film for theatrical distribution. The visual style is notable for its use of vibrant colors, particularly greens and blues, to represent the digital world. The computer interfaces and hacking sequences were designed to be visually engaging rather than technically accurate, creating a stylized representation of cyberspace.

### Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, Hackers received mixed reviews from critics and was not a commercial success, grossing only $7.1 million against its $20 million budget. However, the film has since developed a significant cult following. It is remembered for its portrayal of early internet culture, its distinctive visual aesthetic, and its soundtrack featuring electronic and techno music from artists like The Prodigy, Underworld, and Orbital. The film has been referenced in numerous later works about technology and hacking, and its influence can be seen in films like The Matrix and TV shows like Mr. Robot.

### Cultural Impact
Hackers has become an important cultural touchstone for those interested in technology, hacking, and internet culture. While the technical aspects of the film are often criticized for their inaccuracy, its portrayal of hacker ethos and the potential dangers of corporate control over technology resonated with audiences. The film's visual style, with its neon colors and futuristic computer interfaces, has been widely referenced in other media. The soundtrack, featuring electronic and techno music, also helped popularize these genres and is considered one of the best film soundtracks of the 1990s.

### Related Works and Connections
The film is connected to the broader genre of techno-thrillers and crime films that explore technology and its implications. It shares thematic elements with later films like The Net (1995), Antitrust (2001), and Swordfish (2001). The film's portrayal of teenage hackers and their subculture has influenced how similar characters are depicted in later media. Matthew Lillard, who plays Emmanuel Goldstein in Hackers, would go on to star in other cult classic films of the 1990s, including Scream (1996).

## References

1. The Movie Database
2. Hackers. Rotten Tomatoes
3. [Source](http://www.zelluloid.de/filme/index.php3?id=925)
4. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/releaseinfo/)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. MusicBrainz
7. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/parentalguide/#certificates)
8. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/technical/)
9. Kinopoisk
10. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/hackers/)
11. Bechdel Test Movie List
12. mymovies.it
13. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/CE8F-BBF4-9F7C-195B-D845-T)
14. Trakt.tv
15. FilmVandaag.nl