In recent years, technology has changed what was once possible, and what wasn’t. With a myriad of applications of technological marvels, it’s always fun to imagine the way different devices can impact humanity or its future. If you’re a fan of innovation mixed with social commentary, then you definitely have to check out these must-watch tech thrillers. These tech-thrillers have been compiled based on their merit, and availability on Amazon. Have a look!
This four-disc box set includes Blade Runner: Final Cut and Blade Runner 2049, two movies you must-watch if you love tech thrillers. Blade Runner: Final Cut is set in 2019, in a dystopian version of Los Angeles. In this future, the evil Tyrell corporation uses synthetic humans to work in their off-world colonies. However, when a few of these androids escape and return to earth, the protagonist, Rick Deckard, must fight them and save humanity. As the name suggests, this DVD is the movie’s final cut. Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel, with Ryan Gosling playing a Nexus-9 replicant (synthetic human) who uncovers a dark secret that poses a threat to humanity. Will he be able to save the world?
The Matrix is perhaps one of the most iconic tech-thrillers of all time, as it not only presents a believable dystopian society but also comments on man’s crippling addiction to tech and how it blinds them to real life. And this was all before Instagram! The first movie chronicles the journey of Neo, or the Chosen One, as he realises what human existence has come to. In the second movie, Matrix Reloaded, Neo meets the Architect and learns that he is a crucial part of the matrix itself, a way for the machines to account for every possibility. Matrix Revolutions, the final part of the trilogy, offers a conclusion to the war between humans and machines.
The Social Network takes you through Mark Zuckerberg’s journey, starting from ideating to creating one of the biggest social media platforms in the world – Facebook. The movie, directed by David Fincher, also touches lightly on the Winklevoss twins and to what extent one can label an idea as intellectual property. The movie chronicles the sordid details that surround Facebook’s inception, founding, and even investments, painting Zuckerberg as an unsympathetic figure, while also occasionally letting the viewer see the world from his point of view.
The Circle is a tech thriller that highlights the dangers and advantages of social media, making it ideal for those who frequently question the ripple effects of over-sharing. It follows the protagonist, Mae Holland, as she secures a new job at a social media and tech company called The Circle. As she continues to rise in the organisation, she learns of a range of tech innovations that are, on paper, designed to bring value to the lives of the consumers. She eventually becomes a part of an experiment that plays with the boundaries of privacy, personal freedom and ethics. In fact, every decision she makes affects the lives of her loved ones, leading her to question herself. Finally, she must make a decision that’ll jeopardize not only her own privacy and safety but throw the lives of many others into turmoil.