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The Net
1995 114 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★6.0
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Action
Director: Irwin Winkler
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Angela Bennett is a freelance computer systems analyst who tracks down software viruses. At night she hooks up to the internet and chats to others 'surfing the net'. While de-bugging a new high-tech game for a cyber friend, she comes across a top secret program and becomes the target of a mysterious organization who will stop at nothing to erase her identity and her existence, in order to protect the project.
Budget:
$22M
US Gross:
$50.73M
Worldwide:
$110.63M
Starring
Sandra Bullock
Actor
Jeremy Northam
Actor
Dennis Miller
Actor
Awards
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1996
— Most Desirable Woman
Key opinion
The Net is widely regarded as a competent and surprisingly prophetic thriller that successfully leverages 1990s anxieties about digital surveillance and identity theft. While the technology and specific hacking depictions are now dated, the film remains engaging due to its pace and the compelling performance of Sandra Bullock.
| Theme | The film's exploration of digital surveillance, identity theft, and data manipulation has proven highly prophetic and remains relevant in the modern era. | |
| Acting | Sandra Bullock delivers a convincing and anchoring performance that effectively carries the narrative, even if some critics questioned her range. | |
| Pacing | The plot maintains a dynamic, tense, and progressive momentum that keeps the audience engaged throughout the duration of the film. | |
| Screenplay | The film displays a clear divide in technical execution: some viewers appreciate its grounded approach compared to other hacking movies, while others criticize its implausible depictions of government and banking systems. | |
| Production | The film's visual presentation is divisive; some value its 1995 aesthetic as a nostalgic and chilling portrait of the "virtual dawn," while others find the reliance on outdated hardware and interfaces distracting. |