Top Movies and TV Series About the Darknet
Looking for films and shows that dive into the world of the darknet and its subcultures? Here’s a curated list exploring what it’s like to be Anonymous, the story behind The Pirate Bay, the rise of open source, the inner workings of WikiLeaks, and why freedom of speech is often just nominal. These aren’t your typical light evening flicks, but they offer a fascinating look into the underground side of the IT industry.
1) Deep Web (USA, Documentary, 2015)
A documentary exploring the emergence of a new Internet—encrypted, dangerous, and illegal.
KinoPoisk: 6.98
IMDb: 7.00
2) Darknet (Canada, TV Series, 2 Seasons, 2013– )
A mysterious and little-known website called Dark.net offers its users some very strange services. The forum isn’t just for discussion—it’s a place for real maniacs. Topics include how to commit a silent murder, hide a body, or behave during a robbery. The series tells several stories of ordinary people, unconnected except for the terrifying situations they find themselves in after visiting the “Dark.net” website. What’s really happening on this web page?
KinoPoisk: 5.97
IMDb: 7.60
3) Who Am I: No System Is Safe (Germany, Probably the Most Mainstream Film on This Topic, 2014)
Benjamin is a young computer genius who dreams of becoming a comic book superhero and conquering the world. In reality, he’s a nobody—until he meets his complete opposite, the charismatic Max. Refusing to live within the system’s strict rules, they commit a series of daring cybercrimes. Rebelling against an indifferent society, they become icons for a whole generation. Now Benjamin is not just a superhero—he’s the world’s most wanted hacker. But what awaits him after diving into this alternative reality? Who is he, really?
KinoPoisk: 7.43
IMDb: 7.60
4) Mr. Robot (USA, TV Series, 3 Seasons, 2015– )
The story of Elliot, a young programmer with social anxiety, who decides that hacking is the only way he can interact with people. He quickly finds himself at the intersection of his employer—a cybersecurity firm—and underground organizations trying to recruit him to take down the world’s most powerful corporations.
KinoPoisk: 7.8
IMDb: 8.60
P.S. Season 3 premiered on October 11.
5) The Fifth Estate (UK, Belgium, Thriller/Biography, 2013)
This film tells the story of Julian Assange and the WikiLeaks project. Since May 2012, Assange has lived in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he was granted political asylum. What led to this, and who did WikiLeaks and its founder upset so much? “The Fifth Estate” isn’t a documentary, and Assange himself wasn’t inspired by the idea of a film adaptation, but it does answer some questions. It’s a solid movie if you view it as a dramatic interpretation of WikiLeaks’ story. For those seeking more facts and harsh realities, Assange himself recommends the documentary “Mediastan,” made by WikiLeaks journalists and activists as a kind of response to “The Fifth Estate.”
KinoPoisk: 6.57
IMDb: 6.20
6) Hackers (USA, Thriller/Comedy, 1995)
A young hacker, while playing around in commercial networks, does the nearly impossible: he hacks the secret Gibson computer at Ellingson Corporation. He accidentally stumbles upon a money theft scheme disguised as a computer virus that could cause a global environmental disaster. The young hacker and his friends instantly become suspects, pursued by the FBI and the corporation’s top computer expert, “The Plague” (Fisher Stevens). But the young hackers uncover the true, destructive plans of The Plague and unite their skills to launch a massive cyber attack to clear their names and prevent disaster.
KinoPoisk: 6.57
IMDb: 6.20
7) We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (USA, UK, Documentary, 2012)
Another documentary by Brian Knappenberger, made two years before “The Internet’s Own Boy.” As the title suggests, it’s about the phenomenon of online hacktivism, especially the story of Anonymous. Knappenberger traces the roots of the movement, from hacker groups like Cult of the Dead Cow, Electronic Disturbance Theater, and the 4Chan imageboard, to the rise of a full-scale international movement. The film not only analyzes and tells the story of Anonymous, but also covers the most famous and high-profile attacks carried out by the group and their motivations. Interestingly, Knappenberger manages to show the faces behind the Guy Fawkes masks—most of the film’s subjects don’t hide from the camera and personally share what it’s like to be Anonymous.
KinoPoisk: 7.53
IMDb: 7.40
8) Steal This Film (Germany, UK, Documentary Series, 2006)
The “Steal This Film” documentary series, like “TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away from Keyboard,” is dedicated to the fight over intellectual property. The series consists of two parts, plus an early draft of the first part, which includes coverage of the trial of The Pirate Bay administrators. The first part was filmed in Sweden in 2006 and focuses on the history and work of the country’s famous pirate organizations: The Pirate Bay, Piratbyrån, and the Swedish Pirate Party. The second part (“Steal This Film II”) was released in 2007 and is more analytical, examining modern issues of intellectual property, copyright, copyleft, and piracy. All parts of the series are distributed completely free of charge.
IMDb: 6.40
Enjoy watching!