If you like documentaries and real-life stories, cybersecurity and cybercrime have a lot to offer to the genre. Here, you will find a collection of themed documentaries that will not disappoint you.
We are legion (2012) – About the hacker collective of Anonymous.
Citizenfour (2014) – about Edward Snowden.
The Great Hack (2019) – about Cambridge Analytica and data exploitation.
Zero Days (2016) – deep dive into Stuxnet and state-level cyberwarfare.
Hackers Wanted (2010, unreleased/leaked) – Narrated by Kevin Spacey, it focuses on Adrian Lamo (“the homeless hacker”) and hacker culture.
DEFCON: The Documentary (2013) – An insider’s look at the world’s largest hacker conference in Las Vegas.
Hackers Are People Too (2008) – A short indie film that humanizes hackers, moving beyond the “criminal” stereotype.
The Hacker Wars (2014) – Explores Anonymous, hacktivism, and figures like Barrett Brown and Jeremy Hammond.
About surveillance and privacy
Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013) – About how much personal data companies and governments collect.
The Internet’s Own Boy (2014) – A powerful portrait of Aaron Swartz, founder of Reddit.
Do You Trust This Computer? (2018) – Examines AI, surveillance, and automation risks (produced by Elon Musk).
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (2011, BBC, Adam Curtis) – About connected systems.
About cybercrime and the digital underworld
Inside the Dark Web (2014, BBC) – Investigates darknet markets.
Dark Net (2016–2017, Showtime series) – Covers cybercrime, biohacking, surveillance, and online extremism.
Crime + Punishment in Suburbia: Hackerville (2018, HBO) – Fiction/doc blend about Romanian hackers.
About broader tech and society
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016, Werner Herzog) – A philosophical look at the Internet’s origins and future.
Plug & Pray (2010) – This documentary focuses on AI and robotics, but it ties strongly with broader and modern cyber concerns.
The Social Dilemma (2020) – On social media manipulation, algorithms, and disinformation.
TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away from Keyboard (2013) – Story of the Pirate Bay founders.
Enjoy!