50 Movies Every Geek Should See

April 29, 2010 7:30 AM

I enjoyed the list 50 Books Every Geek Should Read. If you were to compile a similar list, but for video content, what would be on that list?
posted by Otis to Media & Arts (18 answers total)

Geek 101: Wargames.
posted by schmod at 7:48 AM on April 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Mathematical Imagery - Dimensions (legal torrent, or watch online)
Trusted Computing by LAFKON
Symphony of Science series
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:49 AM on April 29, 2010

An oldie but still a favorite - James Burke: Connections
posted by azlondon at 8:01 AM on April 29, 2010 [3 favorites]

Along with Connections, The Day the Universe Changed is awesome. Last time I checked all three Connections and TDTUC were all up on youtube. But it's been awhile since I looked.
posted by khaibit at 8:21 AM on April 29, 2010

Feynman. I can't find it, but there was some biographical video on him that I watched a while back. Really cool stuff.
posted by richyoung at 8:25 AM on April 29, 2010

If we're literally talking, say, the cultural literacy of geekdom, I'd say you're talking about some pretty obvious must-see movies, which you've probably already seen:

Star Wars
2001
Alien(s)
Bladerunner
Terminator
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
War Games (previously mentioned)
Dune
The Fifth Element
Dark City

That list will get you most of the way home.
posted by etc. at 9:17 AM on April 29, 2010

Sneakers
posted by kimota at 9:25 AM on April 29, 2010

Personally I think everyone should watch Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control.
posted by thermogenesis at 9:39 AM on April 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Pi (1998)
posted by Emanuel at 9:46 AM on April 29, 2010

No Maps for These Territories: A long-form interview with William Gibson is a favorite of mine.
posted by extraheavymarcellus at 10:05 AM on April 29, 2010

Good stuff so far, I'm gonna include:

Repo Man
Videodrome
RAW: Maybe Logic
Cube
Comic Book Confidential
Meeting People Is Easy
Moog
posted by dbiedny at 10:45 AM on April 29, 2010

Oh, meant to include The Matrix in my list above. Again, insanely obvious, but I think that rounds out the film equivalent of your Snow Crash, Neuromancer, I Robot books.
posted by etc. at 11:25 AM on April 29, 2010

Real Genius
Pirates of Silicon Valley
TRON
Jurassic Park
Them!

My biases are evident in the last three-- you can't talk intelligently about the evolution of practical and digital effects work without some knowledge of Tron and Jurassic Park, and Them! is the precursor bug-hunt film from which all others came.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 12:08 PM on April 29, 2010

Primer
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 12:39 PM on April 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

For a perspective on a rather different way of life: Grass, which documents the spring migration of 50,000 Bakhtiari and a half million or so animals, circa 1925.
posted by Good Brain at 2:34 PM on April 29, 2010

Don't forget the live lectures of Larry Lessig, especially the ones on technology and copyright - start here.
posted by Ash3000 at 3:33 PM on April 29, 2010

Wow... At a glance I don't see anything from before about 1975 except Them! Let me fix that...

Metropolis
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Forbidden Planet


Newer movies:

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Event 16
posted by thekiltedwonder at 3:25 PM on April 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

existenz
monty python and the holy grail
children of men
starship troopers
posted by dithmer at 12:45 PM on May 2, 2010