Techno or Technology Thriller films tend to cover multiple areas including Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Robotics, Hacking, Biotech, and more. The Techno Thriller subgenre gained in popularity as computers and computing devices became more prevalent in our lives. While this subgenre has some crossover with Sci-fi subgenres like Biotech and Robots, the Techno Thriller subgenre generally utilizes technology as the core for a Thriller, Mystery or Action film.
In the 1970’s, Techno Thrillers started to gain prominence with Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), THX 1138 (1971), and Westworld (1973). The 1980’s saw even more Techno Thrillers released as the PC became a standard device in homes. Some of the more prominent 1980’s Techno Thrillers include Firefox (1982), Videodrome (1983), WarGames (1983), The Fly (1986), and RoboCop (1987).
The 1990’s is where Techno Thrillers started to branch from Computers and Robotics to include other technologies including VR (Virtual Reality), Hacking, Cloning and HCI (Human Computer Interaction). Films that featured these technologies include Total Recall (1990), The Lawnmower Man (19982), Sneakers (1992), Jurassic Park (1993), Strange Days (1995), Contact (1997), and The Matrix (1999).
The 2000’s saw the floodgates open as Techno Thrillers became one of the most popular film subgenres. This decade saw even more technology driven thrillers with subgenre classics including The Cell (2000), I, Robot (2004), Sunshine (2007), and Daybreakers (2009). Other notable films from this decade included Swordfish (2001), The Core (2003), Paycheck (2003), The Final Cut (2004), The Island (2005), A Scanner Darkly (2006), and Sleep Dealer (2008).
With smartphones now part of everyday life and technologies such as hacking and biotech part of everyday tech culture, the 2010’s saw Techno Thrillers become a staple of Hollywood films. This decade produced more Techno Thrillers than the previous two decades combined. Classics from this decade include Inception (2010), Source Code (2011), Ex Machina (2015), Jurassic World (2015), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Ready Player One (2018), and Tenet (2020). Prominent releases of this decade include Repo Men (2010), Limitless (2011), Total Recall (2012), Elysium (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013), The Signal (2014), Who Am I (2014), Passengers (2016), Searching (2018), and Gemini Man (2019).
Our list of Techno Thriller Films includes over 220+ films that cover most areas of technology in this subgenre. Below is an overall list of Top Techno Thriller Films You Haven’t Seen with the following honorable mentions: Holocaust 2000 (1977), Dreamscape (1984), Ghost in the Machine (1993), Screamers (1995), Antitrust (2001), One Point O (2004), Time Lapse (2014), Automata (2014), Nerve (2016), Mute (2018), The Hummingbird Project (2019), and I Am Mother (2019).
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Techno Thriller Films You Haven’t Seen (Part 1) and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Plot: Supercomputers take over control of nuclear weapons.
KBZ’s Take: One of the first (and best) films to warn of the dangers of computers taking control of a nation’s defensive weaponry. A decade later, WarGames (1983) explored a similar concept and you’ll see elements of Colossus in the more popular 1980’s film.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RgnSPb
#9
Runaway
Plot: In the near future, a police officer tracks down a killer who is programming homicidal robots.
KBZ’s Take: A forgotten 80’s film that was close to being a classic of the subgenre. Though dated by today’s standards, Runaway explored a society where robots are part of everyday life. While the serious science fiction mixed with 80’s camp doesn’t always work, nobody will forget the ‘personalized robotic bullets’ from Gene Simmons’ villain.
Additional Lists: Top Films About Robots You Haven’t Seen #5
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RfFsTz
Plot: A UK-based commander of a drone program faces ethical and political issues during a top secret operation.
KBZ’s Take: Eye in the Sky and Good Kill (2015) are the two best films that deal with drone warfare. While the latter focus on the emotional aspect of a drone pilot, the former (and better) film explores the political and ethical aspects of an impending drone strike. Helen Mirren gives an emotionally charged performance as the commander dealing with the pending strike and Aaron Paul excels as the drone pilot struggling with a sudden ethical dilemma.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y4p9uO
#7
Silk Road
Plot: True story of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht and the corrupt DEA agent tasked with bringing him down.
KBZ’s Take: Silk Road is a somewhat standard cybercrime thriller that’s elevated by the performances of its two leads – Jason Clarke as DEA Agent Rock Bowden and Nick Robinson as Ross Ulbricht. While many people might not know what the Silk Road is, this film helps explain how the ‘eBay of the dark web’ created the market for illegal drugs over the internet.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y5CpPW
#6
Strange Days
Plot: Set in a futuristic 1999, An ex-cop receives a disc containing the memory of murder.
KBZ’s Take: This film defines what the Techno Thriller subgenre is all about. It balances technology (in the form of futuristic Human Computer Interaction (HCI)) along with a murder mystery/thriller where clues are revealed as the story progresses. The technology is explained well and never overpowers the narrative – in fact, it’s central to the protagonist’s weakness that builds to the film’s final act reveal. Though it had a major theater release, it’s still a somewhat forgotten film of the 1990’s that shouldn’t be missed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HnMzEI
#5
Who Am I
Plot: A young computer whiz joins a hacker group.
KBZ’s Take: This German film is the best film to date about Hacking – sorry Hackers (1995) and Sneakers (1992). While any technology film must explain the basics for the average movie goer, Who Am I does this in innovative ways that adds to the fast paced and thrilling narrative. Not a film to be missed and a must-see for any fans of the Techno Thriller subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/80211749
Plot: The story about the rivalry between the founders of Apple and Microsoft.
KBZ’s Take: This film used to be hard to find though it now appears on some streaming sites. This film covers the rivalry between Bill Gates (Anthony Michael Hall) and Steve Jobs (Noah Wyle) and how both companies became the tech titans they are today. For any technology fan, this is a must-see film and well worth your time.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://archive.org/details/PIRATESOFSILICONVALLEY
#3
Cypher
Plot: A man works as a spy in the world of corporate espionage.
KBZ’s Take: This is the film that the Keanu Reeves-starring Johnny Mnemonic (1995) should have been. Jeremy Northam excels in his role as a disillusioned and confused man who slowly understands what is going on at the same time as the the viewer. This is one of the better direct to video releases you’ll find and has found a new life on streaming services. Make sure to check it out!
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XRoblX
#2
Anon
Plot: In a futuristic world, a detective tracks a woman who has no identity.
KBZ’s Take: This film is #1 on our Top Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Films You Haven’t Seen Yet article and #2 for our list here. One of the only films that shows how Augmented Reality technology can be abused in a connected world. While the film shows a future world where privacy is a thing of the past, it excels in showing the havoc a hacker could cause by ‘hacking’ into an individual’s’ AR view and messing with their mind. No film has done a better job of showing the perils of an ‘always on and connected’ AR experience that’s closer to reality than one might think. Writer/Director Andrew Niccol has always been ahead of the curve with his films on emerging technology and Anon is his best film after Gattaca (1997) and In Time (2011).
Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/80195964
#1
Upgrade
Plot: A paralyzed man receives an AI brain implant that starts to take over his life.
KBZ’s Take: If you still have not seen this film, do not read anything about it and go watch it now. We’ll wait! This is by far the best film that quite a few people haven’t seen. Though it had a limited theater release, Upgrade is a prime example of how great films in the Techno Thriller can be. Upgrade has everything in it from the ethics of AI to a future noir mystery thriller. Oh, and it can be a bit gory too. But don’t let that stop you from seeing one of the best films of 2018 and the one of the best Techno Thriller Films out there.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DtoZVX
