5 Sci-Films About Digital [or Computer] Technology That Have Aged Terribly

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Using technology as a major plot point in a movie is always a bit of a risk. Films are naturally limited by the technology available when they’re made, but they often try to portray technology that‘s ahead of its time. Looking back, these futuristic visions often seem outdated, and sometimes even funny. The films below are good examples of this. They aren’t necessarily *bad* movies, but the technology they showcase now feels ironic. Instead of being amazed by these digital worlds, modern viewers are more likely to be pulled out of the story by how the technology looks today.

Occasionally, a film manages to make its technological inconsistencies work – like *Alien*, where the callous Weyland-Yutani corporation would realistically equip the Nostromo with outdated technology. This actually enhances the feeling of isolation for the crew. However, other films haven’t aged so well. Decades later, their attempts at futuristic tech just come across as laughable.

5) WarGames

Even today, *WarGames* remains enjoyable thanks to its story, ideas, and performances. However, the technology depicted in the film isn’t realistic enough to actually do what’s shown.

Okay, so let’s talk about the premise of this movie. It asks us to believe that Matthew Broderick’s character, David Lightman, can basically stumble his way into controlling the US nuclear arsenal. He does this by, get this, randomly dialing phone numbers and *guessing* a single password on this old computer he has. Now, even back then, and *especially* today, the idea that a system controlling nuclear weapons would be protected by such a flimsy security setup just doesn’t pass the sniff test. It feels incredibly contrived, even for a thriller.

Stream WarGames on fuboTV.

4) Hackers

Angelina Jolie sees *Hackers* as the film that truly launched her career, and it remains a fun, visually appealing trip down memory lane. However, those actually involved in the hacking world back in the mid-90s found its portrayal of hacking to be inaccurate, and that hasn’t changed over time.

Okay, so this movie is seriously stuck in the ’90s! It’s hilarious because the ‘hacking’ is so over-the-top – like, someone just mashes a single key to break into any system. And there’s this one scene where a character is completely amazed by a 28.8 modem… it’s just so wonderfully retro and cheesy, but I love it!

Stream Hackers on Cinemax Prime Video channel.

3) Johnny Mnemonic

Despite being a strange and overlooked cyberpunk film, *Johnny Mnemonic* was always likely to struggle with mainstream audiences, especially compared to *The Matrix*, which came out four years later. A major problem was that Sony forced extensive re-editing, trying to turn it into a simple action movie after the huge success of *Speed*.

Even if the movie hadn’t changed its initially sarcastic tone, the virtual reality scenes would still feel outdated. They now appear as primitive graphics, like something from an early PlayStation 2 game, within a somewhat ridiculous post-apocalyptic story that culminates in a dolphin decoding valuable data.

2) Tron

Even after 15 years, *Tron: Legacy* remains visually stunning. The original *Tron* from 1982 hasn’t aged as well. Its older effects might even seem strange or off-putting to viewers unfamiliar with it.

Despite its flaws, many who saw the film when they were younger still appreciate its visual style. It doesn’t depict a futuristic, high-tech world, but rather an ’80s one – and it captures that era’s look quite well.

Stream Tron on Disney+.

1) The Lawnmower Man

This movie, based on a Stephen King story, strayed so far from the original that King actually sued to have his name removed from the advertising. The film focuses on virtual reality, but the visual effects now look incredibly low-budget – far cheaper than even a free VR game you might find on a basic headset.

Released a year before *Jurassic Park*, *The Lawnmower Man* shares a reputation for questionable technology. While the scene in *Jurassic Park* where Lex hacks the security system with UNIX was actually realistic for the Silicon Graphics computers of the time, *The Lawnmower Man* is filled with unbelievable tech from beginning to end.

Stream The Lawnmower Man on Prime Video.

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2025-10-12 23:40