Watch The Net

In the mid-1990s, the World Wide Web was just beginning to take hold across the globe. The Net, a suspenseful thriller from 1995, captures this transformative moment in history, exploring the darker side of the internet and the dangers of becoming too reliant on technology. Starring Sandra Bullock in a career-defining role, The Net is a high-stakes tale of one woman's fight for survival against forces that are both invisible and all-pervasive.

The plot of The Net centers on Angela Bennett (Bullock), a reclusive computer programmer who spends most of her time working from home. Angela is an expert at finding and fixing glitches in code, and she has earned a reputation among her peers as one of the best in the business. However, she is also somewhat socially isolated and has few close friends or family members.

One day, a colleague sends Angela a floppy disk containing a mysterious program that she is asked to debug. Once she begins working on the disk, Angela discovers that it contains a dangerous virus capable of wreaking havoc on vulnerable networks. However, before she can alert anyone, she is attacked by a group of cybercriminals who believe she has stumbled upon their scheme.

In the chaotic aftermath of the attack, Angela's laptop and identity are stolen, leaving her stranded and alone. She soon realizes that her entire life has been erased from the digital landscape, and she is forced to go on the run to clear her name and regain control of her identity.

As she tries to untangle the web of lies and deceit surrounding her, Angela must contend with a host of adversaries both online and off. The leader of the cybercriminals, played with suave menace by Jeremy Northam, is determined to keep Angela from revealing his scheme to the authorities. Meanwhile, a series of shadowy government agents, led by Dennis Miller's gruff and skeptical character, are also hot on her trail, convinced that she is responsible for a series of high-profile cybercrimes.

Despite her initial reluctance to engage with the outside world, Angela soon realizes that she needs help if she is to survive. She forms an uneasy alliance with a sympathetic hacker named Jack, played by the charismatic Michael Gaston, who helps her uncover the truth about the conspiracy she has stumbled upon.

As Angela and Jack race against time to outsmart their pursuers and expose the truth, they must contend with increasingly sophisticated forms of technological surveillance and manipulation. The action culminates in a heart-pounding finale that takes place on a remote island off the coast of Mexico, as Angela and her allies face off against their adversaries in a final showdown.

With its propulsive storyline and slick, cinematic visuals, The Net is a gripping thriller that has aged remarkably well in the years since its release. The film's themes of technological paranoia and personal identity resonate just as powerfully today as they did when it first hit theaters, and it remains a standout example of the kind of cyber-thriller that was so popular in the 1990s.

In addition to Bullock's breakthrough performance, the film features strong supporting turns from Northam, Miller, and the rest of the cast. The Net also benefits from strong direction by Irwin Winkler and a script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris that manages to balance suspense, intrigue, and social commentary in equal measure.

Overall, The Net is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of the internet and its impact on modern society. It's a fast-paced and entertaining ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its pulse-pounding finale.

The Net is a 1995 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 51.