Y2K Aesthetic Movies & TV Shows
This list is now focusing on the period between 1995 - 2003, called the Y2K Era, in the mid nineties, there was a fear of the impending new millennium and what it would bring, people began to think that once the clock struck 00:00 AM on January 1st 2000, computers wouldn't properly recognize the circuit units and that it would cause an error in the calendar data, this would also lead to a collapse of all digital software, bringing in an impeding doom, this fear mongering also lead to optimism, the optimism was brought forth by the world wide web, this made people think there future was not only bright, but that it was going to be digitally enhanced, hence the aesthetic, The Y2K bug didn't happen, but the aesthetic still carried on for a couple of more years, ending a few years after 9/11, with that little history lesson out of the way, my goal is to highlight both the aesthetic of the films and TV shows and the premise, what I mean by that is that it, has to have some relation to espionage, digital software, futurism or technological optimism. When it comes to the aesthetic it's not essential, but if it doesn't have the correct premise I'm not adding it even if it has a Y2K aesthetic, a lot of these movies and shows I haven't seen and some of them you most certainly won't know. Enjoy PS. I have Pinterest pins showcasing all of the aesthetic of the films and shows I will link it here: https://www.pinterest.ie/zacharysinga1997/my-y2k-aesthetic-movies-tv-shows-imbd-list/
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- DirectorIain SoftleyStarsJonny Lee MillerAngelina JolieJesse BradfordTeenage hackers discover a criminal conspiracy with plans to use a computer virus that will capsize five oil tankers.Haven't seen the film from the trailers it looks ok, I might give it a watch very cheesy stuff though.
- DirectorIrwin WinklerStarsSandra BullockJeremy NorthamDennis MillerWhen Angela Bennett, a computer programmer, stumbles upon government secrets, she finds herself on the run from an unknown enemy hell-bent on destroying her completely.I have seen this but it was ages ago, I remember being majorly bored by it although Sandra Bullocks acting is pretty good. 5/10
- DirectorDominic SenaStarsJohn TravoltaHugh JackmanHalle BerryA covert counter-terrorist unit called Black Cell led by Gabriel Shear wants the money to help finance their war against international terrorism, but it's all locked away. Gabriel brings in convicted hacker Stanley Jobson to help him.I haven't since this film in such a long time, my family owned it on VHS at the time, it was super cool but I wouldn't say it was good. 6/10
- DirectorRobert LongoStarsKeanu ReevesDolph LundgrenDina MeyerA data courier, literally carrying a data package inside his head, must deliver it before he dies from the burden or is killed by the Yakuza.What makes a really cheesy nineties Sci-fi flick, well take a look at this film and you'll see it fits the aesthetic very well but the film is just something else. 3/10
- CreatorDavid MichelVincent Chalvon-DemersayStarsAndrea BakerJennifer HaleKatie GriffinA trio of boy-crazy, fashionista teen girls from Beverly Hills balance their personal and school lives with their work as super-spies.Although I was a young boy when this came out I did watch it, the kid spy trend was in full effect everyone ate it up it also looked very futuristic, the show itself is pretty good, Charlies Angels for the new millennium. 7/10
- DirectorDick LowryStarsKen OlinJoe MortonKate VernonIt's millennium eve. At the stroke of midnight the Y2K computer bug kicks in, causing widespread chaos in the US.Here we have a film about the Y2K bug and man was it cheesy, amped everything up to 11 in this film, outside of that the movie was crap, it does fit in this list though. 3/10
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsStarsJennifer GarnerRon RifkinCarl LumblySydney Bristow is an international spy recruited out of college, trained for espionage and self-defense.This was a show I watched a long time ago, and it was very clichéd even for it's time, although thought it was fun it belongs on this list for it's futuristic gadgets and gears. 7/10
- DirectorMcGStarsCameron DiazDrew BarrymoreLucy LiuThree women, detectives with a mysterious boss, retrieve stolen voice-ID software, using martial arts, tech skills, and sex appeal.Part of the espionage craze of the late 90's and early 2000's for both kids and adults, Angels was good for it's time but hasn't held up too well, too many references and gags that go no where but it fits the list. 5/10
- DirectorKenneth JohnsonStarsKirsten StormsRaven-SymonéBob BancroftAn inquisitive teenager pries into suspected dodgy dealings on her space station home - and ends up being sent down to Earth.This was good when I was little but after re-watching it, it's just another Disney OG but a very Y2K heavy Disney OG. 6/10
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsRobin WilliamsEmbeth DavidtzSam NeillAn android endeavors to become human as he gradually acquires emotions.I actually liked this movie when I was younger, I haven't seen it again but I want to, it fits under future optimism, but I didn't get one of those robots in 2005 the damn liars.
- DirectorKurt WimmerStarsChristian BaleSean BeanEmily WatsonIn an oppressive future where all forms of feeling are illegal, a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system and state.An awesome Matrix style, sci fi action flick an era of Matrix style action flicks, when I saw this the style looked really futuristic and cool plus it has Christian Bale so that's a given success. 7/10
- DirectorJim StenstrumStarsScott InnesJoe AlaskeyBob BergenWhen Scooby and the gang get trapped in a video game created for them, they must fight against the 'Phantom Virus'. To escape the game they must go level by level and defeat the game once and for all.I owned this on VHS and man did the monster scare me half to death, plus I loved the story in this really fun stuff. 7/10
- DirectorAndrew NiccolStarsEthan HawkeUma ThurmanJude LawA genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.I haven't seen this film but I've heard good things about it, from what I saw in the trailers it looks very optimistic which is the core theme of the aesthetic.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.A true classic, do I have to go into why this film led to so many copy cats, and created the trend known as the Matrix Effect, this film has it all and it's one of my all time favorites I'll spoil nothing just go watch it. 8/10
- CreatorThomas RomainManuel ValdiviaChus VallejoStarsSharon MannMirabelle KirklandMatthew GéczyWhen a group of four boarding school students discover a supercomputer housed inside an abandoned factory, they find a virtual world called Lyoko and awaken a sentient multi-agent system virus that tries to take over the real world.A true classic cartoon, I love this show growing up and I never missed an episode on TV, it has a nice blend of 3D and 2D animation. 7/10
- DirectorGeoff MurphyStarsChristopher LambertBeth ToussaintWillie Garson7 years after the original Fortress movie, Brennick along with the rebels are captured and sent to a new, more sophisticated fortress prison, in outer space.Not a bad movie but not good either it was just okay, I'd argue it was insanely cheesy, it had some of the most cheesiest dialogue but it's a switch your brain off and enjoy type of film. 5/10
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsBruce WillisMilla JovovichGary OldmanIn the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.This one was something else I can't score the film because I've only seen parts, but for what I saw it looked really good, I'm going to have to re-watch it at some point.
- DirectorMic RodgersStarsJean-Claude Van DammeBill GoldbergHeidi SchanzThe "universal soldiers" must fight the whole army, when the military's supercomputer S.E.T.H gets out of control.I had a blast with this film seriously this film was a blast, it was mega cheesy with tones of nineties quips and one liners and Van Damme's annoying accent, and Goldberg yes that's Goldberg's terrible acting being showcased with a good villain though. 6/10
- DirectorLee TamahoriStarsPierce BrosnanHalle BerryRosamund PikeJames Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.Back when bond was still super cheesy and not to be taken seriously this movie brings bond into the new millennium, this has Y2K aesthetic all over it but the thing is it's not that good of a movie but it is fun though. 5/10
- DirectorPeter HowittStarsRyan PhillippeTim RobbinsRachael Leigh CookA computer programmer's dream job at a hot Portland-based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti-trust problems.What was with this time, hacking software's and conspiracy thrillers were such huge trend because the Y2K bug, Antitrust goes into it face first I haven't seen the film but from the trailer it has all the clichés of any computer hacking thriller at the time.
- StarsRino RomanoKathleen BarrJim ByrnesSpider-Man travels to Counter-Earth to rescue a Terran shuttle crew trapped there and discovers a tyrannical and warped version of his world.Good show a bit underrated, I used to love the futuristic theme as a child. 6/10
- DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsWesley SnipesStephen DorffKris KristoffersonA half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.Loved these movies as a kid, my parents were a little hell bent on me watching them but I didn't care I watched them anyway and they were great, raver vampires. 7/10
- StarsLee Thompson YoungKerry DuffRyan Sommers BaumAfter spending years in California working as the TV action hero Silverstone, Jett Jackson decides to move the show to his hometown hoping to pursue a more normal life.This show was cool and it even had a really cool movie to send off the series, I haven't seen this in such a long time brilliant show. 7/10
- DirectorCorey YuenStarsShu QiWei ZhaoKaren MokA conflict of interest between two high-kicking assassin sisters is complicated as they're pursued by the criminals who hired them and an equally high-kicking female cop.This film is part of the Matrix effect, although I'm not huge fan of foreign films I checked this one out and boy oh boy it's very Matrix inspired but Hong Kong, good action and easy to follow story. 7/10
- CreatorGeorge Arthur BloomKristin Laskas MartinJoseph KwongStarsChristopher LloydNovie EdwardsAnnick ObonsawinThree kids, Jackie, Matt, Inez, and their bird friend Digit, must save cyberspace from the evil Hacker with the use of strategy and math skills.Yet another cartoon I haven't seen in ages, the show used teach me a good bit about computers so there was that and I used love the animation style when I was a kid. 7/10