What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Net
Film · 1995
If you loved The Net, start with La Femme Nikita (Joel Surnow, 1997) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Net across media.
What hooked you in The Net was the terrifying realization that your digital footprint can be weaponized against your very existence.
Books on the same thread
The Partner
John Grisham · Book · 1998
Shares 2 threads with The Net: Corporate Espionage, Identity Theft.
Much like the protagonist of The Net, the lead in this thriller finds his identity erased and his life upended by a high-stakes corporate conspiracy involving systemic betrayal.
The Pelican Brief
John Grisham · Book · 1992
Shares a thread with The Net: Techno-thriller.
If the relentless manhunt in The Net kept you on edge, you will appreciate this story where a whistleblower uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that threatens her entire life.
The Devil's Code
John Sandford · Book · 2001
Shares 2 threads with The Net: Corporate espionage, Techno-thriller.
Fans of the cyber-espionage found in The Net will enjoy this tale of a computer whiz navigating a treacherous landscape of corporate secrets and complex technological conspiracies.
The Firm
John Grisham · Book · 1991
Explores: Whistleblower, Dangerous Workplace, Moral Corruption.
The Net captures the fear of being trapped by a powerful organization, a theme mirrored here as a lawyer realizes his new firm is a dangerous conspiracy.
Series on the same thread
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with The Net: Techno-thriller.
This series expands on the surveillance state anxieties presented in The Net, pairing a reclusive genius with a field operative to combat powerful, hidden technological threats.
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Explores: Existentialism, Identity Crisis, Technological Singularity.
Those intrigued by the digital identity crisis in The Net will find this series a haunting exploration of how the internet can dissolve one's sense of self.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with The Net: Techno-thriller.
This show echoes the hacking culture and anti-corporate paranoia of The Net, focusing on a programmer who uses his digital skills to expose powerful, shadowy organizational secrets.
La Femme Nikita
Joel Surnow · Series · 1997
Shares a thread with The Net: Conspiracy Thriller.
The feeling of being a pawn in a larger government game, central to The Net, is perfectly captured as this protagonist is forced into a dangerous new life.
Podcasts on the same thread
Darknet Diaries
Podcast
Shares a thread with The Net: cybersecurity.
For a deeper dive into the real-world cybersecurity threats that informed the plot of The Net, this podcast provides chilling, factual accounts of digital crime and privacy.
Kill List
Podcast
Explores: Dark Net, Murder for Hire, Technological Crime.
This investigative series mirrors the dark internet discoveries made in The Net, uncovering how technological crime on the dark web can place innocent people in mortal danger.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Net about a computer systems analyst?
Yes, The Net follows Angela Bennett, a freelance computer systems analyst who specializes in tracking down software viruses. Her professional expertise becomes central to the plot after she discovers a top secret program while debugging a new high-tech game for a friend.
What triggers the conflict in The Net?
The conflict in The Net begins when Angela Bennett accidentally encounters a top secret program while debugging a game. This discovery makes her the target of a mysterious organization that attempts to erase her identity and existence to protect their classified information.
How does Angela Bennett spend her time in The Net?
In The Net, Angela Bennett works as a freelance computer systems analyst during the day. At night, she spends her time connected to the internet, where she chats with other people who are surfing the net.
Why is the organization in The Net trying to erase Angela Bennett?
The mysterious organization in The Net targets Angela Bennett because she comes across a top secret program. They intend to erase her identity and her existence entirely to ensure that the secrets within the program remain protected from exposure.