The Net

PG-13

1995

1 hr. 52 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

43%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Computer programmer Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock) starts a new freelance gig and, strangely, all her colleagues start dying. Does it have something to do with the mysterious disc she was given? Her suspicions are raised when, during a trip to Mexico, she's seduced by a handsome stranger (Jeremy Northam) intent on locating the same disc. Soon Angela is tangled up in a far-reaching conspiracy that leads to her identity being erased. Can she stop the same thing from happening to her life?

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Critics Consensus

The premise isn't without potential and Sandra Bullock is as likable as ever, but The Net lacks sufficient thrills -- or plausible plot points -- to recommend catching.

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Victor P

A strong suspense thriller and a powerful performance by Sandra Bullock.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

Justin T

This film can only be described as a product of its time. This is one of the most nineties films ever. The made-up computer science, the cast, the cinematography, the sound design, the music etc is all so nineties. This is highly flawed but it is entertaining! It's hard not to compare it to Speed (1994) because of Sandra Bullock but the action and script are vastly inferior. The issues stem so much from the time it was made, the action is not well choreographed or shot. The effects are basic and unconvincing. The pace is slow. The dialogue is pretty awful. It feels like it really wants to be The Fugitive (1993) but fails on every level. It probably has more in common with Beverly Hills Cop (1984) but without the ‘comedy'. Overall it is worth watching for those that enjoy taking themselves back to the past.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/08/23

Full Review

Crazy person O

I love and have always loved The Net. Sandra Bullock is awesome, the anxiety of watching this always gets me, great film!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/23

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Connor A

This film is terrible. Sandra Bullock is really pretty but that doesn't save her from a bland performance. The rest of the lackluster cast is bad aswell, everyone speaks in the same monotone voice. The plot is boring and confusing, I couldn't finish it. Give this one a skip.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

Full Review

Jan P

Many years ago I was at event where no one was talking about movies when abruptly everyone admitted how much they loved this The Net. One person knew the reason why: The main character gets herself out of the mess without aid from a man. If you have never seen Hitchcock's Notorious (1946), watch it and then this one and note all the plot and visual allusions to that excellent earlier film... and how Ingrid Bergman is carried to safety by Cary Grant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Sandra Bullock's hot hacker has to come to terms with the internet's dangers. Director Irwin Winkler's paranoia thriller mystery The Net (1995) feels very dated. However, I still find it quite quaint, especially Sandra Bullock's charming lead actress role. Winkler's direction keeps you alongside Sandra for a cute adventurous feel, while the rest of the film is reaching for paranoia thriller or espionage thriller status. Winkler is fairly apt for the job of creating suspense and getting you to care for Bullock's heroine. I liked all the shadowy shots and vivid colors. The Net is a movie I've always enjoyed and it holds up thanks to Sandra Bullock's delightful acting. Writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris are capable of creating a striking identity theft narrative to create paranoia and suspense over her worries. I think the overly convoluted motivations and backstory get very confusing, even as they explain the villains. I do think all the hacking jargon and computer terminology is all quite silly and convenient for the sake of the plot. All the hacking sequences are fast and complete nonsense, which feels just too ideal. The jokes are still funny, but it's the sharp and touching character writing that sounds sincere. Sandra Bullock is gorgeous, charming, adorable, hilarious, sympathetic, and endearing as ever as The Net's hacker heroine Angela Bennett. She's genuinely lovely and empathetic as Angela. You can see her fear, frustrations, fury, and cleverness with Bullock's subtle expressions. Sandra Bullock is one of the most lovable 1990's actresses and her acting saves and elevates The Net into something fun worth watching. Jeremy Northam is vaguely charming and seems devious as the enigmatic Jack Devlin. His fiendish ways feign charm and lead to devious hacking and personal record changes. Northam is a real creep in The Net. Dennis Miller is friendly and fun as Dr. Alan Champion. Diane Baker is pretty good as the dementia stricken mother Mrs. Bennett. Wendy Gazelle is unsettling as the Ruth Marx double or fake Angela Bennett. Ken Howard is mysterious in the opener as Bergstrom, then shocking with his gunshot reveal. Ray McKinnon is intriguing as Angela's hacker friend Dale, who connects her about a strange new virus on a floppy disk. Gerald Berns is underhanded as CEO Jeff Gregg. Editor Richard Halsey's erratic cutting style can be really sharp one moment when we need to see something, then all over the place when characters are talking. I love how perky the editing feels with strange choices in certain shots. Cinematographer Jack Green uses close-ups of important clues and tech for the audience's clarity. I liked the sweeping wide shots of the watery beaches and pretty cities. The way the camera will suddenly swoop down or zoom in on Sandra Bullock is often pretty creative. I appreciate the camera always focusing on Bullock to really let us feel like we're in her perilous situation with Angela. Production designer J. Dennis Washington makes an industrial, government complex and a cozy home for Sandra Bullock. Art direction from Thomas T. Taylor has a dark and moody look that's very down to Earth. I loved set decorators Anne D. McCulley and Ann Harris' cute props and comfortable furniture in Sandra's quaint abode. Special effects from Dale L. Martin looks pretty neat to me still for ‘95. Visual effects artists David Drzewiecki and George Merkert stuff computer screens with all manner of fuzzed out hacker graphics for a funny visual aesthetic to the hackings. Composer Mark Isham's film score is doing all the heavy lifting here with an eerie atmosphere and mesmerizing melodies. I like how soft and understated the music feels that packs a punch all the same. Sound designers Michael O'Farrell, Rick Kline, and Kevin O'Connell really emphasize keyboard taps, mouse clicks, and electronic voices for a totally ‘95 experience. Costume designer Linda M. Bass' cute grunge looks for Sandra are sexy in a casual wear way. She looks like a regular girl instead of a glamorized Hollywood model. Makeup artists Whitney James and Pamela S. Westmore put some blush on Sandra Bullock, but let her natural pretty features shine with a more subdued aesthetic. Hairstyling from Audrey L. Anzures gives Sandra Bullock pristine hair the entire film that's stunning. It's like her natural dark brunette with a hint of red. In short, The Net is a ton of fun all these years later with a wonderful performance from Sandra Bullock.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

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Irwin Winkler

Director

Sandra Bullock

Angela Bennett

Jeremy Northam

Jack Devlin

Dennis Miller

Dr. Alan Champion

Diane Baker

Mrs. Bennett

Wendy Gazelle

Ruth Marx

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The Net: Official Clip - Virus

2:57

The Net: Official Clip - I Am Angela Bennett

3:02

The Net: Official Clip - It's Finally Over

2:58

The Net: Official Clip - From One Nightmare to the Next

2:59

The Net: Official Clip - Captain America

2:53

The Net: Official Clip - Mozart's Ghost

2:33

The Net: Official Clip - Bob Couldn't Make It

2:29

The Net: Official Clip - An Unsuccessful Getaway

2:57

The Net: Official Clip - Staged Robbery

2:29

The Net: Official Clip - One Of Us

1:45

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The storyline is so convoluted that even the likable Bullock wears out her welcome at the keyboard.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Tom Ryan

The Age (Australia)

While there's suspense aplenty as she pits her computer skills and some old-fashioned ingenuity against the villains, Irwin Winkler's thriller is at best perfunctory in its treatment of character.

Rated: 1/3

Mar 17, 2021

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A thriller without thrills.

Jan 14, 2011

Full Review

Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Despite a vigorous performance from the likeable Bullock, you'll feel like hitting the escape button on The Net in a big hurry.

Rated: 1/5

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

A romp through mid-90s computer paranoia and identity theft seen through the eyes of the overblown Hollywood thriller.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 3, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

Both prescient and utterly ridiculous, this technothriller is a perfect vehicle for Bullock. Bonus points for fitting in both a water AND a carnival set piece, thereby cementing its status as an iconic 90s title

Rated: 4/5

Jan 16, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Computer programmer Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock) starts a new freelance gig and, strangely, all her colleagues start dying. Does it have something to do with the mysterious disc she was given? Her suspicions are raised when, during a trip to Mexico, she's seduced by a handsome stranger (Jeremy Northam) intent on locating the same disc. Soon Angela is tangled up in a far-reaching conspiracy that leads to her identity being erased. Can she stop the same thing from happening to her life?

Director: Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris
Production Co: Winkler Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 26, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.4M
Sound Mix: Surround

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