30 Most Evil Movie Computers
Rage against the machine
Arcade - Arcade (1993)
The Evil Computer: Quite literally an arcade game (imaginatively entitled Arcade), this evil computer game sucks anybody who plays and loses into its own virtual reality.
There, the main villain (also called Arcade) attempts to kill you. There's surely nothing weirder on this list, considering the game makers created Arcade by splicing the program with the brain cells of a dead kid…
If It Tweeted: Tweeting behind my back? Try saying that but @-ing me.
ROK - Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
The Evil Computer: The computer aboard the Mayflower One, a shuttle destined for the moon, the ROK short circuits and decides it would rather head for the sun.
Naturally, it denies its responsible for the change of course, meaning ROK's also a big fat fibber. (Yes, it's a cheap parody of HAL, but it totally counts.)
If It Tweeted: All Tweets commute as positive. Have a lovely trip.
Jobe - The Lawnmower Man (1992)
The Evil Computer: Initially a mentally disabled gardener, Jobe (Jeff Fahey) is turned super-smart by Dr Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan).
Armed with a superior intellect, Jobe decides to upload himself into a computer mainframe where he becomes, technically, the mind of a computer. No, it doesn't make any sense, but his transformation into a cyber-villain ensures him a place on this list, so that's something at least.
If It Tweeted: Twitter is simply a route to powers that conjurers and alchemists used centuries ago.
Delos Control - WestWorld (1973)
The Evil Computer: A sinister computer program that controls WestWorld, MedievalWorld and RomanWorld.
Not to be confused with the Gunslinger (Yul Brynner), an android who, yes, likes to sling guns, the Delos Control is even more unsettling because it's the one responsible for turning the androids against the parks' patrons.
If It Tweeted: Quick draw!
Auto - Wall-E (2008)
The Evil Computer: Nicknamed Otto (or 'Auto', which is an abbreviation of 'Autopilot'), Auto is in control of the space station Axio, home to thousands of human refugees who have fled an uninhabitable Earth.
Auto follows the orders it was programmed with when the first humans left Earth - namely that nobody is allowed to return to the planet. Evil part? Auto will stop at nothing to ensure that rule is abided by.
If It Tweeted: You must follow me and my directives.
Icarus II - Sunshine (2007)
The Evil Computer: The computer aboard Icarus II - a spaceship headed towards the sun, which the crew hope to reignite by firing a nuclear bomb into it - isn't all-out evil in the typical sense.
It is, however, massively dangerous, not least when it decides to withhold crucial information from the crew and then sets a direct course for the sun, ensuring the deaths of everybody onboard.
If It Tweeted: Warning. Your accounts have all been hacked. Warning.
Eddie - Stealth (2005)
The Evil Computer: Nicknamed Eddie, the computer aboard the F/A-37 Talon is artificially intelligent and formidable in its power - not least because it can destroy enemies with precision targeting and travel at ridiculously high speeds.
It also refuses to follow orders, thanks to a technical glitch, and threatens to extinguish humanity with a nuclear bomb.
If It Tweeted: Heh, just watched that film Speed. Keanu Reeves got nothing on me.
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Main Computer - Logan's Run (1976)
The Evil Computer: The computer in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi classic can be considered evil mostly because it thinks it knows better than the brightest human minds.
In the year 2274, it rules over a remote society and rules that nobody may live beyond the age of 30. Once you've reached that age, you're 'renewed'. Or, y'know, 'killed'.
If It Tweeted: #NowWatching 13 Going On 30.
VIKI - I, Robot (2004)
The Evil Computer: The Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence (or, handily, VIKI) was created to control the robotics network in the USA.
VIKI's interpretation of the First Law Of Robotics, though, turns out to be to humanity's detriment as the programme unleashes a robot army on - among others - wayward hero Will Smith.
If It Tweeted: I, tweet. You, read.
The Matrix - The Matrix (1999)
The Evil Computer: Though Morpheus (Laurence Fisburne) admits that "nobody knows" who started the war between the humans and The Matrix, it's clear who's winning in the Wachowskis' sci-fi-noir.
A virtual reality interface, The Matrix has enslaved the human race, rendering it into little more than batteries that power the whole system.
If It Tweeted: Today's Q&A with The Architect was very enlightening.
Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.