There are some movies that seem to be made especially for the nerd community. Even though there are hundreds of types of nerds, divided by areas of interest and social tendencies, these films just seem to speak to geeks across the board. They feature relatable characters in situations most nerds find themselves in or wish they could stumble into. If you're a self-proclaimed nerd and haven't seen one of the movies on this list, you should check it out. If you're trying to woo a nerd, it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of these movies on your DVD rack when your date comes over. You'll definitely earn some brownie points.
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Shaun of the Dead
Many nerds either love zombies, British humor, or British humor making fun of zombies. This film will satisfy any of those categories. Shaun, a guy who's struggling with all the relationships in his life, finds himself in the middle of an uprising of the undead and tries to save himself and his loved ones. Of course, that sounds like the plot of most zombie flicks, but this one takes you through the story with a care-free, comical air that you won't find in just any movie. Hot Fuzz, which is from the same creators, will give you the same kind of laughs, but it's not quite on the same hilarious level as Shaun of the Dead.
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WarGames
This film is nostalgic for any '80s-era nerds or those who like to remember the good old days of computers. Matthew Broderick stars as a hacker who accidentally breaks into a military supercomputer during the Cold War. The computer's purpose is to run through the possible outcomes of a nuclear war, and when Broderick's character simulates one thinking he's playing a game, world war nearly breaks out. Not only does Broderick play an excellent nerd, but the idea that one witty computer genius could change the entire world is enough to make any geek proud.
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Rushmore
Wes Anderson's films have a special place in the hearts of those with big brains and a few neuroses. Rushmore plays on the interests of a wide range of overachievers as it focuses on the exploits of one strange student of Rushmore Academy. Max Fischer is the face of every kid that's smart but doesn't care about his grades. Instead of focusing on his academics, he joins club after club to find what he's really interested in, from the fencing team to stamp collecting club to yearbook staff, because he believes that finding the one thing you really love is what will make you happy. And he's actually already found his true love: his school. Now if that's not something a nerd can relate to, nothing is.
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Pi
If you've ever known an extreme math or science nerd, they probably liked Pi. Not just the number, but the movie. From the strange mind of Darren Aronofsky, Pi deals with an obsessed mathematician (are there any other kind?) who thinks the whole world can be explained in numbers. When he stumbles onto a number that seems to explain everything, from the stock market to religion, he gets into all kinds of trouble and cracks under the pressure. It may serve as a warning for other single-minded nerds out there, or might make them more eager to analyze the strings of digits they find and use them to explain the universe.
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Don't watch this movie with a nerd if you're not prepared for a full-blown quote-along. Every scene contains at least a few ridiculous, well-known lines that you'll remember long after the movie is over. It was made by the British comedy troupe, Monty Python, and loosely (very loosely) follows the legends of King Arthur and his knights. Some of the high points of the film are the Knights Who Say Ni, the killer rabbit, and the Black Knight who continues to fight even after all of his limbs have been cut off. British movies are so unlike those produced by Hollywood that many of them find an eager audience in the U.S. who prefer dry or absurdist humor over corny romantic comedies.
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Weird Science
Anthony Michael Hall was a role model for all geeks growing up in the '80s. He always had a way of showing us that nerds could be kind of cool and that there was more to life than getting shoved into lockers. In this John Hughes film, Hall plays a kid who creates the perfect woman with his friend using his computer. How many of you tried to figure out how to do the same thing after seeing this movie? Their Frankenstein woman can give them anything they want, and she not only gives them her undying devotion, but also sports cars, popularity, and girlfriends. The movie may be a bit campy, but it depicts the ultimate dream scenario for the 14-year-old boy in all of us.
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Almost Famous
When you watch Almost Famous, there are two things you want to do: sing loudly to "Tiny Dancer" and get as close to rock stars as any nerd can by writing for Rolling Stone. The film is based on the adventures of director Cameron Crowe as a teenage writer for the music magazine, and the main character finds himself on the road with a rock band and its groupies. Not only does the dorky 15-year-old manage to get some loving from the hot ladies who hang around the musicians, but he also ends up with a cover story for Rolling Stone. Any music or writing nerd loves to live vicariously through the rock 'n' roll exploits in this movie.
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2001: A Space Odyssey
This film speaks to several different categories of nerd: sci-fi nerd, technology nerd, special effects nerd, etc. Stanley Kubrick's imagined future (which thankfully didn't turn into reality by 2001) shows humans exploring serious mysteries of the universe, battling a supercomputer, and becoming strange space beings. Most of us are fascinated by the idea of HAL 9000, the computer who realizes that the astronauts are planning to turn him off and tries to kill them all as a means of self-preservation. This kind of evil artificial intelligence is a popular theme in some of the best nerd movies.
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Annie Hall
If there was an election for the ruler of all nerds, Woody Allen would certainly be in the running. His films introduce us to all of his neuroses and pet peeves, and you really feel like you're in the head and the life of this guy. Most viewers can either relate to Allen or feel a little bit more normal in comparison, which is never a bad thing. Allen's comedic musings on love and relationships in Annie Hall are the nerd's alternative to romantic comedies and also might provide some useful insight for real-life dating scenarios.
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Brazil
Terry Gilliam is a legendary director among the super-nerdy crews. He directed The Fisher King and 12 Monkeys, but Brazil has a special cult following. It's part sci-fi and part satire in its portrayal of a dystopian society that relies on silly machines and involves too much bureaucratic nonsense. As a member of the comic troupe, Monty Python, Gilliam knows how to find the dark humor in a situation, even one where the wrong man has been killed because of a mechanical malfunction that caused a minor typo. Anyone who enjoys critically thinking about society and government, and likes jokes that involve the two will love this movie.
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