Hacker Cinema

Trends

Some titles stay in Hacker News comments for years. Others surge for a year and disappear. Every number here is a title's share of that year's mentions, with each commenter counted once per title, so HN's growth doesn't skew the comparison.

The yearly top 10

The ten most-mentioned titles of each year, by number of commenters. On average, 13 of each year's top 20 were also in the previous year's top 20, and never fewer than 11. Hover over a line or press Tab to follow one title. 2008 has few mentions, so it's noisier. 2026 runs to August 21.

Rank chart of the ten most-mentioned titles each year, 2008 to 2026123456789102008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026so farLostLostLostThe Dark KnightThe Dark KnightThe Dark KnightThe MatrixThe MatrixThe MatrixThe MatrixThe GodfatherThe GodfatherThe GodfatherIdiocracyIdiocracyIdiocracyIdiocracyOffice SpaceOffice SpaceOffice SpaceStartup.comStartup.comStartup.comFuturamaFuturamaFuturamaThe SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe SimpsonsStar WarsStar WarsStar WarsStar WarsAvatarAvatarThe TerminatorThe TerminatorTitanicTitanicPrimerPrimerSouth ParkSouth ParkStar TrekStar TrekStar TrekThe WireThe WireThe Social NetworkThe Social NetworkInceptionInceptionBlade RunnerBlade RunnerTop GearTop GearMinority ReportMinority ReportGame of ThronesGame of ThronesThe AvengersThe AvengersBreaking BadBreaking BadMad MenMad MenHouse of CardsHouse of CardsStar TrekStar TrekJobsJobsHerHerSilicon ValleySilicon ValleyThe InterviewThe InterviewGravityGravityBlack MirrorBlack MirrorBlack MirrorAliensAliensHackersHackersHackersMr. RobotMr. RobotThe MartianThe MartianArrivalArrivalThe ExpanseThe ExpanseInterstellarInterstellarChernobylChernobylStranger ThingsStranger ThingsSeinfeldSeinfeldDuneDuneFoundationFoundationOppenheimerOppenheimerDuneDuneAndorAndorBlueyBlueyJurassic ParkJurassic ParkJurassic ParkThe OdysseyThe OdysseyThe OdysseyProject Hail MaryProject Hail MaryProject Hail Mary
Show the data as a table
The ten most-mentioned titles each year, with commenters
YearTop 10, most mentioned first
2008Lost (10); The Dark Knight (10); The Matrix (9); The Godfather (9); Idiocracy (8); Office Space (8); Startup.com (8); Futurama (7); The Simpsons (6); Star Wars (5)
2009Avatar (44); The Matrix (21); The Terminator (20); Titanic (18); Primer (17); Star Wars (14); South Park (14); Star Trek (13); The Wire (12); Office Space (12)
2010Avatar (89); The Social Network (57); Inception (51); The Matrix (25); Star Wars (24); Primer (24); The Simpsons (22); Blade Runner (21); The Wire (21); South Park (19)
2011The Social Network (81); Avatar (67); The Matrix (32); Top Gear (26); Star Wars (22); Inception (22); Star Trek (19); The Wire (18); Minority Report (17); South Park (15)
2012Game of Thrones (68); Star Wars (66); Avatar (59); The Avengers (56); Breaking Bad (35); The Social Network (35); The Wire (32); Mad Men (29); Inception (28); The Matrix (26)
2013Breaking Bad (59); Game of Thrones (50); Star Wars (44); The Matrix (44); The Social Network (44); House of Cards (43); Star Trek (32); Jobs (31); The Wire (30); Star Trek (29)
2014Her (56); Game of Thrones (53); The Simpsons (41); Silicon Valley (40); The Interview (37); House of Cards (34); Star Wars (33); Gravity (30); Black Mirror (29); The Matrix (29)
2015Star Wars (80); Game of Thrones (78); Silicon Valley (53); Aliens (52); Black Mirror (50); Hackers (42); Star Trek (38); South Park (36); Breaking Bad (36); The Matrix (33)
2016Black Mirror (116); Star Wars (67); Mr. Robot (58); Silicon Valley (56); The Matrix (51); Game of Thrones (49); House of Cards (41); The Simpsons (39); The Martian (37); Star Trek (32)
2017Black Mirror (118); Star Wars (99); Silicon Valley (88); Game of Thrones (79); Star Trek (55); The Matrix (48); Avatar (45); Arrival (43); Mr. Robot (40); South Park (39)
2018Black Mirror (185); Star Wars (95); Silicon Valley (76); Game of Thrones (56); The Expanse (53); The Simpsons (49); The Matrix (48); Star Trek (46); Blade Runner (41); Interstellar (34)
2019Black Mirror (134); Star Wars (108); Game of Thrones (91); South Park (84); The Matrix (77); Chernobyl (54); Silicon Valley (52); The Avengers (51); Star Trek (46); Stranger Things (43)
2020Star Wars (83); Black Mirror (78); Game of Thrones (71); The Matrix (69); Seinfeld (56); Star Trek (55); The Simpsons (54); Silicon Valley (41); Breaking Bad (40); South Park (38)
2021Star Wars (118); Dune (118); The Matrix (109); Black Mirror (97); The Simpsons (77); The Expanse (74); Foundation (66); Star Trek (65); Idiocracy (57); Game of Thrones (53)
2022Star Wars (202); The Matrix (180); Dune (121); Black Mirror (99); Blade Runner (92); Game of Thrones (89); Seinfeld (81); Hackers (77); Stranger Things (70); Silicon Valley (69)
2023Star Wars (195); Black Mirror (145); Oppenheimer (131); The Matrix (102); Star Trek (99); Seinfeld (99); Avatar (87); Dune (86); Silicon Valley (84); South Park (84)
2024Her (215); Dune (139); The Matrix (133); Star Wars (124); Black Mirror (94); Star Trek (57); The Simpsons (56); Dune (56); Oppenheimer (54); Game of Thrones (51)
2025Black Mirror (128); Star Wars (121); The Matrix (116); Andor (78); Bluey (72); Star Trek (68); Idiocracy (62); South Park (61); Jurassic Park (60); Silicon Valley (48)
2026Star Wars (76); Black Mirror (65); Idiocracy (64); The Odyssey (62); The Matrix (60); Project Hail Mary (46); Jurassic Park (43); Star Trek (41); Hackers (39); The Simpsons (38)

Evergreens

Titles in the top 50 for at least 16 of 19 years. Each sparkline shows a title's share per year from 2008 to 2026, scaled to its own maximum.

Waves

Titles that surged and then faded. The dot marks each title's peak, and “now” compares its average share over the last three years with that peak.

Rising now

Spiking in the last two years, too early to say if they'll fade.

Faded

Newest peak first.

Compare titles

Share of all mentions per year, 2008 to 2026. 2026 runs to August 21. Add up to 5 titles.

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