2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Not strictly a computer nerd movie on the surface, but included here because of the staggering influence that the ship’s psychotic computer HAL still commands among the techie community. Claims that the computer’s initials were chosen because (alphabetically speaking) HAL was “one better” than IBM may be unsubstantiated, but any geek worth his salt has, at some point, got their computer to call them Dave and quite probably sing to them: “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I can feel my mind going, Dave, I can feel it"

Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive