Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moody hacker heist has violence, pot, fab femme fatale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wardriver
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Cole (Dane DeHaan) is a WARDRIVER, a hacker who drives around Salt Lake City, finding vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi spots that let him tap into and siphon the payroll operations of local businesses. When the doorman (Mamoudou Athie) at a ritzy restaurant catches Cole in the act, he demands Cole pull off a heist on his behalf: draining the bank account of a mob boss' daughter (Sasha Calle).
Is It Any Good?
Moody, mysterious, and metaphorical, director Rebecca Thomas' thriller blends neo-noir elements with a modern-day crime to expose a timeless emotional vulnerability: loneliness. Cole lives and works alone, his only interactions with an anonymous cybercriminal over a chat on the deep web. His "career" is to find vulnerabilities in online networks that he can exploit for his own gain, but Wardriver's subtle message is that the need for human contact creates a similar exposure that's also easily exploited. Thomas creates a game of cat and mouse with layers of desire and deception many viewers won't see coming, making for an entertaining, albeit not especially meaningful, cinematic experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why heist movies like Wardriver are popular. Is stealing from a large company or a bank a victimless crime? How do these institutions cover their losses?
What does "neo-noir" mean? What is a "femme fatale"? Does Wardriver meet expectations for both? How does it compare to other noir and neo-noir movies you've seen?
What is integrity? Does Cole have this character strength? Why, or why not?
Is drinking or smoking pot glamorized here? Why, or why not? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 20, 2026
- Cast : Dane DeHaan , Sasha Calle , Mamoudou Athie , Jeffrey Donovan
- Director : Rebecca Thomas
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : The Avenue
- Genre : Thriller
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language and some drug use
- Last updated : March 28, 2026
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