FILM · 2015 · USA
Blackhat
21 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (21)
- #001
The film's plot was inspired by the Stuxnet case, a computer worm designed to attack industrial programmable logic controllers. Discovered in 2010, Stuxnet devastated nearly one-fifth of Iran's nuclear facilities, and its source could not be officially identified. It was later determined that the operation was carried out by Unit 8200, the Israeli military's equivalent of the NSA.
- #002
Hackers served as consultants on set during filming.
- #003
Composer Harry Gregson-Williams wrote that although he is credited on screen, most of the music in Blackhat (2015) is not his. He expressed his frustration on Facebook right after the premiere, where he first discovered that director Michael Mann had used only a small portion of his original score. In the post, since deleted, he wrote: "I would like it to be known that the 'score' of Blackhat may be attributed to me, but contains almost none of my compositions. At the end of last week I attended the premiere of the film and to my horror discovered music that shocked and surprised me… half-emotional (synth) string pieces I had never heard before in my life. I knew at least one other composer, a good(!) one, had worked on this film for months just like me, but this appeared to me to be in addition to both our contributions; other than the fact that I am not the author of most of what is currently in the film, I can say nothing with certainty." Much of Gregson-Williams's work was replaced with compositions by Atticus Ross and Leopold Ross. In addition, five themes originally composed by Ryan Amon for the Elysium (2013) score were reused in Blackhat (2015).
- #004
Michael Mann donated HK$300,000 (US$38,500) to the Hong Kong Community Chest on behalf of Hang Seng Bank to thank the bank for allowing him to film in its lobby area for five evenings.
- #005
Adjusted for inflation, Blackhat (2015) is Michael Mann's lowest-grossing theatrical film in the United States.
- #006
The title "Blackhat" refers to the term describing a villain (named after the practice of villains in Western films wearing black hats). During hacking, a black hat hacker commits cybercrimes for malicious intent or personal gain.
- #007
Michael Mann finalized the theatrical version, but continued working on the film after its release. In February 2016, Mann presented an alternative Director's Cut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which hosted screenings of his work. According to reports, the new version added some material, removed some material, placed some key scenes in a different order and used some alternate footage, though the film still told the same story. Mann reportedly took notes while watching his new version with the audience, so this was probably not his final version. It is unknown whether and when a new cut will be released.
- #008
It is the first Michael Mann film shot entirely in digital format. Collateral (2004), Miami Vice (2006) and Public Enemies (2009) were mostly shot with digital cameras but also had certain sequences shot on 35mm film.
- #009
The thrilling scene of the annual Bali Nyepi Day celebrations used 3,000 extras.
- #010
It is the first Michael Mann film shot with anamorphic lenses since Heat (1995).
- #011
Following disappointing US box office results, Universal Pictures International chose not to release the film in Australian cinemas on 25 February 2015 as originally planned, instead releasing it directly on DVD/BluRay. It also went straight to DVD/BluRay in Belgium and other markets.
- #012
It is the first Hollywood film for Wei Tang and Leehom Wang. They had previously appeared together eight years earlier in Lust, Caution (2007).
- #013
In one of the code analysis scenes, there is something on the right side of the computer screen that at first appears to be meaningless words. However, the words are written backwards and read: "What to do or not to do, but she is afraid of crossing her legs or pressing her legs together. She sits with her gloved hands supported on either side of her armchair." This is actually a quote from the 1954 book Story of O, or Histoire D, written by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage. The novel, which contains BDSM themes, was inspired by the works of Marquis De Sade.
- #014
All the hacking terms and procedures used in the film were taken from real life.
- #015
A wide range of digital cameras, including small consumer cameras, were used during production to create rich and varied textures. The subtle variations in resolution and look can only be fully appreciated when you see Blackhat (2015) in 4K on the big screen.
- #016
The scene in the tin mine pays homage to Mann's earlier films "Manhunter" and "Heat." The hero tries to find out the villain's purpose and, like Petersen's character in "Manhunter," says out loud, "isn't that what you do, you son of a bitch?" At the same time, like Pacino's character in "Heat," he stands in an open area believing he is the target of an approaching time, while also realizing he has been misled about the purpose.
- #017
The film's original title was "Cyber."
- #018
Blackhat (2015) is Michael Mann's second feature film with an Asian female lead after Miami Vice (2006). In both films, the Asian woman is the love interest of a Caucasian male hero.
- #019
The PLC shown on screen is an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix.
- #020
Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis share the same birthday (11 August), but were born eighteen years apart. Davis was born in 1965 and Hemsworth in 1983.
- #021
Blackhat is the second Michael Mann film in which a character administers first aid to a bloody wound in a car. The first was Public Enemies.
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- IMDb IMDb kaydı
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work