Starring the Computer is a website dedicated to the use of computers in film and television. Each appearance is catalogued and rated on its importance (ie. how important it is to the plot), realism (how close its appearance and capabilities are to the real thing) and visibility (how good a look does one get of it). Fictional computers don't count (unless they are built out of bits of real computer), so no HAL9000 - sorry.

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, or have any tips about films not mentioned here that feature computers.

James Carter <james@starringthecomputer.com>


News

2013-05-18 18:13 FSQ-7s in Space
Another little collection of IBM AN/FSQ-7s have come along including an episode of The Invaders (The Believers) and a number of Lost in Space Episodes: Condemned of Space, Kidnapped in Space and The Space Creature (some of which also feature Burroughs B205 tape drives).
2013-05-17 21:33 AT&T for two
There is an AT&T PC 6300 in Doin' Time on Planet Earth and a AT&T PC 7300 in They Live.
2013-04-30 23:58 iSteve
Along with a series of woeful (although probably intentional) technical errors the film iSteve has a number of Apple computers (a Apple II, Apple IIc, Macintosh SE, Power Mac G4, and a Macbook Air) and a Atari 400. Thanks to Chris for pointing me towards this one.
2013-04-17 22:32 Tandy Tandem
Two fleeting glimpses of Tandy machines: a TRS-80 Model 100 in Midnight Run, and a TRS-80 Model 4 in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown.
2013-03-26 23:29 Husky Hawk
Slipstream offers Starring the Computer its very first Husky computer, the Husky Hawk.
2013-03-16 19:59 THX S/360
There are loads of great shots of IBM System/360 systems in George Lucas' directorial debut THX 1138. Thanks to John and Pontus for the tip!
2013-03-09 19:05 A Fresh Apple
The Great White Hype has a first fleeting Starring-the-Computer appearance for a Apple Macintosh Quadra 610. Other Apple appearances have also been added to the database: a Powerbook 540c in Stealing Beauty, a Powerbook 5300 in Jingle All the Way and a Quadra 630 in The Juror.
2013-03-06 22:07 The Smell of Tweet Success?
I've just set up a new Twitter account for Starring the Computer: @StarringTheComp. One of the things I plan to use it for is posting pictures of computers in films that I have been unable to recognise. I have the help page too, but I hope that this will be a quick and easy way of getting extra eyes looking at and identifying the mystery machines. I've already posted the first picture, so please have a look and see if you recognise it!
2013-02-08 20:59 Point of No Return
Point of No Return (also known as The Assassin) has a number of Apple Macintosh IIcx or IIcis, one in an important role.
2013-01-08 22:03 Ugly Poltergeist Dance
Dance Me to My Song has an Epson HX-20 in a vital role, whereas it is just bit parts for the Apple Clamshell iBook G3 in Coyote Ugly and the IBM PC XT and Apple IIe in Poltergeist III. This will be the only update this month as I'm about to go on holiday.