[pivo]

My wife worked for Thinking Machines back then. I remember that they'd asked Cray to loan them a supercomputer for the film because that's the computer used in the book. Cray brushed them off, so they turned to Thinking Machines who were happy to do it.

To thank them, the producers rented a theater in Cambridge, MA to screen the film just for Thinking Machines and I was also able to attend. By far the biggest reactions from the audience that night were when the CM-5 was shown for the first time and then when the young actress says, "It's a Unix system. I know this"

[dhosek]

“It’s a Unix system. I know this.” was definitely the line from the movie most quoted in online spaces in the 90s.

[kraquepype]

I wonder how many sysadmin or adjacent careers that scene helped to foster.

As a kid JP was a favorite of mine, and eventually I got into Linux as an older teen.

That sequence cemented Unix as this mythical thing in my mind and I knew I had to know more. I eventually got to work on AIX in my first sysadmin role which was great. I leaned more into Linux, but it had a positive effect on my IT career.

[avhception]

It definitely resonated with me as a kid, and I've had this fascination for the Unices of yore ever since!

[cortesoft]

I still quote this line at work all the time. Basically whenever anyone asks me if I know how to do something on the computer

[fabiensanglard]

This is such a cool anecdote. I have added it to the page!

[laidoffamazon]

That’s amazing! I live next to their former office. Do you know which theater they rented out?

[pivo]

It was a long time ago so I can't say for certain, but she and I both remember it being the Kendall Sq. cinema.

[Hizonner]

The line at my workplace was "It's a Unix system... WE'RE SCREWED!"

[dmurvihill]

Love that theatre