Okay, so I just wrapped up Zero Day on Netflix, and I’m still buzzing (and a little paranoid, TBH). This six-episode political thriller starring Robert De Niro as former President George Mullen is a wild ride into a cyber nightmare. The premise? A massive cyberattack—called “Zero Day”—knocks out U.S. power grids, transportation, cell networks, and basically everything we rely on, leaving the country in total chaos. A creepy message pops up on phones everywhere saying, “THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN,” and Mullen’s dragged out of retirement to figure out who’s behind it. Cue drama, conspiracy, and a star-studded cast including Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, and Lizzy Caplan.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m loving the tension and the way the series blends gritty political intrigue with high-stakes tech action. De Niro’s performance is iconic—he’s intense as ever, and the scenes where he’s clashing with his daughter (Caplan) and wrestling with his sanity are straight-up gripping. The visuals are sleek, and the opening episode had me on the edge of my seat with that eerie nationwide blackout. But, as a tech blogger, I’m also side-eyeing some parts. The plot gets a bit messy with too many characters—like, there are so many subplots (Mullen’s ex-wife, the government cover-ups, shady tech moguls) that it feels overwhelming by Episode 4. IGN’s review from February 2025 nailed it: it’s “hampered by too many characters and not enough time,” and I kinda agree—it’s like they tried to cram a 10-hour story into six episodes.
Still, the vibe is super timely. With all the crazy cybersecurity news I’ve been seeing—like the Lazarus Group’s $1.5 billion Bybit heist on February 21, 2025, or the SimpleHelp RMM vulnerabilities I read about—it feels way too real. The show taps into our collective paranoia about hackers, especially state-sponsored ones like North Korea, and it’s got me wondering: could this actually happen?
Could a Zero Day-Style Cyberattack Happen IRL?
Here’s where I’m losing sleep. The series shows a nationwide cyberattack wiping out everything—power, phones, banks, you name it. As a tech geek, I’ve been digging into the real-world stuff, and yeah, it’s scary how possible this feels. The Lazarus Group, linked to North Korea, just pulled off that insane Bybit hack, stealing $1.5 billion in crypto. They’ve got a history of massive attacks like WannaCry (2017), which hit over 150 countries. And the SimpleHelp RMM flaws I saw in those X posts? Hackers exploiting outdated software to break into networks—it’s like the perfect recipe for a Zero Day disaster.
I mean, our power grids, water systems, and financial networks are all connected digitally, and CISA’s been warning about state-sponsored threats for years (or at least, I bet they’re freaking out in their February 2025 reports). The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 already showed how one hack can mess up fuel supplies nationwide. If a group like Lazarus—or Russia or China—decided to go big, could they pull off something like “Zero Day”? I think so. The tech exists, the motives are there (money, politics, chaos), and our defenses aren’t perfect. But could they really take down everything at once? That’s where I’m skeptical—coordinating something that massive would be insane, even for top hackers.
Still, the idea of a message like “THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN” flashing on every phone? That’s straight-up terrifying and totally believable with today’s malware and telecom hacks. As a 20-year-old who’s glued to my phone and laptop, I’m low-key checking my settings now. What do you think, though? Could a Zero Day-style cyberattack happen in real life? Would it plunge us into chaos like the show, or are we overreacting? I’m curious—have you seen the series? Do you think the government or tech companies could stop something like this, or are we doomed? Let me know in the comments—I’m dying to hear your hot takes!
Final Thoughts: Binge-Worthy or Just Binge-Worrying?
Zero Day is a solid watch for movie fans like me who love a good thriller, but it’s not flawless. The pacing stumbles, and some plotlines feel rushed, but the tension and De Niro’s gravitas make it worth the hype. As a tech blogger, though, I’m left with more questions than answers—especially about cybersecurity. The show’s hitting a nerve in 2025, with all the real-world hacks popping up, and I’m kinda glad it’s making us think harder about our digital lives.
What’s your verdict? Love it, hate it, or somewhere in between? And seriously, do you think a Zero Day-style attack is coming, or are we safe?