I agree that building things is its own motivation for many hackers but I also know many who have other motivations. One of my friends, for instance, has a bor

I agree that building things is its own motivation for many hackers but I also know many who have other motivations. One of my friends, for instance, has a borderline irrational desire to be more successful than his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Another is motivated purely by money and is now working in the finance industry. To say that Hollywood "got it wrong" can only be true in this specific context. While it may or may not have been the case with MZ, there are certainly hackers that are motivated to work on significant projects in order to be accepted by girls or organizations, as the movie portrays.