WarGames
Is it a game, or is it real?
1983 • 114 min • Drama · Science Fiction · Thriller
Synopsis
High school student David Lightman has a talent for hacking. But while trying to hack into a computer system to play unreleased video games, he unwittingly taps into the Department of Defense's war computer and initiates a confrontation of global proportions. Together with his friend and a wizardly computer genius, David must race against time to outwit his opponent and prevent a nuclear Armageddon.
Our family guide
Best from age 10- 100 Reviewers · 3 · 53%
- 71 Audience · 2218 · 47%
A young hacker accidentally accesses a top-secret military AI, mistaking it for a game. He inadvertently triggers a global crisis, leading to a race against time to prevent nuclear war. The film explores the dangers of technology and the Cold War.
- Violence & peril
- 3/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 1/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 6/10
Heads up
- Simulated nuclear war scenarios
- Threat of global destruction
- Intense Cold War tension
- Some mild teen rebellion
What it models well
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- The importance of human connection
- Questioning authority
- Peaceful resolution
Talk about it after
- The real-world dangers of nuclear weapons
- The ethics of hacking and computer security
- How technology can be used for good or harm
- Trusting your instincts vs. following orders
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for WarGames. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Stream
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fuboTV
MGM+ Amazon Channel
Philo
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AMC+ Amazon Channel
AMC+
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
YouTube TV
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Apple TV Store
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Top billed cast
Director: John Badham • Crew: Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes
Trailers & clips
Reviewer notes
RecommendedWhen the young computer whizz-kid “David” (Matthew Broderick) is showing off to his girlfriend “Jennifer” (Ally Sheedy) about how he can improve her grades and book them on a first class trip to Paris, he inadvertently dials a telephone number that wants to play a game. A game of thermonuclear war! Next day, the news is full of stories about the mobilisation of American defence capabilities and his phone rings again.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersAlly Sheedy, whatever happened to her. When I was a little kid, I mean REALLY little she was one of the few stars I could name...and then she disappeared save for a couple memorable appearances in Psych. It's a shame. Anyway, my fiance is a Millennial and I've been trying to introduce her and her friends to some classic films. This one was a fail. They sat through it, but really only to mock the technology.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersWanna play Global Thermonuclear War? It was with much interest to me to revisit this early 80s hacker piece armed with the knowledge of just how the advent of change in the computer world had evolved.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.1/10 (2,218)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $12,000,000
- Box office
- $124,600,000
- Franchise
- WarGames Collection
- IMDb
- tt0086567
