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WarGames

  • 19831983
  • PGPG
  • 1h 54min
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,008
855
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.
Play trailer2:20
2 Videos
61 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,008
855
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lawrence Lasker
    • Walter F. Parkes
    • Walon Green(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Broderick
    • Ally Sheedy
    • John Wood
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lawrence Lasker
    • Walter F. Parkes
    • Walon Green(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Broderick
    • Ally Sheedy
    • John Wood
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 209User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    What to Watch: Back to the '80s on Prime Video
    Clip 3:33
    What to Watch: Back to the '80s on Prime Video

    Photos61

    Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
    Barry Corbin and Michael Ensign in WarGames (1983)
    Dabney Coleman, Juanin Clay, and Duncan Wilmore in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, and John Wood in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick and Howie Allen in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
    Barry Corbin, Joe Dorsey, and Michael Ensign in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman, Juanin Clay, Barry Corbin, Michael Ensign, Irving Metzman, Duncan Wilmore, and John Wood in WarGames (1983)
    Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in WarGames (1983)
    Dabney Coleman in WarGames (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matthew Broderick
    Matthew Broderick
    • Davidas David
    Ally Sheedy
    Ally Sheedy
    • Jenniferas Jennifer
    John Wood
    John Wood
    • Falkenas Falken
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • McKittrickas McKittrick
    Barry Corbin
    Barry Corbin
    • General Beringeras General Beringer
    Juanin Clay
    Juanin Clay
    • Pat Healyas Pat Healy
    Kent Williams
    Kent Williams
    • Cabotas Cabot
    Dennis Lipscomb
    Dennis Lipscomb
    • Watsonas Watson
    Joe Dorsey
    Joe Dorsey
    • Conleyas Conley
    Irving Metzman
    • Richteras Richter
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • Beringer's Aideas Beringer's Aide
    William Bogert
    William Bogert
    • Mr. Lightmanas Mr. Lightman
    Susan Davis
    • Mrs. Lightmanas Mrs. Lightman
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Wiganas Wigan
    David Clover
    • Stockmanas Stockman
    Drew Snyder
    Drew Snyder
    • Ayersas Ayers
    John Garber
    • Corporal in the Infirmaryas Corporal in the Infirmary
    Duncan Wilmore
    • Major Lemas Major Lem
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lawrence Lasker
      • Walter F. Parkes
      • Walon Green(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A young computer whiz kid accidentally connects into a top secret super-computer which has complete control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It challenges him to a game between America and Russia, and he innocently starts the countdown to World War 3. Can he convince the computer he wanted to play a game and not the real thing ? —Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>
    hackermodemhackingcold wargame368 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The only winning move is not to play.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The NORAD command center built for the movie cost $1 million, making it the most expensive set ever constructed at the time. The producers were not allowed into the actual NORAD command center, so they had to imagine what it was like. In the DVD commentary, director John Badham notes that the actual NORAD command center isn't nearly as elaborate as the one in the movie, calling the set "NORAD's wet dream of itself."
    • Goofs
      When WOPR is searching for the launch code, it is shown to be able to lock onto each digit individually. In which case, it would only take 360 tries (one for each letter and digit), to definitely find the entire code.
    • Quotes

      [after playing out all possible outcomes for Global Thermonuclear War]

      Joshua: Greetings, Professor Falken.

      Stephen Falken: Hello, Joshua.

      Joshua: A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

    • Alternate versions
      [Report] In the premiere telecast version of the film, in the scene where the female airmen is counting down to Impact, there is more background music that plays than in the theatrical version and home video releases containing English language versions. However, the extra background music plays in foreign versions of the movie. Also, the extra BGM has not played in subsequent TV airings since that first telecast, as far as I am aware.
    • Connections
      Edited into Canadian Bacon (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Video Fever
      Performed by Arthur B. Rubinstein, Cynthia Morrow, Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli (as The Beepers)

      Lyrics by Cynthia Morrow

      Music by Arthur B. Rubinstein

      Produced by Anthony Marinelli (uncredited)

    User reviews209

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An Old Favorite For Many
    This was an old favorite for many younger baby-boomers, who were teenagers and in their twenties at the dawn of the personal computer age.

    This one was a bit more than amusing, though. It opened many eyes to both the potential and the dangers we faced while coming into the computer age. The government had these marvelous machines and the internet by which they communicated for decades before the public was given access from these ancient Commodore 64's, Amigas, and Atari home computers via phone line, back in the late 1970's.

    While this work is entertaining, it also bears a valid warning, even today.

    Broderick and Ally Sheedy both were 21, playing 17 year olds, competently.

    It rates a 7.6/10 from...

    the Fiend :.
    helpful•39
    5
    • FiendishDramaturgy
    • Apr 18, 2007

    FAQ9

    • How did David manage to connect with such a secure defense system computer like "Joshua", aka the WOPR?
    • What's the video game that David is playing at the arcade when he's late for school?
    • Why was David letting his computer dial so many random numbers in the Sunnyvale area?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 3, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • War Games
    • Filming locations
      • Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
    • Production companies
      • United Artists
      • Sherwood Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $79,567,667
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,227,804
      • Jun 5, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $79,567,667
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 54min
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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