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WarGames

  • 1983
  • PG
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
113K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,392
15
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 trailer2:19
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Cyber ThrillerPolitical DramaPolitical ThrillerActionDramaSci-FiThriller

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.

  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lawrence Lasker
    • Walter F. Parkes
  • Stars
    • Matthew Broderick
    • Ally Sheedy
    • John Wood
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    113K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,392
    15
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lawrence Lasker
      • Walter F. Parkes
    • Stars
      • Matthew Broderick
      • Ally Sheedy
      • John Wood
    • 243User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer 2
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch Official Trailer 2
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Official Trailer
    What to Watch: Back to the '80s on Prime Video
    Clip 3:33
    Watch What to Watch: Back to the '80s on Prime Video

    Photos207

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    Top cast59

    Edit
    Matthew Broderick
    Matthew Broderick
    • David
    Ally Sheedy
    Ally Sheedy
    • Jennifer
    John Wood
    John Wood
    • Falken
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • McKittrick
    Barry Corbin
    Barry Corbin
    • General Beringer
    Juanin Clay
    Juanin Clay
    • Pat Healy
    Kent Williams
    Kent Williams
    • Cabot
    Dennis Lipscomb
    Dennis Lipscomb
    • Watson
    Joe Dorsey
    Joe Dorsey
    • Conley
    Irving Metzman
    • Richter
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • Beringer's Aide
    William Bogert
    William Bogert
    • Mr. Lightman
    Susan Davis
    • Mrs. Lightman
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Wigan
    David Clover
    • Stockman
    Drew Snyder
    Drew Snyder
    • Ayers
    John Garber
    • Corporal in the Infirmary
    Duncan Wilmore
    • Major Lem
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lawrence Lasker
      • Walter F. Parkes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The studio had the Galaxian (1979) and Galaga (1981) arcade machines delivered to Matthew Broderick's home. He practiced for two months to prepare for the arcade scene.
    • 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
      In the International-dubbed prints and the U.S. TV premiere, in the scene where the female airmen is counting down to Impact, there is more background music that plays than in the original version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Crosby, Stills & Nash: War Games (1983)
    • 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 reviews243

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Interesting, original idea that delivers for the most part...
    I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. Matthew Broderick is the teenager computer nerd who hacks into a military database through a "back door" and starts to unintentionally play games--which are, quite surprisingly, not games after all. He's really controlling the military! With WWIII nearing, the movie takes some twists and turns and it's all good fun.

    Broderick is well-cast and this is probably one of the roles, along with Ferris Bueller, that stereotyped him as a continual teenager--which makes it hard for him to get adult roles nowadays. (He's in the upcoming remake of "The Producers"--yay!)

    Ally Sheedy and Dabney Coleman both have supporting roles.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this film and rate it a solid "4" of five stars.

    Trivia note: Sheedy and Broderick both appeared in separate movies by John Hughes: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club."
    • MovieAddict2016
    • Feb 28, 2004
    • Permalink

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    FAQ27

    • How long is WarGames?Powered by Alexa
    • Does General Barringer have the authority to launch ICBM's?
    • Why is Jennifer in the NORAD war room?
    • Why did the FBI take David to NORAD from Seattle just to question him?

    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
      • Anderson Island, Washington, USA(Goose Island scenes)
    • 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
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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