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IMDbPro

WarGames

  • 19831983
  • PGPG
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
99K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,332
188
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
67 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
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
99K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,332
188
  • 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
    • 224User reviews
    • 74Critic 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

    Photos67

    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

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to John Badham, the jeep trying to crash through the gate at NORAD and turning over was an actual accident. The jeep was supposed to continue through the gate. They added the scene of the characters running from the jeep and down the tunnel, and used the botched jeep stunt.
    • Goofs
      After David is arrested, the next scene is at NORAD where a tour group is being escorted. The escort asks a woman with a camera around her neck to sit in the command chair. A visitor would not be allowed to bring a camera into NORAD.
    • 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 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 reviews224

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Still packs a punch
    Watching this movie 25 years on, it still works. Obviously the onward march of technology has rendered several of the central plot devices redundant (although, to be honest, most modern techno-thriller entries are far less plausible) but the sheer tension of the story grabs you almost from the off and never lets go - there aren't many genre movies that got an Oscar-nomination for screenplay, which amply demonstrates its quality.

    And the last ten minutes or so are still jaw-dropping. That spectacular (if implausible) NORAD set is as astounding as ever, and the last line still deserves it's place in the pantheon.

    Laugh at the antiquated tech by all means, but be impressed by the effort taken to make it feel believable (cf. the sequence where Broderick's character gets the password for the school computer.) Hacker movies have rarely come this close to being real - and, as someone who had been there and done that at about that time, it was scarily right.

    In no way is this one of the greatest movies ever made. But there's no question that it achieves the rare quality of transcending it's genre.
    helpful•16
    2
    • imdb-9163
    • Oct 20, 2009

    FAQ13

    • Does General Barringer have the authority to launch ICBM's?
    • Why does Jim tell David he programs his own password into every system he designs? It seems like Jim could get into serious trouble by doing that. David found Falken's secret password and still got caught breaking into NORAD so a secret password is not foolproof.
    • 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
      • Mount Vernon, Washington, 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
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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