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WarGames
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WarGames

1983
Drama
Sci-fi
1h 54m
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)
Directed by:
John Badham John Badham
Written by:
Lawrence Lasker Walter F. Parkes
+1 more
Starring:
Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick William H. Macy William H. Macy John Spencer John Spencer Maury Chaykin Maury Chaykin Ally Sheedy Ally Sheedy Michael Madsen Michael Madsen Barry Corbin Barry Corbin John Wood Dabney Coleman Dabney Coleman Art LaFleur Art LaFleur Juanin Clay
More
Franchise:
WarGames
Genres:
Drama, Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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WarGames

1983
Drama
Sci-fi
1h 54m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 51.8% from 4212 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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jasongirl67Jasongirl67
Rated 04 Aug 2019
75
69th
A classic 80's film with all the cheese and silly antics you'd expect But this hits a nerve for me ( Technology turning against us humans ) Classic funny line;..... Hell I'd piss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good
Rated 04 Aug 2019
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 26 Jul 2009
75
59th
A surprisingly entertaining take on a man vs. machine plot integrated into then current events. Also an interesting example of when it pays to be unsubtle: the message of the film is (literally) spelled out on a screen at one point, but it works, and it even holds up today. Cheesy, geeky fun.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
paxtonPaxton
Rated 07 Feb 2015
69
59th
They say that the tornado in The Wizard of Oz is more realistic than the ones in Twister. They say the computer hacking in this movie is more realistic than it is in the movie Hackers. They say Sandra Bullock's upper lip is more realistic in Love Potion #9 than it is in Gravity.
Rated 07 Feb 2015
terrymacterrymac
Rated 20 Jun 2017
65
47th
This starts well, with a young Michael Madsen ready to push the button. If the overall premise stretches credibility, the execution and message, if a tad simplistic, are decent. Broderick and Sheedy are likeable. Especially Sheedy. I wanted her to babysit me when I was 8. It also features the best raw corn buttering scene I can think of - using a slice of bread: genius. A bit cheesy, but a likeable enough cold-war caper. Won't make you soil yourself like Threads/The War Game/The Day After.
Rated 20 Jun 2017
optimusmikeOptimus_mike
Rated 25 Dec 2008
50
27th
Hey, that's not how the internet works......
Rated 25 Dec 2008
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 28 Sep 2010
28
8th
Interesting premise ruined by inept filmmaking and senseless writing. The opening undercuts the dramatic force of the reveal half an hour later... When the kid is accused of being a Russian spy, he decides to prove his innocence by acting exactly like a Russian spy... Since the kid can hack of course he knows how to phreak which he does with a soda can pull tab.... And when he's trying to hide from NORAD he neglects to even disconnect his modem... Incredibly sloppy work for such a beloved film.
Rated 28 Sep 2010
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 30 Nov 2012
80
80th
This needs to find its way into John Connor's hands, you know what I mean, folks?
Rated 30 Nov 2012
ytadelYtadel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
6
70th
"A strange game. The only way to win is not to play." HOLY SHIT. METAPHOR. MY MIND IS BLOWN.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
chemical404chemical404
Rated 02 May 2013
65
71st
Part cold-war thriller, part summer blockbuster for teenagers this movie is still entertaining even 30 years after it has been made. The plot doesn't go for some complicated concepts, but it does show the dangers of relying on technology as well as the futility of war. Depiction of technology and hacking is pivotal part of the plot, and seen today it looks so dated, but in a cute way. Notice these trivial and odd scenes all through the film.
Rated 02 May 2013
demiurgedemiurge
Rated 22 Dec 2009
92
91st
For a movie about technology, it holds up well even 25 years later.
Rated 22 Dec 2009
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
55
49th
Great film.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 01 Feb 2008
3
61st
"The only way to win the game is to not play at all!" Fucking right scary nuke computer! Fucking right.
Rated 01 Feb 2008
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 09 Dec 2009
86
74th
Badham has made a film that succeeds as thrill-a-minute action, cautionary political satire, and intricate suspense.
Rated 09 Dec 2009
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 08 Nov 2014
4
38th
The idea is kind of a blend of 2001 and Fail-Safe but instead of attempting anything interesting with it they decided to make and market the film to dorky 80's 13 year olds. Notable for being a 80's movie about hacking that doesn't hilariously humiliate itself with it 30 years later.
Rated 08 Nov 2014
teknicolorteknicolor
Rated 02 Jun 2008
57
44th
Bonus points for the ultra-retro modem, and the 'war-dialing'. Broderick is a darling!
Rated 02 Jun 2008
nobambanobamba
Rated 19 May 2019
60
62nd
A classic but haha what a silly movie at times. The concept was probably breaking when it came out and certainly less exciting now if you nitpick on the technology. Ally Sheedy was quite a sight. Fav scene: the sigh of relief and cheering when we found out the missiles didn't actually hit America.
Rated 19 May 2019
mspraguemsprague
Rated 27 Oct 2022
70
60th
It's still good after all these years.
Rated 27 Oct 2022
johnnyw2001JohnnyW2001
Rated 12 Jan 2013
70
31st
Classic 80s entertainment. I have a soft-spot for this movie.
Rated 12 Jan 2013
ranaldRanald
Rated 07 Jun 2010
55
24th
Most of it is very enjoyable, but it falls apart completely in the final act, as characters change personality to suit the plot, bit parts suddenly become important characters and we get a rather silly resolution.
Rated 07 Jun 2010
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 25 Feb 2009
76
57th
It's cool to remember computers from the 80's, and Ally Sheedy is/was pretty hot. bottom line is it's an entertaining movie, just not thaaaat entertaining.
Rated 25 Feb 2009
zachreviewsZachReviews
Rated 27 Nov 2011
80
41st
A classic in it's own right. Great thriller and fun to see Matthew Broderick take on the government.
Rated 27 Nov 2011
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 26 Jan 2010
85
66th
A fine little thriller with an important message for us all.
Rated 26 Jan 2010
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
44th
The absolute pharmakon. Score based on distant memory.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
filliganFilligan
Rated 23 Aug 2015
71
23rd
This manages to actually draw up tension through horribly dated computer screens. As a fanatic of that era, this serves as an awesome record of 80s technology and Matthew Broderick's youthful looks.
Rated 23 Aug 2015
monstergearMonsterGear
Rated 28 May 2007
83
74th
Deep down, all computer nerds want to be David Lightman.
Rated 28 May 2007
fronzkofkoFronzKofko
Rated 16 Feb 2010
94
79th
wargames owns hard
Rated 16 Feb 2010
madmanMadMan
Rated 26 Jul 2021
89
62nd
The only way to win is not to play.
Rated 26 Jul 2021
disconnecteddisconnected
Rated 01 Jan 2016
66
45th
Here's a film that captures some of the reality of adolescence as well as featuring a misanthopic genius, a love interest I could see myself genuinely falling in love with, a paranoid atmosphere, and an omnipotent government which doubles as an unweildly bureaucracy: there are so many things I idiosyncratically love represented here that I had to get something out of it, though sadly it turns into a total disaster in the final act with a tossed-off finale that doesn't make a lick of sense.
Rated 01 Jan 2016
ddrudgesd_drudges
Rated 13 Dec 2013
50
56th
Starts out interesting but gets more and more awkward as it progresses. The movie does have a certain sense of prescience though: today we have kids essentially playing video games to kill civilians on the other side of the world via drone strikes. If you want a balanced Cold War movie featuring computers, watch Colossus: The Forbin Project instead.
Rated 13 Dec 2013
spikycactusSpikyCactus
Rated 11 Feb 2018
75
65th
Top badass moment? Dr. Falken's nihilistic rant about the end of humanity. It's about the only thing that doesn't feel dated in this movie, although it still has its moments. But wtf, what genius put a McDonald's Wopr Burger in charge of world peace? Privatisation gone mad, that's what it is. And that thing David does with the payphones, I used to be able to do something like that, for real. Also, it's bloody Noughts and Crosses, not Tic Tac Toe! No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 11 Feb 2018
daybrinjerdaybrinjer
Rated 03 Jan 2010
99
99th
Great movie, lots of great quotes such as, "How about a game of chess?" I still type this into espeak sometimes on my computer just because of how awesome this movie was.
Rated 03 Jan 2010
aaaaaaarrgggaaaaaaarrggg
Rated 14 Jun 2011
71
73rd
Likable bit of high-tech fluff. Excellent performances from Broderick and the lovely Sheedy and a well-calculated screenplay that gets the maximum mileage out of its far-fetched (but not entirely improbable) premise help make this a lot more fun than some more recent teen-oriented cyber-thrillers I could name.
Rated 14 Jun 2011
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 03 Feb 2007
3
38th
Cheesy and dated, but entertaining and not entirely obsolete.
Rated 03 Feb 2007
freqflyerfreqflyer
Rated 05 Aug 2009
80
55th
solid classic about the dangers of military computers
Rated 05 Aug 2009
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 17 Jul 2015
3
45th
Full of dated 1980s style computer wizardry, and a hell of a lot of fun.
Rated 17 Jul 2015
sickbaysickbay
Rated 30 Oct 2011
71
22nd
This is a real gem of a movie and Matthew was amazing.
Rated 30 Oct 2011
qvtQVT
Rated 03 Jul 2017
60
64th
God, ally sheedy.
Rated 03 Jul 2017
moviecinemaMovieCinema
Rated 01 Mar 2022
65
62nd
Oh the 80s, when we had teen sweetheart Matthew Broderick, mutually assured destruction was expected and computers used floppy disks. A fun blockbuster with a childish tone trying to present the themes of man vs. technology and cold war fears, because hey! maybe you could hack a military base and save the world!
Rated 01 Mar 2022
magbMagb
Rated 01 Dec 2006
65
30th
Better than I expected. It's a surprisingly lucid take on the age-old theme of "man vs. technology". Even though the technological details of the scenario ("backdoors" and stupid password guessing, AI, etc.) are nonsense, the underlying principle is valid. There are some cliches here that I could've done without, including the majority of the "wrong man" stuff. On the whole, though, this is decent.
Rated 01 Dec 2006
fuzzixfuzzix
Rated 12 Jan 2008
70
72nd
Seminal hacker romp which manages to get the technical details at least little right.
Rated 12 Jan 2008
saucyjacksaucyjack
Rated 25 Jul 2009
87
81st
Really impressed by this film. Much more intelligent and unpredictable than one might think. A worthy followup for Badham after Saturday Night Fever.
Rated 25 Jul 2009
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 26 Jun 2008
72
81st
good movie
Rated 26 Jun 2008
medinavimedinavi
Rated 17 Dec 2017
71
49th
Pek cok iyi fikri olan ama pek cogunu anlatmayi beceremeyen bir film. Kimin neyi savundugu cogu zaman muallak, anlatmak istedigi moral hikaye karisik ama zamanina gore anlatim tarzinin durulugu ve teknik anlamdaki ustunlugu ve zamanina gore guzel fikirleriyle yine de iyi bi seyirlik. Filmin tonu da tam tutturulamamis gibi. Sonu da cok tahmin edilebilir ve istenen tansiyon verilememis.
Rated 17 Dec 2017
ilumosilumos
Rated 28 Apr 2011
85
55th
Love the aesthetic, and the realistic portrail of phreaking/cracking. The innocent romance is sweet too, and the despairing Brit makes me chuckle.
Rated 28 Apr 2011
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 26 Jan 2007
41
10th
If I design a homicidal nuke carrying computer, I finish the job.
Rated 26 Jan 2007
lachapellelachapelle
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
80th
Very dated given today's technology and political climate. It was a fantastic movie at the time and it inspired a whole generation of would be hackers like myself. "Would you like to play a game?" Pre-Ferris Bueller Broderick was very good as was Coleman.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
foobekahFoobekah
Rated 14 Dec 2009
62
2nd
A really bad gamer's fantasy, even back then (and they're remaking it!)
Rated 14 Dec 2009
patipati
Rated 11 Feb 2008
62
17th
It wasn't good when it came out, and it certainly hasn't aged well.
Rated 11 Feb 2008
goldblumingGoldbluming
Rated 22 Aug 2014
64
27th
Some great hacking geeky awesomeness laced with too much military cheese.
Rated 22 Aug 2014
mkellinsmkellins
Rated 14 Dec 2013
55
44th
Potentially a great concept, brought down to kids' level, topped off with a happy ending. Ultimately I was quite dissappointed with it, even though it does have some fun ideas.
Rated 14 Dec 2013
sky72205sky72205
Rated 08 Nov 2016
100
61st
Watched it many times
Rated 08 Nov 2016
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 27 Feb 2021
84
73rd
Flagrantly silly adventure film asks you to accept some pretty serious leaps in logic, but as we are basically in Wonderland from the first scene, and the film never breaks it rules in terms of the charmingly outdated notions of how sophisticated computer technology actually is, that it is really no effort just to hang on and go with it. Ramps up to a thrilling and genuinely nail biting climax, that pulls the false dawn/real dawn trick about as neatly as has ever been attempted.
Rated 27 Feb 2021
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
63rd
HOW ABOUT GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
chroniclerChronicler
Rated 21 Mar 2014
90
39th
A fun,chessy sci-fi/cold-war thriller that showed the pitfalls of over-reliance on technology(particularly when it concerns national defense). WarGames was the first film to showcase computer hacking in a film and was also central to the plot as well. It's worth checking out if you enjoy 80's sci-fi.
Rated 21 Mar 2014
tangvampireTangVampire
Rated 03 Jun 2008
88
40th
Fun movie. Little Matthew Broderick is adorable in his first film. C:
Rated 03 Jun 2008
gpietrasgpietras
Rated 11 May 2009
6
48th
A guilty pleasure. Requires a whole lot of suspension of disbelief, but Broderick is charming and the ending is so goofily earnest that it's hard not to enjoy.
Rated 11 May 2009
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 25 Jun 2010
77
51st
Somewhat silly, but not as much as one might expect. It's fun and, while dated, the fundamental issues of war and technology are interesting to explore.
Rated 25 Jun 2010
randomartrandomart
Rated 28 Oct 2008
75
92nd
brilliant.
Rated 28 Oct 2008
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 31 May 2008
75
48th
Adorable 80s classic. Home computers are scary, yo!
Rated 31 May 2008
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 25 Sep 2010
69
73rd
Entertaining with good performances by the leads.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
sammingtonsammington
Rated 05 Feb 2013
91
71st
I've loved this film from the first time I saw it. Yes, it may not be the most realistic thing, but it's so enjoyable!
Rated 05 Feb 2013
agentsands77Agentsands77
Rated 18 Jul 2010
60
30th
Watchable.
Rated 18 Jul 2010
menialretconMenialRetcon
Rated 15 Mar 2018
83
91st
Works well as a Terminator prequel.
Rated 15 Mar 2018
ununniliumUnunnilium
Rated 12 Feb 2011
66
49th
A good concept made more effective by good cinematography and good attention to the details of computer science, less effective by bad editing and an inappropriate score, and tugged back and forth by acting and characterization. Overall, definitely worth seeing.
Rated 12 Feb 2011
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
Rated 23 Nov 2015
79
54th
Computers and floppy discs aren't always fun and games. I liked this movie, I thought Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy were really fun. The thing that ultimately kills this movie though is the technology. It may have been really neat in the early 80's but it looks pretty bad today. If there was any movie that deserves a reboot from the 80's this one would be good with today's technology...
Rated 23 Nov 2015
chiliChili
Rated 02 Mar 2007
90
81st
Broderick and Sheedy, are awesome in "War Games", it's such a fun movie.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
spookyjonspookyjon
Rated 07 Jan 2007
65
34th
The internet!!
Rated 07 Jan 2007
elfflameElfflame
Rated 13 Apr 2008
85
78th
A classic from my childhood. Quite unbelievable, really. Even by the standards then, but an entertaining story nonetheless. And Matthew Brodrick! How can you go wrong?
Rated 13 Apr 2008
phaedrusphaedrus
Rated 05 Oct 2008
70
78th
Above average, something else about the post 9/11 world and it still being relevant, blah blah blah. It's fun.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
tripleshTripleSH
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
37th
Oh...how poignant. *gag*
Rated 14 Aug 2007
antrock101antrock101
Rated 13 Nov 2009
75
70th
a great nostalgic computer flick
Rated 13 Nov 2009
batface89batface89
Rated 28 Jul 2008
90
81st
Wow, its been a long time since I've seen this one but it's a great film.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
gritGrit
Rated 27 Jul 2008
33
27th
Another cheesy and strangely entertaining goof from the '80s. I can imagine that WarGames was hardly the best movie around at the date of it's release, but it had a reasonably new concept and although it has predictably aged rather badly, the oddball appeal still remains. The whole concept is stupid and Broderick comes across as being, to use a cliché, too big for his boots but the nerdy appeal makes it interesting for a while. Not too bad now, but it's just bordering on completely laughable.
Rated 27 Jul 2008
bellamyrbellamyr
Rated 11 Jan 2008
86
78th
Loved it as a teenager and it still has a decent story to it. Dated now but still enough suspense and drama to keep the story kicking along. Decent performances and all round a good family movie
Rated 11 Jan 2008
aabrairaaabraira
Rated 21 Aug 2009
90
39th
Doesn't get old as it gets old.
Rated 21 Aug 2009
abbaAbba
Rated 15 Sep 2011
69
45th
INteresting story, good characters, nice acting by the two leads and some nice directing and editing.
Rated 15 Sep 2011
the_ratlingThe Ratling
Rated 15 Jul 2009
80
44th
Decent movie, aged pretty well, and has a nice ending to it to boot. Well worth the occasional watch.
Rated 15 Jul 2009
hankhank
Rated 20 Jul 2008
85
83rd
Oh yeah, hackin' the government!
Rated 20 Jul 2008
stainStain
Rated 22 Mar 2007
90
86th
The computer stuff is ridiculous, but it's a very entertaining yet clean movie
Rated 22 Mar 2007
droplet00Droplet00
Rated 21 Jun 2008
89
67th
Insanely cute little story with loads of 80's nostalgia appeal.
Rated 21 Jun 2008
amazedemonamazedemon
Rated 26 Apr 2020
77
95th
WarGames is great! The film has that cheesy 80's quality in which the acting is a little forced, the soundtrack blaring, and has that feeling that everything is going to get better. It's rare that an unwatched film can take me back to my (cinematic) childhood while remaining gripping throughout. There's also a well-delivered anti-nuclear-war message. Broderick and ?Sheedy? were likeable, with a great dynamic to deal out any exposition. A little silly, but really entertaining.
Rated 26 Apr 2020
jasonmyersjasonmyers
Rated 22 Oct 2008
80
77th
Whatever happened to Matthew Broderick?
Rated 22 Oct 2008
loimprevistoloimprevisto
Rated 01 Sep 2010
90
65th
"How about a nice game of chess?"
Rated 01 Sep 2010
li0lili0li
Rated 19 May 2022
60
38th
Ok I guess, runs a bit long. I guess it had a message but it was kind of undermined by the unrealistic scenarios. That lack of realism also made the movie a lot less interesting even if the structure was basically fine.
Rated 19 May 2022
unohav1unohav_1
Rated 19 Aug 2007
100
98th
You do have to be at least a bit of a geek to appreciate this, but if you are you'll love it. Verry Old Skool.
Rated 19 Aug 2007
cultofsamecult_of_same
Rated 02 Mar 2009
60
72nd
This movie made me feel very guilty over all of the ducks I may have killed while playing DuckHunt on NES.
Rated 02 Mar 2009
redflagredflag
Rated 13 Feb 2024
94
75th
Ahead of its time in its depictions of computers and a grim reminder of the stupidity of nuclear weapons.
Rated 13 Feb 2024
uhrmacherUhrmacher
Rated 11 Aug 2012
88
84th
Excellent 80's computer sci-fi. I rewatched it recently and was impressed with the level of sustained suspense. Broderick does a fine job, but I often wondered if Sheedy's character was written in for any reason other than having a pretty girl on screen from time to time helps sell tickets.
Rated 11 Aug 2012
juicejuice
Rated 26 May 2007
80
89th
Classic.
Rated 26 May 2007
babamotsbabamots
Rated 25 Apr 2009
84
78th
Unrealistic computer problems always bother me, but there were enough fun ideas that I still enjoyed it. I've seldom laughed so hard as after "That's the wrong one Miss Stevens!"
Rated 25 Apr 2009
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 27 Jul 2015
40
14th
A dumb movie that people who saw it as a child in the 80s still pretend is good.
Rated 27 Jul 2015
oldgoatoldgoat
Rated 29 Jul 2009
58
26th
Campy at this point.
Rated 29 Jul 2009
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
40
39th
dated, but enjoyed it then.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 04 Nov 2009
72
75th
Some might find it a bit dated, but I find this a surprisingly comic, funny and smart film.
Rated 04 Nov 2009
hyp3r10nHyp3r10n
Rated 19 Aug 2007
50
26th
Dial up.....now wait......getting data....please stand by................
Rated 19 Aug 2007
squintySquinty
Rated 15 Jul 2016
85
39th
The movie that spoke to the paranoia of hacking before there was. A Decent film from the period.
Rated 15 Jul 2016
ehk2ehk2
Rated 05 Oct 2011
25
32nd
that was too childish/amateurish. I cannot believe how it was nominated for oscars. but still fun to watch
Rated 05 Oct 2011
duderDuder
Rated 12 Oct 2020
60
40th
It does get a little bit out of control towards the end, but is a decent and fun watch. Don't expect there to be too much sense and enjoy it.
Rated 12 Oct 2020
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 17 Aug 2008
30
17th
a movie that thinks we're SO dumb it LITERALLY spells out it's message on a gigantic screen
Rated 17 Aug 2008
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
40
29th
Cheesy 80's fluff.
Rated 01 Aug 2009

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