WarGames
Seen it?1983 | 114 min | Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), it made about 10 times its budget, people are still talking about it and it drew serious awards attention. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and sci-fi fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Award: Best Sound. Also nominated for 3 Oscars, 2 more BAFTAs and 1 WGA Award. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerVery strong
$125 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 500K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Badham
- Matthew BroderickDavid Lightman
- Dabney ColemanMcKittrick
- John WoodStephen Falken
- Ally SheedyJennifer
- Barry CorbinGeneral Beringer
- Juanin ClayPat Healy
- Kent WilliamsCabot
- Dennis LipscombWatson
- Joe DorseyConley
- Irving MetzmanRichter