WarGames( 1983)

TV-MAThrillerScience FictionDrama

71%

User
Score

Is it a game, or is it real?

Overview

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 Defense Department's war computer and initiates a confrontation of global proportions. Together with his girlfriend and a wizardly computer genius, David must race against time to outwit his opponent and prevent a nuclear Armageddon.

Top Billed Cast

Matthew Broderick
David Lightman
Dabney Coleman
McKittrick
John Wood
Stephen Falken
Ally Sheedy
Jennifer
Barry Corbin
General Beringer
Juanin Clay
Pat Healy
Kent Williams
Cabot
Dennis Lipscomb
Watson
Joe Dorsey
Conley
Irving Metzman
Richter
Michael Ensign
Beringer's Aide
William Bogert
Mr. Lightman
Susan Davis
Mrs. Lightman
James Tolkan
Wigan
David Clover
Stockman
Drew Snyder
Ayers
John Garber
Corporal in the Infirmary
Duncan Wilmore
Major Lem
Billy Ray Sharkey
Radar Analyst
John Spencer
Jerry
Michael Madsen
Steve
James Lemp
Commander
Gary Bisig
Deputy
Gary Sexton
Technician
Jason Bernard
Captain Knewt
Frankie Hill
Airman Fields
Jesse D. Goins
Sergeant
Alan Blumenfeld
Mr. Liggett
Len Lawson
Boys Vice Principal
Maury Chaykin
Jim Sting
Eddie Deezen
Malvin
Stephen Lee
Sgt. Schneider
Lucinda Crosby
Nurse in Infirmary
Stack Pierce
Airman
Art LaFleur
Guard
Brad David
Flight Pilot Leader
Martha Shaw
Vice Principal's Secretary
Howie Allen
Boy in Arcade
Michael Adams
Travis
James Ackerman
Joshua
Jim Harriott
Newscaster
Tom Lawrence
Sgt. Sims
Frances E. Nealy
Visitor
Charles Akins
Major Ford
Glenn Standifer
Major Wenstin
Edward Jahnke
NORAD Officer
Paul V. Picerni Jr.
Technician
William H. Macy
NORAD Officer (uncredited)

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Review 2Discussion

A review by John Chard

Written by John Chard on Sun Apr 26 2020

Wanna play Global Thermonuclear War? It was with much interest to me to revisit this early 80s hacker piece armed with the knowledge of just how the advent of change in the computer world had evolved. With that in mind the film could quite easily be classed as a bit clunky due to the now almost Neanderthal toys, games and computers used in the movie, but casting aside the nostalgia feelings I had with it, it still hits the spot as both a poignant piece of interest, and a damn good thriller as well. Matthew Broderick is David Lightman, a young computer gamer geek who is something of a whiz...