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WarGames
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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   23,489 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 19% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Badham
Writers:
Lawrence Lasker (written by) &
Walter F. Parkes (written by)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for WarGames on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 June 1983 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
The only winning move is not to play. more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Paramount Adapting Techno Thriller Daemon
 (From Dread Central. 20 May 2009, 3:40 PM, PDT)

Walter Parkes and David Digilio to Adapt Daemon
 (From MovieWeb. 19 May 2009, 6:53 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Interesting, original idea that delivers for the most part... more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Matthew Broderick ... David

Dabney Coleman ... McKittrick
John Wood ... 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 ... Nigan
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
Erik Stern ... Commander
Gary Bisig ... Deputy
Gary Sexton ... Technician
Jason Bernard ... Captain Knewt
Frankie Hill ... Airman Fields

Jesse D. Goins ... Sergeant (as Jesse Goins)

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 (as Brad David Berwick)
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 (as Frances Nealy)
Charles Akins ... Major Ford
Glenn Standifer ... Major Wenstin
Edward Jahnke ... NORAD Officer
Paul V. Picerni Jr. ... Technician
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Directed by
John Badham 
 
Writing credits
Lawrence Lasker (written by) &
Walter F. Parkes (written by)

Walon Green  uncredited

Produced by
Leonard Goldberg .... executive producer
Richard Hashimoto .... associate producer
Harold Schneider .... producer
Bruce McNall .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Arthur B. Rubinstein 
 
Cinematography by
William A. Fraker 
 
Film Editing by
Tom Rolf 
 
Casting by
Wallis Nicita 
 
Production Design by
Angelo P. Graham 
 
Art Direction by
James J. Murakami 
 
Set Decoration by
Jerry Wunderlich 
 
Costume Design by
Barry Francis Delaney (costumes: men) (as Barry F. Delaney)
 
Makeup Department
Michael Germain .... makeup artist (as Perry Michael Germain)
Lynda Gurasich .... hair stylist
Brenda Todd .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Richard Hashimoto .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold .... first assistant director
Robert J. Doherty .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Gregg H. Bilson .... property master
Robert Scaife .... construction coordinator
John M. Schenk .... assistant property master
Kevin Shanks .... tile/floor covering (uncredited)
Daniel Turk .... carpenter (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Milton C. Burrow .... supervising sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton .... sound mixer
Carlos Delarios .... sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Kohut .... sound re-recording mixer
William L. Manger .... supervising sound effects editor
Aaron Rochin .... sound re-recording mixer
Craig Harris .... voice processing (uncredited)
Philip Rogers .... sound recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Mick Baran .... special electronic effects crew
Bill Cobb .... special electronic effects crew
Robert Cole .... special electronic effects foreman
Joe Digaetano .... special effects
Richard Hoffenberg .... special electronic effects crew
Bruce Knechtges .... special electronic effects crew
Robin Dean Leyden .... special electronic effects crew
Robin Reilly .... special electronic effects crew
Mark Stivers .... special electronic effects crew
Robert Wilcox .... special electronic effects crew (as Robert G. Wilcox Jr.)
David Domeyer .... special effects (uncredited)
R.J. Hohman .... special effects wireman (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Colin Cantwell .... computer graphics design consultant
Jack Cooperman .... miniature photography
Marcia Dripchak .... computer graphics unit
Michael L. Fink .... visual effects supervisor
Linda Fleisher .... visual effects consultant
Steve Grumette .... computer video consultant
David R. Hardberger .... computer graphics unit (as David Hardberger)
Judith Herman .... computer graphics unit
Geoffrey Kirkland .... visual consultant
Sylvia Lovegren .... computer graphics unit
Jonathan Seay .... computer graphics unit
Wayne Baker .... assistant camera: miniature unit (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Tom Elliott .... stunt double: Matthew Broderick
Marguerite Happy .... stunts
Al Jones .... stunts
Michael Adams .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Rick Avery .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Anderberg .... grip
Gerald H. Boatright .... assistant chief lighting technician
David E. Diano .... assistant camera
Gary R. Dodd .... key grip (as Gary Dodd)
To Lee .... camera assistant trainee
Ralph Nelson .... still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Doug Pentek .... chief lighting technician
Richard Turner .... assistant camera
Richard Walden .... additional camera operator
Steve Yaconelli .... camera operator
 
Casting Department
Pat Orseth .... location casting: Seattle
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Matthews .... costumer: women
Ray Summers .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Ray Martin .... color timer
Liza Randol .... assistant film editor
Michael Ripps .... associate film editor
 
Music Department
Mark Hoder .... orchestrator
Joe Tuley .... music editor
Anthony Marinelli .... musician: synthesizer (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli .... song producer (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Randy Musselman .... driver captain
 
Other crew
Joy Anzarouth .... production coordinator
Robert C. Decker .... location manager (as Robert Decker)
Robert Eggenweiler .... location manager
Lyla Foggia .... unit publicist
John Garber .... dialogue coach
Dana Satler Hankins .... assistant: Mr. Badham (as Dana Satler)
Don Hansard .... process coordinator
Richard Keefe .... process librarian
Harold Michelson .... continuity consultant
H. Bud Otto .... script supervisor
Derry J. Pearce .... production auditor
Bill Watson .... pterosaur consultant
Duncan Wilmore .... technical advisor
Mike Berro .... computer programmer (uncredited)
Lynn Hendee .... production executive (uncredited)
Kevin King .... payroll accountant (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli .... synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
Lynn Dee Schwarz .... location scout (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
War Games (USA) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The NORAD command center built for the movie was the most expensive set ever constructed up to that time, built at the cost of one million dollars. The producers were not allowed into the actual NORAD command center, so they had to imagine what it was like. In the DVD commentary, director John Badham notes that the actual NORAD command center isn't nearly as elaborate as the one in the movie; he refers to the movie set as "NORAD's wet dream of itself." more
Goofs:
Factual errors: 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. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Guard Gainsburg: [into phone] Replacement team's here, sir.
Guard Gainsburg: [pause] Right.
Guard Gainsburg: [hangs up, buzzes in team] Come on through. Twenty minutes and we were gonna start looking for you guys.
Steve Phelps: Yeah. It's really something out there.
Guard Gainsburg: You look a mess, sir.
Jerry Lawson: Yeah? Your turn's next, Gainsburg.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Alias: Out of the Box (#5.5)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Video Fever more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
21 out of 29 people found the following comment useful:-
Interesting, original idea that delivers for the most part..., 29 February 2004
Author: MovieAddict2009 from UK

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."

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for WarGames (1983)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD: Original vs. 25th Madness832
Ally Sheedy A_szany
Mandark is in this movie!?? jj0908
After successful authentication, lines at bottom of David's display... alcockell
WWIII mfilmguy
Did this movie confuse thousands of people Qwertius
more

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