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WarGames

1983·Movie
1h 54min·PG
IMDb7.1Metacritic777.6Rotten Tomatoes93%76%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVMGM+PhiloAMC+

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

WarGames fingerprint

High energy, a touch of humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and thrilling

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension9
  • Adrenaline7
  • Fast Pace7

Heart

Hopeful and nostalgic

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Hopefulness7
  • Nostalgia7
  • Coming of Age7

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Situational Comedy3
  • Physical Comedy1

World

Technology, history, and war

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability8
  • Novelty8
  • World Immersion7

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Intrigue8
  • Direction7
  • Acting7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing7
  • Cinematography6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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Suspense movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Is it a game, or is it real?

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.
80s Sci-Fi ThrillerCold War EraHacking & AITeen AdventureSuspensefulTechnology Cautionary TaleGlobal ConflictIntelligent PlotRewatchable

Crew

Directed by:
John Badham, Newt Arnold, Harold Michelson
Written by:
Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes
Produced by:
Leonard Goldberg, Robert Eggenweiler, Wallis Nicita
Composed by:
Willie D. Burton, Michael J. Kohut, Arthur B. Rubinstein

Sequels and Prequels

GoodWatch79
Poster for WarGames

Media

Questions about WarGames

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream WarGames legally?

PrimefuboTVMGM+PhiloAMC+The RokuKanopyHoopla

WarGames is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, and AMC+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is WarGames worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 77). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is WarGames rated?

PG

It's rated PG in the United States.

How long is WarGames?

1 h 54 min

WarGames runs 1 h 54 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on WarGames?

Critics85
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate WarGames higher (85) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was WarGames a box office hit?

Budget$12 million
Box office$125 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $12 million to make and earned $125 million worldwide, 10.4 times its budget.

What language is WarGames in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch WarGames?

125ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+111

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for WarGames in 125 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does WarGames use?

Soft GlassThe End of the World as We Know ItDefcon 5Cannot Tell Fiction from RealityThe WatsonMadden Into MisanthropySchmuck BaitHey, Wait!Blatant LiesMutually Assured DestructionCalling the Old Man OutToo Dumb to Liveand 185 more

TV Tropes lists 197 storytelling tropes for WarGames, including Soft Glass, The End of the World as We Know It, Defcon 5.