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WarGames (PG, 1983)

common sense media says

A war-era cautionary tale.

parents & educators say
  • 33% say there are positive messages
See all 11 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film deals with mature topics such as nuclear war and nuclear holocaust, but also has as its main character a computer hacker who breaks the law without remorse.

Positive messages: The main character is a computer hacker who uses his skills for illicit purposes. For example, he infiltrates the school computer and changes his grades, with no remorse or punishment.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Necking.
Language: The curses are mostly mild, including "bull---."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A reference to smoking marijuana.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on WarGames

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Cold War history. Also, while the movie is dated, it might be provide a way to talk about the current war, and to ask your kids about their own fears.

What's the story?

What's the story?
America comes to the brink of World War III when a teenager accidentally hacks into a military computer. The story begins when computer gamer David (Matthew Broderick) accidentally cracks into the Pentagon's computer system and starts to play the game "Global Thermonuclear War." But the game is real, and the fate of the world is at stake, leaving David, his friend Jennifer (Ally Sheedy), and government official McKittrick (Dabney Coleman) are in a race to stop the Pentagon computer from bombing Russia.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Although dated in appearance, this clever and suspenseful movie questions both an over-reliance on technology and the Reagan-era defense policy. This movie makes a strong case against nuclear war, portraying it as a game of brinksmanship with no winners. It also warns against leaving the responsibility of starting a nuclear war to artificial intelligence technology. The final sequence dramatizes these dangers with simulated explosions on wall-sized screens.

Nevertheless, WarGames manages to have fun with a very serious topic. The overall atmosphere of the movie is playful, as kids ride their bikes from house to house while the fate of the world rests in their hands. The Pacman-era technology may seem hokey by today's standards, but the military command center, with its multiple screens, is still impressive. Ironically, much of the "computer" simulation was accomplished with good old-fashioned animation. The movie anticipates various technological advances, most notably the explosion of the Internet. Teens interested in computers and game theory will find much to enjoy.

Movie themes & details

Themes
adventures
Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA
Director: John Badham
Cast: Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman, Matthew Broderick
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release: June 3, 1983
DVD release: April 28, 1998
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: thematic intensity
This review was written by Randy White
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say there are positive messages
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

zamel
teen, 14 years old
9
 
good movie
theres more sespence than scary parts
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Just saying
educator
11
 
Great discussion starter for our tech age
I love this movie, with its message that "mutual assured destruction" is indeed MAD, and that humans cannot let machines make decisions for them. There is no foolproof algorithm.
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Turk55
teen, 16 years old
 
Suspenseful, classic, but language is unavoidable.
I like this movie, for being a tolerable family movie for it's time. Even more, my dad's best friend's great-uncle was the General at NORAD at that time. Suspense is a good factor of this movie, hackers may not want to risk starting a nuclear war because of this. Funny, but watch out, language is present in this movie.
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dolphinlover9
adult
 
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masterchief117
kid, 12 years old
10
 
you should't always lisen to csm
this movie has a medium amount of language including the s-word. theres no violence but if you include a fake nucular war as violence theres plenty of it. theres a sexual joke that young kids should't hear. young kids may get scared of a few things in this movie.
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mongofa
teen, 17 years old
10
 
10 and up
I don't know what people are talking about this movie is not scary, there isn't a whole lot of language(and the language there is is very tame). At times it can be a bit intense, but nothing out and out scary.
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9001
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Iffy for ages 12-15.
I'm very surprised and disappointed with both the MPAA rating and the CSM rating. This movie has a TON of language, I was shocked to here so much swearing in a PG movie. This movie contains every, or almost every non-sexually derived swear word, and plenty of it. "PG for thematic intensity"? PLEASE. I've seen language mentioned in a PG movie for mild language such as "d--n" or "h--l". But yet they just happen not to mention language in a PG movie that has more language than many PG-13 movies? Wow. But yes, this movie definitely contains thematic intensity. My main concern would be the strong language and the scene of a sexually-themed biology class. Iffy for ages 12-15, off for 11 and under.
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dr duck
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Therre is no violence hardly any language of sexual stuff but ULTRA scary
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MISS BOOBOO
adult
 
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moviegeek222
teen, 17 years old
 
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KeyJewel
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Cautionary movie
This movie was created before there was PG-13, and it's definitely not R. It's a good, cautionary tale.
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