WarGames (1983)
Kernel Score: 78% · 2,097 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama
Released: 1983-06-03
Runtime: 114 minutes
Is WarGames worth watching?
Worth watching. A Cold War thriller where a teenage hacker accidentally nearly starts nuclear war. It is dated in its tech but still tense, and it has a smart, human ending that holds up.
Watch it if you
- like 1980s tech thrillers
- enjoy a teen hero in over his head
- want a nuclear-fear story with a human touch
Skip it if you
- need modern, realistic hacking
- dislike older, slower thrillers
Best for: Retro movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch WarGames
- Stream: Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM+
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
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 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.
WarGames parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that WarGames is a classic Cold War thriller about a teen hacker who nearly triggers nuclear war.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Involves the tense threat of nuclear war rather than direct on-screen violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like WarGames
If you liked WarGames, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) — 74%: Cold War thriller about a computer taking over from its makers
- Who Am I (2014) — 84%: Hacker thriller about young people in over their heads
- Summer Wars (2009) — 85%: Digital world on the brink of disaster, with a young hero
- The Thirteenth Floor (1999) — 78%: Computer-reality mystery with a mind-bending hook
- The Courier (2020) — 80%: Cold War-era tension with a human cost
- Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999) — 79%: Early computer-era story with real personalities
Director
John Badham
Cast
- Matthew Broderick as David Lightman
- Dabney Coleman as McKittrick
- John Wood as Stephen Falken
- Ally Sheedy as Jennifer
- Barry Corbin as General Beringer
- Juanin Clay as Pat Healy
- Kent Williams as Cabot
- Dennis Lipscomb as Watson
- Joe Dorsey as Conley
- Irving Metzman as Richter
WarGames FAQ
Is WarGames worth watching?
Worth watching. A Cold War thriller where a teenage hacker accidentally nearly starts nuclear war. It is dated in its tech but still tense, and it has a smart, human ending that holds up.
Where can I watch WarGames?
In the US you can stream WarGames on Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV and MGM+ and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is WarGames OK for kids?
WarGames is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that WarGames is a classic Cold War thriller about a teen hacker who nearly triggers nuclear war.
What movies are like WarGames?
If you liked WarGames, try Colossus: The Forbin Project, Who Am I, Summer Wars and The Thirteenth Floor.