WarGames (1983)
Kernel Score: 78% · 2,097 TMDB 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: Prime Video, YouTube TV
- Free with ads: Prime Video (free with ads), Amazon MX Player
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-12.
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 Prime Video and YouTube TV, watch it free with ads on Prime Video (free with ads) and Amazon MX Player 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.