WarGames
A teenage hacker accidentally accesses a military supercomputer that simulates nuclear war, and he must outsmart the machine before its deadly game becomes reality.
“Is it a game, or is it real?”
Synopsis
David Lightman, a high school student, possesses a talent for hacking. While attempting to access a computer system to play unreleased video games, he inadvertently connects to the Department of Defense's war computer, triggering a global confrontation. Along with his friend and a highly skilled computer genius, David must work quickly to outmaneuver his opponent and avert a nuclear catastrophe.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 172+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Tom RolfShot by William A FrakerScored by Arthur B RubinsteinDesigned by Angelo P GrahamSound by Milton C BurrowStunts by Michael AdamsVFX by Michael Fink Nm0277842
Box Office
1983 · Box office
💰 Box-office hit — grossed 10× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$124.6M
US & Canada: $79.6M — 64% of worldwide · International: $45.0M (36%)
Also known as
- War Games - Kriegsspielede
- WarGames - Kriegsspielede
- War Gamesen
- Juegos de guerraes
- Wargames - Giochi di guerrait
- (Bulgarian)Военни игри
Release dates around the world5 countries · showhide
- FranceMay 19, 1983
- United StatesJun 3, 1983
- ArgentinaJul 7, 1983
- AustraliaAug 4, 1983
- United KingdomAug 18, 1983
Companies
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Cast & Crew
172 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Matthew Broderick
as David Lightman
Ally Sheedy
as Jennifer
John Wood
as Falken
Dabney Coleman
as McKittrick
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
Michael Ensign
as Beringer's Aide
William Bogert
as Mr. Lightman
Supporting cast
47Susan Davis
as Mrs. Lightman
James Tolkan
as Wigan
David Clover
as Stockman
Drew Snyder
as Ayers
John Garber
as Corporal in the Infirmary
Duncan Wilmore
as Major Lem
Billy Ray Sharkey
as Radar Analyst
John Spencer
as Jerry
Michael Madsen
as Steve
James Lemp
as Commander
Gary Bisig
as Deputy
Gary Sexton
as Technician
Jason Bernard
as Captain Knewt
Frankie Hill
as Airman Fields
Jesse D Goins
as Sergeant
Alan Blumenfeld
as Mr. Liggett
Len Lawson
as Boys Vice Principal
Maury Chaykin
as Jim Sting
Eddie Deezen
as Malvin
Stephen Lee
as Sgt. Schneider
Lucinda Crosby
as Nurse in Infirmary
Stack Pierce
as Airman
Art Lafleur
as Guard Ginsberg
Brad David
as Flight Pilot Leader
Martha Shaw
as Vice Principal's Secretary
Howie Allen
as Boy in Arcade
Michael Adams
as Travis
James Ackerman
as Joshua
Jim Harriott
as Newscaster
Tom Lawrence
as Sgt. Sims
Frances E Nealy
as Visitor
Charles Akins
as Major Ford
Glenn Standifer
as Major Wenstin
Edward Jahnke
as NORAD Officer
Paul V Picerni Jr
as Paul the Technician
Gary Bohn
as NORAD Officer
Tory Christopher
as Arcade Kid
Jack Clinton
as NORAD Officer
Michael Taylor Donovan
as Convenience Store Clerk
Sally Frei
as NORAD Officer
Bob Harks
as Major at Norad Control Center
Katherine Hittelman
as High School Student
William H Macy
as NORAD Officer
Ed Mcdermott Ii
as Scientist
Don Savage
as FBI Agent
Ed Vandell
as Military Officer
Tim Werner
as NORAD Officer
Directors
1Writers
2Producers
4Other crew
115James J Murakami
Art Director
David E Diano
assistant camera
Richard Turner
assistant camera
Gerald H Boatright
assistant chief lighting technician
Liz Randol
assistant film editor (as Liza Randol)
John M Schenk
assistant property master
Dana Satler Hankins
assistant: Mr. Badham (as Dana Satler)
Michael Ripps
associate film editor
Daniel Turk
carpenter (uncredited)
Wallis Nicita
Casting Director, casting (as Wally Nicita)
Doug Pentek
chief lighting technician
William A Fraker
Cinematographer, director of photography
Parents Guide
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Where to watch
Live · bot-verified- FuboStream
- MGM+Stream
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