Common Sense Media Review
By Randy White , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 11+
Suspenseful Cold War tale with teen gamer in control.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
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Products & Purchases
some
Lots of products seen, mostly in background: Century 21, Tab, 7-Eleven, State Farm insurance, Chevrolet, Budweiser, Coors, Horizon Air, Exxon, Pepsi, Sega.
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Language
some
Considerable amount of swearing and obscenities: "bulls--t," "hell," "Goddamn," "a--hole," "bastard," "piss," "screwed," "Jesus Christ," "pr--k."
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Violence & Scariness
a little
Heightened suspense as missiles are nearly launched to set off a nuclear war. One character holds a gun to another man's head; a speeding car crashes through a gate. The young hero is taken into custody and narrowly escapes in time to save the day.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Several characters smoke cigarettes.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
none
A couple of teen kisses.
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Positive Messages
some
Strongly promotes that idea that there are no winners in a nuclear war. Along with that, the story shows the consequences of putting too much power into the hands of machines, without the fail safe of human wisdom and compassion.
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Positive Role Models
some
A brilliantly obsessive high school student is never punished for infractions such as hacking into a computer to change a grade or rigging the system to fool his parents and school officials. He’s a boy without a moral compass until he learns a hard lesson. Lots of ethnic diversity among law enforcement and authorities, portrayed as basically honest, hardworking and doing their best. David has relatively clueless but well-meaning parents.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that WarGames is a suspense-filled drama that will appeal to older kids, teens, and grownups. While there's no violent action and the film delivers a sound message, it's a race against time -- nuclear weapons are about to be launched. Young heroes face off against the FBI and the military; war and peace hang in the balance. There's frequent swearing and use of some obscenities, as well as product placement throughout. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
WarGames
- Parents say (8)
- Kids say (16)
age 11+
Based on 8 parent reviews
Katherine R. Parent of 12, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
July 20, 2024
age 14+
NeversideFaerie Adult
September 3, 2017
age 11+
Thrilling, thought-provoking and very clever!
This is one of the few films I know of that is filled with action and suspense, yet has little to no violence. Rather, the film earns its rating because of intense scenes and a fair amount of bad language. Though this movie may be dated by now, its message still stands strong and the subject matter is great for promoting discussions between parents and children. It is immensely fun to watch together too - the story is utterly gripping and will have you on the edge of your seat!
Rate movie
See all 8 parent reviews
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?
Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (16):
Although dated in appearance, this clever and suspenseful movie questions both an overreliance 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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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.
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 3, 1983
- On DVD or streaming: April 28, 1998
- Cast: Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman, Matthew Broderick
- Director: John Badham
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: thematic intensity
- Last updated: August 22, 2024
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WarGames
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