Wargames is a 1983 American techno-thriller film directed by John Badham, written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes, and starring Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, John Wood, and Ally Sheedy.
The film tells the story of David Lightman (Broderick), a young computer hacker who unwittingly accesses a United States military supercomputer programmed to simulate, predict and execute nuclear war against the Soviet Union, triggering a false alarm that threatens to start World War III.
David and his girlfriend, Jennifer Mack (Sheedy), must race against time to stop the computer before it launches a real nuclear attack. They are aided by Dr. Stephen Falken (Wood), the creator of the computer, and Joshua (Coleman), the military officer in charge of the computer's project.
Wargames was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its suspenseful plot, its realistic depiction of computer technology, and its thought-provoking themes. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Editing.
It is a classic techno-thriller film that is still relevant today. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear war and the importance of responsible artificial intelligence.
The film has been praised for its realistic portrayal of computer technology. In the early 1980s, personal computers were still relatively new, and many people were unfamiliar with them. WarGames showed how computers could be used for both good and bad purposes.
The film also explores the thought-provoking themes of nuclear war and artificial intelligence. In the film, the computer, WOPR, is able to learn and adapt at a rapid pace. This raises the question of whether artificial intelligence could become so powerful that it could pose a threat to humanity.
Wargames is a must-see film for fans of techno-thrillers and science fiction. It is also a film that everyone should see, as it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear war and the importance of responsible artificial intelligence.
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- Matthew Broderick as David Lightman
- Dabney Coleman as Dr. John McKittrick
- John Wood as Stephen Falken / WOPR (voice)
- Ally Sheedy as Jennifer Mack
- Barry Corbin as Gen. Jack Beringer
- Juanin Clay as Patricia Healy
- Dennis Lipscomb as Lyle Watson
- Kent Williams as Arthur Cabot
- Joe Dorsey as Col. Joe Conley
- Michael Ensign as Beringer's Aide
- William Bogert as Mr. Lightman, David's father
- Susan Davis as Mrs. Lightman, David's mother
- Irving Metzman as Paul Richter
- John Spencer as Cpt. Jerry Lawson
- Michael Madsen as Lt. Steve Phelps
- Alan Blumenfeld as Mr. Liggett
- James Tolkan as Mr. Wigan
- Drew Snyder as Ayers
- Maury Chaykin as Jim Sting
- Eddie Deezen as Malvin
- Jason Bernard as Cpt. Newton
- Jesse D. Goins as Sgt. Lennon
- Stephen Lee as Sgt. Schneider
- Art LaFleur as NORAD Guard
- William H. Macy as NORAD Officer (uncredited)
Director: John Badham
Writers: Lawrence Lasker Walter F. Parkes Walon Green
Box Office Gross: $79,567,667
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Genre: Action Drama Sci-Fi Thriller
Release Date: June 3, 1983