Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 11+
Suspenseful Cold War tale with teen gamer in control.
What 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.
- 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.
The good stuff
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Positive messages: 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: 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.
What to watch for
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Violence: 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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Sexy stuff: A couple of teen kisses.
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Language: Considerable amount of swearing and obscenities: "bulls--t," "hell," "Goddamn," "a--hole," "bastard," "piss," "screwed," "Jesus Christ," "pr--k."
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Consumerism: 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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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Several characters smoke cigarettes.