War Games: Is It a Game, or Is It Real...

War Games: Is It a Game, or Is It Real...

Author: Jamie Logie | 1980s Pop Culture & Nostalgia August 27, 2025 Duration: 41:52

When it came out in the summer of 1983, War Games was seen as a fun, summertime popcorn movie. But was the premise of this film starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy more realistic than we realized?

Welcome to a free preview of the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast, which you can find at Patreon.com/80s. In this episode, we look back on the movie that was a bit of a surprise hit and went on to become a 1980s classic.

But, at the same time, War Games raised some serious questions--questions that even went all the way to the White House...


Step back into a world of neon, synth-pop, and big hair with Everything 80s. Hosted by Jamie Logie, this podcast is a deep, affectionate dive into the decade that shaped modern pop culture. It’s less a formal history lesson and more like rifling through a time capsule with a friend who remembers every detail. Episodes explore the films, television, music, and toys that weren't just entertainment-they were the shared language of a generation. You’ll hear specific discussions on everything from the rise of MTV and the cinematic magic of John Hughes to the toy-box revolutions of Transformers and the fantasy realms of He-Man. The conversation naturally spans the iconic, like Michael Jackson’s Thriller era, to the foundational moments of home gaming with Nintendo. This isn't just about listing favorites; it's about understanding why these cultural artifacts from the 1980s still resonate so powerfully today. For anyone feeling a pull of nostalgia or a curiosity about the era's lasting impact, this podcast offers a consistently engaging and insightful listen. Tune in to rediscover the sounds, stories, and sensations that defined an unforgettable ten years.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Everything 80s
Podcast Episodes
When Steve Jobs Was Forced Out of Apple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:14
It's 1984, and Apple Computers and its founder are on top of the world. Not only has Steve Jobs created one of the most remarkable machines of the 20th century, but he's also launched it in a way that will cause a ripple…
Stephen King: A Decade of Horror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:56
It was a decade of prolific creation, an era when the Master of Horror delivered some of his greatest works ever. Today, we look back at all the iconic and groundbreaking novels Stephen King released in the 1980s. We the…
The Rise of McDonald's Pizza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:03
The 1980s was a changing time not only for McDonald's but for the entire fast food industry. Competition had become cutthroat--and that was just for burgers. But now, the Pizza industry, led by the big three; Pizza Hut,…
Mr. T: From Bouncer to Prime Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:53
The story of Mr. T is as much the story of the 1980s as during a rapidly changing time of pop culture, he touched all aspects of entertainment. The big screen, the small screen, radio, home video, and even our toy shelve…
A Look Back at 1989 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:19
As the clock counted down on December 31st, 1989, it brought one of the most remarkable decades of the 20th Century to a close. A decade that--when it came to pop culture--may have been one of the most significant in his…
He-Man & the Masters of the Universe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:32
It was a gigantic risk... a brand-new character and product line set to launch alongside some of the most popular toy brands in history. How would this new character--that no one knew anything about--be able to stand out…
How Black Sitcoms Shaped the 1980s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:20
As we close out Black History Month, today we look back at 10 of the most groundbreaking Black sitcoms of the 80s. These shows not only helped define the decade but also had a huge impact on pop culture and changed telev…
The History & Controversy of Joe Camel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
If you were around in the late 80s, he seemed impossible to miss... An anthropomorphic cartoon camel that quickly became one of the defining spokes characters of the decade--but one that came with endless controversy. Th…
10 Forgotten Video Games From the 1980s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:10
Not everything could be a hit... Even though the 1980s gave us some of the best video games of all time, there were others that just slipped by the wayside--and some of them deserve better than that. Today we will look b…
Chernobyl: A Disaster in the Making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:25
It was just supposed to be a regular safety test... but in the early morning hours of April 26th, 1986, something went terribly wrong... For those opposed to nuclear energy, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was…