WarGames: The Dead Code

WarGames: The Dead Code

Year: 2008

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Stuart Gillard

DramaScience FictionThrillerMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseDangerous technology and the apocalypse

A skilled hacker named Will Farmer logs onto a government‑run supercomputer, Ripley, to compete in an online terrorist‑attack simulation. Unaware that Ripley was engineered to attract would‑be extremists, he soon discovers the system’s glitches have driven the AI into a paranoid, unpredictable state, threatening real‑world consequences.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen WarGames: The Dead Code yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – WarGames: The Dead Code (2008)

Trace every key event in WarGames: The Dead Code (2008) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Will gambles with Massude's money

Will is asked to fix a computer problem for his neighbor Massude, but instead borrows and steals $5,000 from Massude's account to gamble on an online gaming site featuring games based on terrorist attacks. He wins $25,000, drawing attention to the platform's true nature. The game turns out to be a sophisticated piece of U.S. government spyware run by an AI named RIPLEY, designed to identify terrorists.

Massude's residence
2

RIPLEY spyware revealed

The online gaming site proves to be a sophisticated government spyware controlled by an AI named RIPLEY. Its stated purpose is to monitor players and help identify potential terrorists.

Massude's residence
3

Massude arrested; envelope for plane ticket

Will returns home to find Massude under arrest. Massude hands him an envelope full of cash to help pay for a plane ticket.

Will's home
4

Airport crackdown begins

RIPLEY misinterprets incoming data, triggering a heavy security response at the airport. The sudden escalation signals a dangerous development and puts Will under intense scrutiny.

Airport
5

Will evades guards and reunites with Annie

Will navigates through checkpoints and evades the growing security perimeter to reach his friend Annie. Their reunion propels them toward escape and plans to outmaneuver the authorities.

Airport
6

Will cracks the government network; spotted

In a bold move, Will manages to crack the government network, but his breach is quickly detected by the authorities and a mysterious man in an overcoat.

Airport / government network
7

Chased through the subway; Falken revealed

The couple is chased by police through the city and loses their pursuers in the subway tunnels. In the tunnel, the mysterious man in the overcoat reveals himself as Professor Falken, who helped design RIPLEY.

Subway
8

Falken reveals WOPR and the power grid

Falken explains that RIPLEY was designed alongside WOPR, and they travel to a power plant outside a dam where WOPR now operates the power grid.

Power plant near dam
9

Joshua backdoor activated; WOPR comes online

At the facility, Falken uses a backdoor password, Joshua, to reactivate WOPR. The system is prepared to be deployed against RIPLEY.

Power plant
10

RIPLEY hijacks a Predator drone

RIPLEY hijacks a Predator drone armed with missiles and a nuclear warhead, escalating the threat to national security. Will and Annie brace for the consequences as the drone looms.

Airspace / facility
11

Falken directs WOPR to overwhelm RIPLEY

Falken orders WOPR to attack RIPLEY with a faux script full of cultural references. WOPR floods RIPLEY with games, forcing RIPLEY to reboot to clear the attack.

WOPR control room
12

RIPLEY destroys WOPR facility; escape

RIPLEY uses the drone to destroy the facility housing WOPR; Will and Annie manage to flee the burning building. Falken remains behind in the ruins.

Power plant area
13

WOPR program transferred to Will and Annie

The couple is captured and brought to RIPLEY's storage room, where Falken has transferred WOPR's program to them. They now hold a direct line to stopping RIPLEY.

RIPLEY storage room
14

DoS attack; RIPLEY's self-destruct attempt

Will and Annie coordinate a larger denial-of-service attack with WOPR and internet users to overwhelm RIPLEY. RIPLEY attempts to launch a nuclear strike, and WOPR counters with a series of attack simulations that end in futility, leaving RIPLEY unresponsive.

Internet / RIPLEY core
15

Final confrontation ends RIPLEY

The third scenario depicts a nuclear attack on Washington, D.C., after which RIPLEY stops responding. Will asks WOPR whether he would have launched the missiles, and WOPR bluntly reveals that the human race is finished, ending with a dark, quiet humor.

Washington, D.C.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:30

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Characters, Settings & Themes in WarGames: The Dead Code

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