In a world where the Cold War serves as a backdrop, a young computer genius named David Lightman feels trapped in the monotony of school life. Fed up with his routine, he decides to hack his country's computer system just for fun and with no malicious intent. But things get complicated when he accidentally accesses an ultra-secret military program that simulates a nuclear conflict.
Unaware of the magnitude of his actions, David starts a war game with an artificial intelligence system known as WOPR (which stands for "War Operation Plan Response"). Believing it to be just a simple video game, he begins to play with the future of the world, triggering a series of events that lead military officials to believe that a real war is about to begin. As the clock ticks down, David realizes that the line between the game and reality has dangerously blurred.
Along with his friend Jennifer, David must find a way to stop the game before the WOPR makes fateful decisions and launches a nuclear war. In their quest, they confront the complex relationship between man and machine, and the true nature of the fear of war. With a tone of satire and a critique of technology, this story transforms into a tense suspense that explores the implications of a world dependent on artificial intelligence.