Once Upon Atari (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 5.7
Released in 2003, Once Upon Atari is a documentary film directed by Howard Scott Warshaw, running about 120 minutes. “The uncensored story of what happened behind the scenes at Atari” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In the late 70s and early 80s, ET phoned home on Atari 2600 and became the video game that New Media magazine later described as having toppled a billion dollar industry. We know the industry rose again as a pale, commercial version of its old self, but… did you ever wonder what it was like back in the wild days when the titans of gaming clashed, not on Wall Street, but inside the minds of designers? Want to learn first hand how the barren valley south of The Bay gave birth to cult celebrity that died as quickly as it was born? Take the ride with the folks who made it happen. Walk on walls, smoke the evil weed, and plunge head first into the uncharted (undocumented) world that was game production back in the bad old days.
Who’s in it. Once Upon Atari stars Larry Anderson Jr. as Interviewee, Marlin Bates, IV as Interviewee, Nolan Bushnell as Interviewee and Jerome Domurat as Interviewee, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, Once Upon Atari has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Once Upon Atari page.
If you liked it. Fans of Once Upon Atari tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Once Upon Atari (2003)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Once Upon Atari change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Once Upon Atari worth watching?
- Once Upon Atari holds an audience score of 5.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Once Upon Atari?
- Once Upon Atari stars Larry Anderson Jr., Marlin Bates, IV, Nolan Bushnell, Jerome Domurat and Clint Dyer.
- When was Once Upon Atari released?
- Once Upon Atari was released in 2003, with a runtime of about 120 minutes.