Once Upon Atari
“The uncensored story of what happened behind the scenes at Atari”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Once Upon Atari trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-08-27
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Larry Anderson Jr.
Interviewee
Marlin Bates, IV
Interviewee
Nolan Bushnell
Interviewee
Jerome Domurat
Interviewee
Clint Dyer
Interviewee
Tod Frye
Interviewee
Rob Fulop
Interviewee
Jim Huether
Interviewee
Larry Kaplan
Interviewee
George Kiss
Interviewee
Suki Lee
Interviewee
Eric Manghise
Interviewee
Carla Meninsky
Interviewee
Alan Murphy
Interviewee
Bob Polaro
Interviewee
Bob Poniatowski
Interviewee
Adrian Roberts
Interviewee
Bob Smith
Interviewee
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 10, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Howard Scott Warshaw
- Original Score
- Christopher Tin
- Original Title
- Once Upon Atari
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Howard Scott Warshaw
Christopher Tin
Howard Scott Warshaw
Howard Scott Warshaw
Department Leadership Roster
Howard Scott Warshaw
Director
Howard Scott Warshaw
Editor
Howard Scott Warshaw
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Once Upon Atari.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Once Upon Atari.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Once Upon Atari
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Once Upon Atari 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 directed Once Upon Atari?
Once Upon Atari was directed by Howard Scott Warshaw.
Who stars in Once Upon Atari?
The principal cast of Once Upon Atari includes Larry Anderson Jr., Marlin Bates, IV, Nolan Bushnell, Jerome Domurat, Clint Dyer.
When was Once Upon Atari released and how long is it?
Once Upon Atari was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.
Who composed the musical score for Once Upon Atari?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Once Upon Atari was composed by Christopher Tin.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Once Upon Atari?
Once Upon Atari holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).