The Wizard

The Wizard is a 1989 adventure comedy-drama film. The film follows three children as they travel to California. The youngest of the three is emotionally withdrawn with a gift for playing video games. The Wizard is famous for its numerous references to video games and accessories for the Nintendo Entertainment System and has been called a feature-length commercial. The film was also well known for being North America's introduction to what would become one of the best-selling video games of all time, Super Mario Bros. 3. Over time, the film has gained somewhat of a cult following.

They're on a cross-country adventure to the world's greatest video championship. It's more than a game...it's the chance of a lifetime. (taglines)

Dialogue

[Sam is making a casserole for dinner, but the casserole is almost completely burnt.]

Corey: [disgusted] Is that something original, Dad?

Sam: I'm trying to cook you guys a decent meal. You can't be living off burgers and pizza.

Nick: It cannot possibly belong to one of the four major food groups.

Sam: It's a casserole, genius. Doesn't it look like a casserole? Huh?

Corey: We saw Jimmy yesterday, Dad.

Sam: Yeah? So, how is he?

Corey: They're talking about putting him into a home.

Sam: That's Christine's decision. She has custody now. You know that.

Nick: Well, I'm, uh-- I'm not really too hungry. I'll grab something a little later.

Sam: I wanna know about the pickup. I found it this morning, covered in mud. You took it again.

Nick: Just give me a break, please. This has nothing to do with the pickup.

Sam: It has everything to do with it! I want to know why you disobey me when I give you a direct order!

Nick: Why do you do this?

Corey: They're gonna put him in a home, Nick!

Nick: He hasn't changed since Jennifer.

Corey: [talking over Nick] Oh, come on. Dad!

Nick: He doesn't do anything, he doesn't say anything.

Sam: Hey, what about it, man? What about the rules around here?

Nick: Don't call me "man," alright?

Corey: What? The pickup? The rules? You always do this!

Nick: Corey, come on!

Corey: No, Dad, will you listen to me? What, you want to see that happen? Huh? You want to see 'em put Jimmy in a home?

Sam: Corey--

Corey: Fine, Dad. Just because he's our half brother, he doesn't matter, right? [storms out of the house]

Sam: Cor-- [to Nick] Huh?

Nick: Enjoy your casserole. [goes after Corey]

[Sam tastes the casserole and is disgusted by the burnt taste.]

Nick: Corey.

Corey: Leave me alone.

Nick: Why do you keep doing this to yourself? It's been two years.

Corey: Yeah, what do you care?

Nick: Why don't you and I just go over to the Dairy Queen, huh? We'll kick back a couple. Come on, it's on me.

Corey: No. You didn't care about her when you had the chance. All you care about is yourself. [walks away]

---

Corey: [while Jimmy plays Double Dragon on a PlayChoice-10 arcade cabinet] Two tickets to California, please.

[a girl named Haley Brooks lowers the magazine she's reading.]

Bus Clerk: You got some place specific in mind or would you just like to be dumped at the border?

Corey: Is Los Angeles specific enough?

[Haley lowers her sunglasses]

Bus Clerk: That's $226.

Corey: Well, we only have $27.30. Where does that get us?

Bus Clerk: Nowhere. It is $34 just to get to St. George, Utah.

Corey: That's it? [his eyes widen in shock as he sees police car come in]

Police Radio: Hey, Scotty, some of those high school kids are up on the ridge, they're throwing rocks at the highway again. Chase 'em on home, will ya? Over.

[Corey pushes Jimmy away from arcade cabinet and ushers him into backroom but turns back in shock]

Corey: [shocked] 50,000? You got 50,000 on Double Dragon?

[Corey and Jimmy go into the back room. Haley sees police officer come in.]

Police Officer: Hey, Chester.

Bus Clerk: Hi, Mike.

Officer Mike: Here's Mrs. Johnson's complaints this month.

Chester: Not again.

[Haley goes into the back room.]

Corey: [to Jimmy] How'd you do that? You only played for five minutes. How the Hell did you get 50,000 on Double Dragon? I never got 50,000 on Double Dragon. How'd you do it?

Haley Brooks: [to Corey and Jimmy] Hi. [Corey and Jimmy turn around] I'm Haley. If you don't tell me what you're doing, I'm going to scream.

Corey: Uh, could you scream quietly?

Haley: What, do you think I'm stupid? I saw you look at that cop. What's his problem?

Corey: He's just shy.

Haley: Shy a few bricks, I'd say.

Corey: No, he's okay. He just kicked ass on Double Dragon.

Haley: Get out of here. Him?

Corey: Yeah, he could wax your tail.

Haley: No way.

Corey: Wanna bet?

Haley: How much?

Corey: $6.70.

Haley: I don't have $6.70.

Corey: Well, that's okay, 'cause, uh, [takes Haley's bus ticket.] you got a bus ticket. [Haley takes her bus ticket back.] You can cash it in.

---

[Sam and Nick are on the road looking for Corey and Jimmy]

Sam: [waking Nick up] Hey. Hey!

Nick: [tired] Hmm?

Sam: Where the Hell are we? [takes a bite of a donut while driving]

Nick: [groans] What is that? Donuts?

Sam: Yeah. So?

Nick: That's disgusting.

Sam: Ha-ha! From the guy who steals my pickup, who stays up drinking, the guy with a foul mouth, that's a compliment.

---

[at a restaurant]

Haley: [referring to Jimmy] 470,000, and climbing on F-1 Dream.

Bully #1: [about Jimmy] What is this kid, some kind of cyborg?

Corey: Sorry, wart-face, but, uh, first you play, then you pay.

Bully #2: Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey. Who you callin' "wart-face," weenie? Huh?

Owner: [appears] Hey, hey, what's goin' on over there? The three of ya, huh? What'd I tell you about roughhousing in here? I gotta spell it out. Roger! Roger, it's them again! [the bullies run away] I got video monsters, I got movie monsters, I got graffiti-on-the-wall monsters, I hate this place.

Kid: He's good, but he'd never beat Lucas.

Corey: Lucas?

Kid: Nobody's better than Lucas. Lucas...is awesome.

Corey: Oh, really? And, uh, where might we find this Lucas?

[scene switches to Lucas Barton]

Lucas: So... you The Wizard?

Corey: No, he is. [meaning Jimmy]

Lucas: [he and his goons laugh.] This guy? I don't get it, is he like a poster child for someone? [he and his goons snicker.]

Haley: For your information, butthead, he's headed for the Video Championships in Los Angeles.

[One of Lucas' goons snickers in faux-shock]

Lucas: [feigns shock] Ohh. Is that right? Well, let's just see how good he is, then. [to goons.] Guys? [his goons hand him his games.] Pick any game you want. I'm good at all of them. I have 97 of them.

Haley: You know all 97 of them?

[Lucas nods his head and smiles. Scene cuts to Lucas' case being opened, revealing the Power Glove. Lucas takes it out and puts it on.]

Haley: [to Corey] What is that?

Corey: [to Haley] I don't know.

Lucas: [enters Prog.-9-Enter-Enter, and pushes Start, turns to them and smiles with arrogant pride.] The Power Glove. [he plays Rad Racer with the Power Glove. After he crosses the finish line, he turns around and looks at Corey, Haley and Jimmy.]

Haley: [intrigued] Jeez.

Lucas: [smugly] I love the Power Glove. It's so bad.

Corey: [to Lucas] Yeah, well, uh, just keep your Power Gloves off her, pal. Huh? [Jimmy looks at Haley and Corey.] [to Jimmy] Go ahead, Jimmy. Show him what you got. [Jimmy stares] Go ahead! [Jimmy runs out.] Hey--Hey, Jimmy! [runs after Jimmy]

Lucas: [stops Haley briefly] By the way, I'm headed to the Championships, too.

---

Nick: Where the hell are we?

Sam: [sees Putnam's car] That son-of-a-bitch! [he floors the gas pedal]

Nick: Oh, Jesus! What the hell are you doing?! God!

[Sam rams the rear of Putnam's car with his truck]

Sam: [smugly] Sorry about that!

Putnam: WOODS?! You maniac! I'm gonna sue! Do ya hear me?! I'm gonna sue your ass when this is over!

Sam: You make money off of little kids, you miserable jerk! YA OUGHTA BE SHOT! [he puts his truck in reverse]

Nick: What are you doin'?

[Putnam yelps as his car is rammed again]

Sam: Do you want some more?! Huh?!

Nick: I don't think he does! He's had plenty!

Putnam: [under his breath] Son-of-a-bitch! [puts his car in reverse and rams the truck and laughs cockily] I told you to stay out of my way, Woods! [he drives out of sight; Sam storms out of his truck]

Sam: [furiously] YOU CHICKENSHIT! [defeated] Ah, Hell.

---

[last lines]

Corey: Jimmy.

Jimmy: [as Corey takes the picture from him] Jennifer.

Mr. Bateman: What is this? What's going on?

Corey: It's all of us. [shows picture] It was taken here. [to Jimmy] Jimmy. Jimmy, is this California? [Jimmy nods] I guess he just wanted to leave her in a place where she was happy. [Jimmy closes lunchbox] I guess he wanted to say good-bye.

Sam: [emotionally] Jim? [he and Jimmy hug]

Christine: [emotionally] Why don't you take our boys home, Sam? [Corey smiles] We'll talk when we get back to town.

Sam: [kisses Jimmy] [to Corey] Come on. [he and Corey hug] Let's go.

[Sam and Nick drive Jimmy, Haley, and Corey home. Haley kisses Jimmy on his cheek, and then she kisses Corey on his cheek. Jimmy then kisses Haley on her cheek as she giggles.]

Taglines

• They're on a cross-country adventure to the world's greatest video championship. It's more than a game...it's the chance of a lifetime.
• It's more than a game... It's the chance of a lifetime.

External links

• The Wizard quotes at the Internet Movie Database