Joysticks

Joysticks has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Eternal Family and Hoopla. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 80 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Joe Don Baker's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Joysticks arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Joysticks does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A successful businessman attempts to shut down a video arcade he believes is harmful to the mental health of children. Joe Don Baker and Leif Green lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It was released in 1983. The timing in Joysticks is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Joysticks is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Joe Don Baker anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.

Joysticks was released in 1983, directed by Greydon Clark. The full 88-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.