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      Short Circuit

      PG Released May 9, 1986 1h 38m Comedy List
      61% 38 Reviews Tomatometer 67% 100,000+ Ratings Audience Score After a lightning bolt gives it human emotions and intelligence, a military robot escapes and finds refuge at the home of an animal-loving pacifist (Ally Sheedy). Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 16 Buy Now

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      Critics Consensus

      Amiable and good-natured but also shallow and predictable, Short Circuit is hardly as deep or emotionally resonant as E.T. -- though Johnny Five makes for a charming robot protagonist.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Jeremiah N Johnny number 5 is the best character in a movie about a sentient robot! Who is only sentient after a lightning strike hits him! They don't make films like this anymore! Hollywood seems to be out of new ideas! Bring back the 70's,80's and 90's film makers! We miss those people! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review Duncan P Absolute classic. From start to finish Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/02/23 Full Review David W A movie which was very much of its era. The cast do well, Johnny Five is very likeable and manages to both generate empathy and raise some laughs. The movie on the whole is good natured and endearing if a little predictable (it was primarily a family movie afterall). There's some racial stereotyping that might furrow the woke brigade eyebrows but this not withstanding it's still well worth a watch for those in a nostalgic or whimsical mood. A product of a simpler time but that's no bad thing in my book. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/27/23 Full Review Siarra These reviews are bogus both movies were great. So many movies after this one wish they could create this magic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Dustin A I know people were expecting this movie to be as good as it was when they were kids but it's really hard to turn back the clock. Fortunately I can do that because I'm not overly critical about a movie made back in the 80s. It's as good to watch today as the first time I watched it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Joel S Another great Sci-Fi movie, like they don't do them anymore. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Short Circuit

      Short Circuit: Official Clip - Your Mama Was a Snowblower Short Circuit: Official Clip - Your Mama Was a Snowblower 2:00 Short Circuit: Official Clip - It Just Runs Programs Short Circuit: Official Clip - It Just Runs Programs 2:01 Short Circuit: Official Clip - Disassembling Frank's Car Short Circuit: Official Clip - Disassembling Frank's Car 2:08 Short Circuit: Official Clip - Spontaneous Emotional Response Short Circuit: Official Clip - Spontaneous Emotional Response 2:01 Short Circuit: Official Clip - Number 5 Is Still Alive Short Circuit: Official Clip - Number 5 Is Still Alive 1:54 Short Circuit: Official Clip - Struck By Lightning Short Circuit: Official Clip - Struck By Lightning 1:59 Short Circuit: Official Clip - It's Gone Berserk Short Circuit: Official Clip - It's Gone Berserk 1:50 Short Circuit: Official Clip - NOVA Demonstration Short Circuit: Official Clip - NOVA Demonstration 1:50 View more videos

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      Short Circuit

      Short Circuit (1986) Short Circuit (1986) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Catherine Rambeau Detroit Free Press Folks who like tweaking the Army or those with a special fondness for adorable robots may enjoy this harmless, reasonably funny film. Rated: 5/10 Oct 27, 2021 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune The film has nowhere to go except to give us a predictable initial confrontation between Guttenberg and Sheedy over military weapons. Rated: 1/4 Apr 2, 2014 Full Review Desmond Ryan Philadelphia Inquirer One of the stranger ironies to be found in Hollywood these days is that some of its most resourceful directors use high-tech wizardry and state-of- the-art movie technology to make films that rail against the tyranny of science. Rated: 2/4 Apr 2, 2014 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins It's the charming machine and his damsel-in-distress who keep the picture afloat, putting a twist on conventional movie romances. Rated: 7/10 Sep 7, 2020 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed In the spectrum of "Mac and Me," and "E.T.," its right there smack dab in the middle with "Batteries Not Included." Oct 15, 2018 Full Review Roger Hurlburt South Florida Sun-Sentinel Number Five is the real star of this energetic film. Sheedy, Guttenberg and company are just supporting players. Apr 2, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis After a lightning bolt gives it human emotions and intelligence, a military robot escapes and finds refuge at the home of an animal-loving pacifist (Ally Sheedy).
      Director
      John Badham
      Producer
      Mark Damon, John W. Hyde
      Screenwriter
      S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock
      Distributor
      TriStar Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc.
      Production Co
      TriStar Pictures, Turman-Foster Company, Producers Sales Organization
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 9, 1986, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Dec 6, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $39.0M
      Runtime
      1h 38m
      Sound Mix
      Surround
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