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Short Circuit

Play trailer Poster for Short Circuit PG Released May 9, 1986 1h 38m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
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).
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Short Circuit

Short Circuit

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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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Critics Reviews

View All (39) Critics Reviews
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 Dan Webster Spokesman-Review (Washington) You've seem it before, and it's got a sweetness that makes even Steven Spielberg look a little like Scrooge, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better film to both entertain your kids and teach them an important lesson about the meaning of life. Rated: 3/4 Jul 27, 2024 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dave C Love, love, love this! AI and robotics in an intelligent, funny, warm, and nerdy sci-fi hosted by some of the top acting talent of its era. It plays just as well now as it did when I first watched it decades ago. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/07/24 Full Review Norm W I first watched Short Circuit with my child. We have since watched it together when he was a teenager. Both times we said it is one of a few classic kids movies. I recently watched it again and enjoyed the pure fun of the story. There may be only one exception as a child’s movie: swearing. I ignored the profanity the first time I saw it. I asked my child if it was noticed, but it wasn’t. Children don’t perceive the few times profanity was used because the delivery was swift and not material to the dialog. Just one more thing, for today’s overly sensitive audiences they might perceive a couple of “politically incorrect” items that could offend, but still funny, even campy. The anamatronics and puppetry in the movie is exceptional. It makes you believe that the robot is alive. To an adult in 2024, it might sometimes look a little cartoonish, but to me it sets the story in a simpler time when plots relied on solid story lines and not glitzy CG special effects. Think of Starwars with all the rubber puppets and the shaky speeder. I believe that if this movie were remade using CG, it would flop. I will keep this movie in my collection to watch again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Gary M This movie is awesome. Just the work they did with the robots alone is worth more than the 5 stars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Prabudhjeet A For me, this character is above wall e. A good family friendly holiday movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Short Circuit

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Cast & Crew

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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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
Lawrence Turman, David Foster
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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