Short Circuit

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1:44

Short Circuit

PG

1986

1h 38m

Comedy

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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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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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Catharine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

10/27/2021

5/10

Folks who like tweaking the Army or those with a special fondness for adorable robots may enjoy this harmless, reasonably funny film.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

04/02/2014

1/4

The film has nowhere to go except to give us a predictable initial confrontation between Guttenberg and Sheedy over military weapons.

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

04/02/2014

2/4

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.

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Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

07/27/2024

3/4

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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/07/2020

7/10

It's the charming machine and his damsel-in-distress who keep the picture afloat, putting a twist on conventional movie romances.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

10/15/2018

In the spectrum of "Mac and Me," and "E.T.," its right there smack dab in the middle with "Batteries Not Included."

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty Jul 30

This is the ET knockoff that actually hits. Has an overall comfy vibe, with a sweet little MC you can't help but get invested in. I love the ultra clever tactics used by the robot to evade capture, and the antics are quite enjoyable, although I think that's the end of the praise lol. Loved when the old couple thought they were getting busted for weed haha.

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Ethan W

@FilmLover2012 Jun 27

A perfect film for movie night!

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Melissa M

@Lisey Jun 23

Ben & Crosby robotic engineers work for Nova a company that makes military robotics. Stephanie is an animal loving down to earth individual who owns a food truck. She has an ex boyfriend who's nothing but an asshat. One day during the demonstration at Nova there is a lightning storm one of the robots gets struck by a bolt. It gets a bolt of energy & comes to life. Goes out in search of input. No 5 looking for food for thought literally falls into Stephanie's lunch truck. She takes him in thinking he's an ALF finding out he's nothing more than a military robot She turns him. No 5 doesn't want to be disassembled. After getting ambushed by Nova. During transport No 5 reassembles himself. As the story progresses with help from Stephanie & a skeptical Crosby they go on a wild adventure to prove to an equally skeptical Nova that No 5 it's not malfunction but humanly functional. Short circuit is a heartwarming comedy that could humanize even the most robotic person.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Jun 13

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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T W.

@Ttheman May 10

Short Circuit is a definite classic, with a charming robot, great humor and amazing soundtrack. Happy 40th Anniversary to this classic!

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Duante H.

@Duante2026 Mar 10

The Best Classic Movie Ever

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John Badham

Director

Ally Sheedy

Stephanie Speck

Steve Guttenberg

Newton Crosby

Fisher Stevens

Ben Jabituya

Austin Pendleton

Howard Marner

G.W. Bailey

Skroeder

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Your Mama Was a Snowblower

2:00

Short Circuit: Official Clip - It Just Runs Programs

2:01

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Disassembling Frank's Car

2:08

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Spontaneous Emotional Response

2:01

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Number 5 Is Still Alive

1:54

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Struck By Lightning

1:59

Short Circuit: Official Clip - It's Gone Berserk

1:50

Short Circuit: Official Clip - NOVA Demonstration

1:50

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Short Circuit: Trailer 1

1:44

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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, Producers Sales Organization, Turman-Foster Company
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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