Short Circuit

Name: Short Circuit
Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Family
Released: May 9, 1986
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg

1986

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Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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Short Circuit

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: May 9, 1986 | PG

Starring: Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg

Summary: Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.

Director: John Badham

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Salom Alaton

Guttenberg has yet to make a comedy that isn't all the more pleasant for his presence. Sheedy, meanwhile, is wholesomeness personified - almost a new Sally Field embodying the positive aspects of American willpower, energy and openness. She has talent. She has freckles. She is a star. Even robots fall for her. Badham wired this one up pretty good. [09 May 1986, p.D1]

Rita Kempley

Short Circuit fizzles a little at the end when the script becomes even more predictable and mawkish. But Badham's technological know-how can't be denied, and the pleasures of Number Five are considerable. [09 May 1986, p.27]

Time Out London Staff (Not Credited)

Cuteness is never far off, though Badham has enough sense of pace, and the robotics are sufficiently inventive, to keep the laughs coming. Only Guttenberg's tongue-twisted Asian sidekick (Stevens) is off-key. Read full review

Bill Cosford

The running character of a dim-bulb scientist of Indian or Pakistani extraction, who is prone to malapropisms, badly accented English and Carson-esque wink-and-giggle innuendo, might not seem offensive in a better film. Here it seems designed only for cheap laughs. The laughs come. They are cheap. [09 May 1986, p.D5]

Kevin Thomas

Having succeeded at a persuasive, endearing anthropomorphosis, the film makers have come up with only a so-so picture to go with it. All that was really needed to make Short Circuit a more satisfying experience was to up the script a couple of notches and apply a lighter touch to it. Unfortunately, director John Badham and his fledgling writers have taken a very broad, heavy-handed approach. Read full review

Empire Gavin Bainbridge

Safe, sentimental, and loved by kids, Short Circuit never tries to dissect it's predecessor (E.T.) nor outdo it in any way. Would have been nice to see a human-robot love triangle. Read full review

Gene Siskel

Short Circuit is an obvious WarGames ripoff in which a robot steals every scene from wooden performances by the always-too-eager-to-please Steve Guttenberg and the usually likable Ally Sheedy. Read full review

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User Reviews

jdlmon3

Mar 25, 2018

Great 80S movie about a Robot who is alive! Unlike a lot of other movies this is not a fast paced movie but a light hearted story about #5 and his journey to stay alive.

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OriginalDanger

Jul 11, 2020

This sci-fi comedy is suitable for the whole family... Short Circuit made in 1986 stars Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg and that funny talking dude but don't know his name.. Short Circuit is basically about a robot who electrocutes himself, gets electrocuted or something and thinks he's alive,This sci-fi comedy is suitable for the whole family... Short Circuit made in 1986 stars Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg and that funny talking dude but don't know his name.. Short Circuit is basically about a robot who electrocutes himself, gets electrocuted or something and thinks he's alive, the story whatever it is seems odd and I don't even remember how he ended up with Stephanie (Ally Sheedy) but as far as I recall he ended up or landed on her vehicle roof but that's a guess as I've not seen Short Circuit in years. A company or something called Nova are in pursuit of the missing robot but it's good family fun. Short Circuit has good acting and rather camp acting but Steve Guttenberg is always top notch. Short Circuit spawned a sequel called Short Circuit 2 but the original beats it. It's not the best sci-fi film in it's genre and compared to Cocoon which also stars Guttenberg this is second rate but it's still decent and entertaining even if some of the characters are silly.… Expand

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Hague

Jul 7, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Short Circuit gives us a hilarious experience through the eyes of protagonist NOVA Robotics Number 5. Number 5 lives a "life" as a robot that is supposedly "alive" and killable. Short Circuit is an incredibly recommended film for teens and adults out there that are seeking a lust for comedy.… Expand

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