*batteries not included (1987)

Apartment block tenants seek the aid of alien mechanical life-forms to save their building from demolition.

Director:

Matthew Robbins

Writers:

Mick Garris (story), Brad Bird (screenplay),

Stars:

Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Frank McRae

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hume Cronyn	...	Frank Riley
Jessica Tandy	...	Faye Riley
Frank McRae	...	Harry Noble
Elizabeth Peña	...	Marisa Esteval
Michael Carmine	...	Carlos
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Mason Baylor
Tom Aldredge	...	Sid Hogenson
Jane Hoffman	...	Muriel Hogenson
John DiSanti	...	Gus
John Pankow	...	Kovacs
MacIntyre Dixon	...	DeWitt
Michael Greene	...	Lacey
Doris Belack	...	Mrs. Thompson
Wendy Schaal	...	Pamela
José Angel Santana	...	Goon #1 (as José Santana)

Storyline

A group of tenants in an apartment block are being forced to move out so that it can be demolished. The tenants are reluctant to move, so the developers hire a local gang to 'persuade' them to leave. Fortunately, visiting alien mechanical life-forms come to town. When they befriend the tenants, the aliens use their extraterrestrial abilities to defeat the developers.

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | memory loss | skyscraper | restaurant | pepsi cola | 

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Taglines:

Five ordinary people needed a miracle. Then one night, Faye Riley left the window open.

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Genres:

Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Milagro en la calle 8

Filming Locations:

East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$32,945,797 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The building that housed Hume Cronyn's lunch counter was a unique old building that was the only one on the block. Twenty-five years earlier it was used for the Judy Holliday musical Bells Are Ringing with the block in the same condition.

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Goofs

During a far shot of the building burning, a group of people are backing up towards the camera. One of these men hit the camera and you can see the camera slightly shake, the man then looks at the camera with the corner of his eye.

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Quotes

Harry: [before punching Carlos out the Door] I'll take door Number 1.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening credits, pictures of young Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy are shown.

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Connections

Referenced in Conan: The Doomsday Device (Batteries Not Included) (2012)

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Soundtracks

"LET'S HAVE ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE"
by Irving Berlin
Performed by Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn

User Reviews

F.A.B!

A true classic. This was the first film I ever saw, and it has stayed my favorite for almost 17 years! Obviously, some may hate it, and some may love it, but its one of those films you have to judge for yourself. OK, so, perhaps the storyline is a bit thin, predictable and slightly unbelievable, but, what film isn't? There are more good points than bad (I'm not giving the good ones away, you'll have to see them for yourselves!) It could do with a bit of updating, maybe a newer version could cover up plot holes and dodgy script, but then it would lose all its charm. And Batteries Not Included definitely has charm, bucket-loads!

In my opinion it should be up there with Star Wars and E.T as a cult classic. It'll make you laugh, cry and hate the bad guy.

I definitely recommend it! Go watch it!