Short Circuit (1986)

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

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock

Stars:

Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ally Sheedy	...	Stephanie Speck
Steve Guttenberg	...	Newton Crosby
Fisher Stevens	...	Ben Jabituya
Austin Pendleton	...	Howard Marner
G.W. Bailey	...	Skroeder
Brian McNamara	...	Frank
Tim Blaney	...	Number 5 (voice)
Marvin J. McIntyre	...	Duke
John Garber	...	Otis
Penny Santon	...	Mrs. Cepeda
Vernon Weddle	...	General Washburne
Barbara Tarbuck	...	Senator Mills
Tom Lawrence	...	Howard Marner's Aide
Fred Slyter	...	Norman
Billy Ray Sharkey	...	Zack

Storyline

Number 5, one of a group of experimental military robots, undergoes a sudden transformation after being struck by lightning. He develops self-awareness, consciousness, and a fear of the reprogramming that awaits him back at the factory. With the help of a young woman, Number 5 tries to evade capture and convince his creator that he has truly become alive.

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Plot Keywords:

mistaken for alien | animal lover | artificial intelligence | robot | struck by lightning | 

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Taglines:

Life is not a malfunction.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cortocircuito

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$40,697,761

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures,Producers Sales Organization (PSO),Turman-Foster Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the subtle ways in which the movie shows Number 5 becoming alive is his gradual transition from referring to himself in the third person to the first person, implying a development of self-awareness. This is particularly evident when he says "I am alive" to Crosby after repeatedly saying "Number five is alive" earlier in the movie.

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Goofs

As Johnny 5 starts to fall off the waste disposal truck after leaving Nova there are lots of trees visible. But in the next shot, the truck is driving by a field.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Number 5: Number 5 stupid name; want to be Kevin, or Dave.
Newton Crosby: Just watch the road, okay?
Number 5: Maybe Johnny... Yeah, Johnny 5.
Stephanie Speck: Yes!
Newton Crosby: Cool.

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Crazy Credits

The credits are played out over a montage of scenes from the movie, including a pair of scenes that failed to make the final cut. One involves an encounter between Number 5 and a toy robot, the other involves a scene in a scrap yard where a scrapped car that Number 5 is currently sitting in is crushed.

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Connections

Referenced in Blades of Glory (2007)

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Soundtracks

Who's Johnny
("Short Circuit" Theme)
Written by Péter Wolf (as Peter Wolf) and Ina Wolf
Performed by El DeBarge
Courtesy of Motown Records

User Reviews

Great fun for kids and adults

What makes this movie so entertaining? It could be a number of things: A cute robot, a good cast, great comedy, and John Badham, the director that can take a low budget film and make it into a classic (such as his previous work, Saturday Night Fever, which was alot more vulgar) Or Maybe it's just fun to watch all of the neat little gadgets Number 5 has, showing that some of the least expensive things can be made to look high-tech.