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Short Circuit

  • 19861986
  • PGPG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,881
618
Tim Blaney in Short Circuit (1986)
Pre, "Coming This May"
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
37 Photos
ComedyFamilySci-Fi
Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,881
618
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • S.S. Wilson
    • Brent Maddock
    • Jay Tarses(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Ally Sheedy
    • Steve Guttenberg
    • Fisher Stevens
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • S.S. Wilson
    • Brent Maddock
    • Jay Tarses(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Ally Sheedy
    • Steve Guttenberg
    • Fisher Stevens
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 130User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Short Circuit
    Trailer 1:49
    Watch Short Circuit

    Photos37

    Tim Blaney in Short Circuit (1986)
    Fisher Stevens in Short Circuit (1986)
    Ally Sheedy in Short Circuit (1986)
    Ally Sheedy in Short Circuit (1986)
    Tim Blaney in Short Circuit (1986)
    Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy, and Fisher Stevens in Short Circuit (1986)
    Ally Sheedy and Brian McNamara in Short Circuit (1986)
    Ally Sheedy in Short Circuit (1986)
    Steve Guttenberg and Ally Sheedy in Short Circuit (1986)
    Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy, Fisher Stevens, and Tim Blaney in Short Circuit (1986)
    Tim Blaney in Short Circuit (1986)
    Steve Guttenberg and Fisher Stevens in Short Circuit (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ally Sheedy
    Ally Sheedy
    • Stephanie Speck
    Steve Guttenberg
    Steve Guttenberg
    • Newton Crosby
    Fisher Stevens
    Fisher Stevens
    • Ben Jabituya
    Austin Pendleton
    Austin Pendleton
    • Howard Marner
    G.W. Bailey
    G.W. Bailey
    • Skroeder
    Brian McNamara
    Brian McNamara
    • Frank
    Tim Blaney
    Tim Blaney
    • Number 5
    • (voice)
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    • Duke
    John Garber
    • Otis
    Penny Santon
    Penny Santon
    • Mrs. Cepeda
    Vernon Weddle
    Vernon Weddle
    • General Washburne
    Barbara Tarbuck
    Barbara Tarbuck
    • Senator Mills
    Tom Lawrence
    Tom Lawrence
    • Howard Marner's Aide
    Fred Slyter
    • Norman
    Billy Ray Sharkey
    • Zack
    Robert Krantz
    Robert Krantz
    • Reporter
    Jan Speck
    • Reporter
    Marguerite Happy
    • Barmaid
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • S.S. Wilson
      • Brent Maddock
      • Jay Tarses(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sound of Number 5's laser firing is the same effect as the Ghostbusters' Proton Packs powering up.
    • Goofs
      When Frank lifts the glass of orange juice off the tray there is some resistance at first, probably from the magnet or adhesive used to keep the glass from sliding off during filming.
    • Quotes

      Number 5: Hey, laser lips, your mama was a snow blower.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Last Resort/Short Circuit/Jo Jo Dancer Your Life Is Calling/Broken Rainbow (1986)
    • 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 reviews130

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    "Your Mama was a Snow-Blower!"
    Short Circuit is a rare case when a robot character makes a film and outshines the rest of the cast in the film.

    A military organization that builds weapons known as Nova creates five robots. One of the robots, Number Five, is hit by lightning and as a result is able to become "alive". He escapes from Nova and befriends a woman named Stephanie and begins to gain a lot of "input" and learns a lot. Nova plans on capturing him, but Number Five realizes that he must not get captured in order to remain alive.

    First off I have to say that this film is a comedy and much of it should not be taken seriously. By that I mean that the depiction of the military group of Nova constantly bickering and having lame discussions is something that film intended on doing.

    The acting and human characters are pretty odd in this film. I can see why Steve Guttenberg is constantly criticized by viewers. He is just a boring not funny guy who makes robots in this film. Ally Sheed plays Stephanie, a really naive and not that intelligent veterinarian. Also the character of Ben being a Caucasian who speaks like an Indian Person is something that I think is pretty funny, if not a bit racist as well. But for the most part the human characters are not special at all and completely overshadowed.

    They attempt to make a love story with Guttenberg and Sheed's character. However it comes off as rushed and horrible and I did not buy it. If anything the romance with Number five and Stephanie is much more convincable.

    The reason for this film being good is Number Five. Number Five is one of the greatest robot characters ever in a film. Hilarious, intelligent, and highly entertaining. He can do anything. It is quite interesting seeing him gain input and learn a lot about the world. It is not common for a robot to steal the show and make a movie good just by itself, but this is one case where that happens and the film is good because of it.

    Quite an interesting film. Lame acting and human characters. However a great character in Number Five. I recommend this film to viewers because of Number Five.
    helpful•7
    0
    • jerekra
    • Jun 9, 2009

    FAQ8

    • Who is Frank?
    • What is "Short Circuit" about?
    • Is "Short Circuit" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 9, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nummer 5 lebt!
    • Filming locations
      • Astoria, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • TriStar Pictures
      • Producers Sales Organization (PSO)
      • Turman-Foster Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $40,697,761
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,346,808
      • May 11, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $40,697,761
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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