Short Circuit

Play trailer

1:44

Short Circuit

PG

1986

1h 38m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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).

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Catharine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

Oct 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.

Go to Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Apr 2, 2014

1/4

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

Go to Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Apr 2, 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.

Go to Full Review

Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

Jul 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.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 7, 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.

Go to Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Oct 15, 2018

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Carter G

@emperorPenguin Aug 22, 2026

In terms of character depth and cohesiveness, this movie has none. And just a warning: this movie is deceptively not family-friendly. The profanity and suggestiveness are startling.

See more

Lincoln L

@Linkolnbio2 Aug 11, 2026

It's enjoyable: It is fun, entertaining, and holds your attention throughout.

See more

Landon J

@Minxsykitty Jul 30, 2026

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.

See more

Ethan W

@FilmLover2012 Jun 27, 2026

A perfect film for movie night!

See more

Melissa M

@Lisey Jun 23, 2026

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.

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone Jun 13, 2026

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - It Just Runs Programs

2:01

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Disassembling Frank's Car

2:08

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Spontaneous Emotional Response

2:01

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Number 5 Is Still Alive

1:54

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Struck By Lightning

1:59

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - It's Gone Berserk

1:50

Now Playing

Short Circuit: Official Clip - NOVA Demonstration

1:50

Now Playing

View more videos

Caveman

30%

54%

Caveman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Caveman

Spaceballs

53%

83%

Spaceballs

Watchlist

Cops and Robbersons

19%

23%

Cops and Robbersons

Watchlist

The Freshman

94%

62%

The Freshman

Watchlist

Weekend at Bernie's II

13%

41%

Weekend at Bernie's II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Short Circuit: Trailer 1

1:44

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings