Short Circuit | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Table of Contents

Where to Watch Short Circuit What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew Movie Clips Short Circuit More Like This Photos Short Circuit References

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 at Home

Buy Now

Where to Watch

Short Circuit

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View All (39) Critics Reviews

Catherine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

Folks who like tweaking the Army or those with a special fondness for adorable robots may enjoy this harmless, reasonably funny film.

Rated: 5/10

Oct 27, 2021

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

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

Rated: 1/4

Apr 2, 2014

Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

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.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 2, 2014

Full Review

Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

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.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 27, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's the charming machine and his damsel-in-distress who keep the picture afloat, putting a twist on conventional movie romances.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 7, 2020

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

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

Oct 15, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Gary M This movie is awesome. Just the work they did with the robots alone is worth more than the 5 stars. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Prabudhjeet A For me, this character is above wall e. A good family friendly holiday movie. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review Jeremiah N Johnny number 5 is the best character in a movie about a sentient robot! Who is only sentient after a lightning strike hits him! They don't make films like this anymore! Hollywood seems to be out of new ideas! Bring back the 70's,80's and 90's film makers! We miss those people! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review Duncan P Absolute classic. From start to finish Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/02/23 Full Review David W A movie which was very much of its era. The cast do well, Johnny Five is very likeable and manages to both generate empathy and raise some laughs. The movie on the whole is good natured and endearing if a little predictable (it was primarily a family movie afterall). There's some racial stereotyping that might furrow the woke brigade eyebrows but this not withstanding it's still well worth a watch for those in a nostalgic or whimsical mood. A product of a simpler time but that's no bad thing in my book. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/27/23 Full Review Siarra These reviews are bogus both movies were great. So many movies after this one wish they could create this magic. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Short Circuit

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

John Badham Director Ally Sheedy Stephanie Speck Steve Guttenberg Newton Crosby Fisher Stevens Ben Jabituya Austin Pendleton Howard Marner G.W. Bailey Skroeder

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Movie Clips

View All videos

Short Circuit

Short Circuit: Official Clip - Your Mama Was a Snowblower