Short Circuit

Short Circuit

Something wonderful has happened... No. 5 is alive.

Directed by John Badham

Produced by TriStar Pictures, PSO

198698 min6.6 / 10

A charming, lighthearted adventure about a newly sentient robot learning what it means to be alive, built on warmth, humor, and the bonds formed between unlikely friends.

After a lightning bolt zaps a robot named Number 5, the lovable machine starts to think he's human and escapes the lab. Hot on his trail is his designer, Newton, who hopes to get to Number 5 before the military does. In the meantime, a spunky animal lover mistakes the robot for an alien and takes him in, teaching her new guest about life on Earth.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Does Short Circuit end with hope? Yes, very. More hopeful than 97% of films.

  • Is Short Circuit easy watching? Yes, very. More comforting than 95% of films.

  • Is Short Circuit sad? Barely. Less sad than 80% of films.

  • Is Short Circuit scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.

  • Is Short Circuit violent? Not especially. Less violent than 62% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

42/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity37

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise40

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love50

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Short Circuit, and what each one shares →

Like Short Circuit

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Short Circuit

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Short Circuit, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Short Circuit, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Short Circuit, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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