Monday Morning Maybe

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Poster for Short Circuit

Short Circuit

Seen it?

1986 | 98 min | Science Fiction, Comedy, Family

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It made about 4 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had middling reviews (62% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh, sci-fi fans and families. If you loved Transformers One, start here.
The mood
Light and funny, feel-good.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    62% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    1 win and 3 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $41 million worldwide on a $10 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 264K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by John Badham

  • Ally SheedyStephanie Speck
  • Steve GuttenbergNewton Crosby
  • Fisher StevensBen Jabituya
  • Austin PendletonHoward Marner
  • G.W. BaileySkroeder
  • Brian McNamaraFrank
  • Tim BlaneyNumber 5 (voice)
  • Marvin J. McIntyreDuke
  • John GarberOtis
  • Penny SantonMrs. Cepeda