Revisiting ‘Short Circuit’: A Timeless Eighties Classic and Its Legacy

Story by Mitchell Smith

Hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at one of the greatest eighties movies, Short Circuit. This 1986 film was directed by John Badham and featured 2 of the most popular stars at the time John Guttenburg and Ally Sheedy. Fisher Stevens added some great comic relief and Tim Blaney superbly voiced the beloved Johnny number 5. This is a great movie and had a sequel as well.

I wonder if they will ever try to make a modern sequel with different main characters or if this one is just going to be an eighties treasure. I think that the WALL·E character definitely drew some inspiration from Johnny 5. They have a lot of similarities but also a lot of differences to separate the two from each other. This is just one of those great classics that everyone must see . Have a great week everybody.

“Short Circuit” is a 1986 science fiction comedy that follows the story of Number 5, an experimental military robot that gains self-awareness after being struck by lightning. Mistakenly believing it to be malfunctioning, the military seeks to capture and deactivate Number 5. Fleeing from his creators, Number 5 encounters Stephanie Speck, an animal caregiver played by Ally Sheedy, who mistakes him for an alien but soon understands his plight and takes him in. As Number 5 strives to convince his new human friend that he is truly alive, he adopts the name “Johnny 5.” The film explores themes of consciousness, the rights of sentient beings, and the fear of the unknown, all while providing comedic and heartwarming moments. Steve Guttenberg stars as Newton Crosby, the robot’s designer, who initially is skeptical about Johnny 5’s sentience but ultimately comes to his defense. The movie blends humor with a deeper message about life and identity, becoming a beloved classic from the 1980s.