Overview
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.
Trailer
Crew
DirectorJohn Badham
WriterBrent Maddock
Cast
Ally Sheedy
Stephanie Speck
Steve Guttenberg
Newton Crosby
Fisher Stevens
Ben Jabituya
Austin Pendleton
Howard Marner
G.W. Bailey
Skroeder
Brian McNamara
Frank
Tim Blaney
Number 5 (voice)
Marvin J. McIntyre
Duke
John Garber
Otis
Penny Santon
Mrs. Cepeda
Vernon Weddle
General Washburne
Barbara Tarbuck
Senator Mills
Tom Lawrence
Howard Marner's Aide
Fred Slyter
Norman
Billy Ray Sharkey
Zack
Robert Krantz
Reporter
Jan Speck
Reporter
Marguerite Happy
Barmaid
Howard Krick
Farmer
Marjorie Card Hughes
Farmer's Wife
Part of Short Circuit Collection
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Keywords
artificial intelligence (a.i.)lightningoregon, usarobotmilitarychildlike
Details
Budget
$10M
Revenue
$41M
TMDb Votes
1,609
Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026