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Short Circuit 2
1988 110 min United States of America PG 16+
★6.0
Comedy, Family, Science Fiction, Drama
Director: Kenneth Johnson
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Robot Johnny 5 moves to the city to help his friend Ben Jahrvi with his toy manufacturing enterprise, only to be manipulated by criminals who want to use him for their own nefarious purposes.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$21.63M
Worldwide:
$21.63M
Starring
Fisher Stevens
Actor
Michael McKean
Actor
Tim Blaney
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1990
— Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn Awards 1990
— Best Visual Effects
Key opinion
Short Circuit 2 is generally regarded as a charming and effective sequel that successfully expands on the robot protagonist's journey and emotional development. While some find the plot mechanics and commercial tone slightly contrived compared to the original, fans praise the film's enduring humor, endearing character arcs, and technical execution for its time.
| Emotion | Johnny Five’s exploration of human emotion and his discovery of concepts like betrayal and mortality provide a strong, sympathetic emotional core. | |
| Production | The practical effects, including the robot's design and physical interactions, remain impressively realistic and tactile even decades after the film's release. | |
| Adaptation | The narrative structure and character dynamics feel like a natural, logical continuation of the themes established in the first film. | |
| Accessibility | The film succeeds as an entertaining family feature, effectively blending sci-fi elements with humor and lighthearted sentiment. | |
| Screenplay | The plot, which leans into larger-scale crime elements and epic action, is viewed by some as an engaging expansion, while others find it artificial or contrived compared to the original. |