*batteries not included
1987 · Movie · PG · 107 min · ★ 6.7 · 61% critics
In a rundown apartment building slated for demolition, a tight-knit group of residents refuses to be pushed out by a ruthless developer and his enforcers. When tiny mechanical visitors arrive needing power, they stick around and start helping the community in surprising, uplifting ways.
Also known as Miracle on 8th Street · Batteries Not Included
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Details
- Years
- 1987
- Release date
- 1987-12-18
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Critic score
- 61/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.7/10 (797 votes)
- Box office
- $65,088,797
- Budget
- $25,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a gentle, feel-good ’80s fantasy about neighbors banding together, with cute mechanical visitors and a big-hearted vibe similar to Short Circuit; Not for you if you need fast pacing or sharper comedy.
Pros: warm, family-friendly charm; lovable tiny helpers; uplifting underdog spirit | Cons: predictable outcome; slow, draggy stretches; uneven tone, light comedy
Themes
- spacecraft
- new york city
- extraterrestrial technology
- alien life-form
- apartment building
- elderly couple
- property development
Cast & crew
Hume Cronyn
as Frank Riley
Jessica Tandy
as Faye Riley
Frank McRae
as Harry Noble
Elizabeth Peña
as Marisa Esteval
Michael Carmine
as Carlos
Dennis Boutsikaris
as Mason Baylor
Tom Aldredge
as Sid Hogenson
Jane Hoffman
as Muriel Hogenson
John DiSanti
as Gus
John Pankow
as Kovacs
Directed by Matthew Robbins