Visible crew/equipment: When Newton is playing with the robot arm and the piano you can clearly see wires attached to the top of it controlled by the puppeteers.
Short Circuit (1986)
Directed by: John Badham
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, Ally Sheedy
Continuity mistake: When Johnny 5 nearly drives the snack wagon over the edge to where it is hanging, it appears to have miraculously moved right back from the edge, making it look like he never went nearly over in the first place.
Continuity mistake: When Number 5 gets out of the truck it is no longer hanging over the edge of the cliff. It has moved inland by several feet. (00:46:45)
Trivia: The main characters in this film are Johnny and Stephanie, and the film is directed by John Badham. In one scene, Johnny watches Saturday Night Fever on TV. The scene he watches, (and imitates with Stephanie), involves two characters also called John and Stephanie. Saturday Night Fever was also directed by John Badham. (01:02:20)
Trivia: When NOVA catches up with Johnny and the army-men are firing on him, listen to the noise that is made when Johnny fires his laser. It's EXACTLY the same noise as used in Ghostbusters when they fire up their proton packs. Were Ghostbusters' packs made by NOVA?
Trivia: When the reporters arrive at Stephanie's house, there is a news cameraman behind them. The cameraman is the film's director, John Badham.
Number 5: Hey, laser lips! Your momma was a snow-blower.
Ben Jabituya: I am thinking she is a virgin. Or at least she used to be.
Number 5: Number 5 is alive.
Question: At the end, Stephanie, Newton and Johnny Five are all driving to Montana. What about Stephanie's animals and all her things at her house?
Answer: They were not driving to Montana, they were in the country driving back to the city, while they discussed Stephanie's animals and responsibilities.
Newton said that a relative left him several acres in Montana. Since they were already in a huge van, they could just stop by Stephanie's place and pick them up.
Question: Why was the robot who comes to life called "Number 5" when it seemed like there were only three others like him? Shouldn't he have been called "Number 4"?
Answer: There were always 5. You see the 5 during the demonstration. Then, before the lightning hits, we see 4 of them in line, but number 5 was still attached to the generator and not in line. When they go inside, there's a weird cut that makes it look like only 3 made the turn, but if you watch closely you can see there's 4 followed by number 5.
Answer: OK then...what ever happened to Number 4? Why does the Army only send numbers 1-3 to get Number 5 back?
Question: I thought the movie was supposed to take place in Oregon? In several scenes, specifically when NOVA shows up to collect Number 5 the first time, multiple vehicles can be seen with Washington state license plates. Also, you can see a ferry in the background in what appears to be Puget Sound. (00:43:50 - 00:49:20)
Answer: Astoria, Oregon is just across from Washington state on the Columbia River. The Highway 101 bridge connects Washington to Astoria, and it takes mere minutes to cross. Unlike Washington, Oregon has no state sales tax, so many Washingtonians who live near the border shop there, and their cars would be seen. Also, there are several vintage paddlewheel river boats belonging to a river cruise company based in Astoria. From a distance, they are a similar size, shape, and white color as a Puget Sound ferry. That is probably what you saw cruising on the Columbia River.
Answer: Johnny 5 finds himself in Astoria, Oregon after escaping. However, NOVA Laboratories is located in Washington State. I'm not sure about Puget Sound though since filming in Washington took place in Stevenson, where NOVA is supposed to be located.
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Answer: Driving from Central Oregon to Montana only takes about 12 hours. They could drop off Number 5 and be back to move Stephanie and Newton out of their houses within a day or two.
LorgSkyegon