Electric Dreams
A shy architect’s new computer becomes a lovestruck rival when both machine and owner pursue the same neighbor.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- warm
- witty
- retro movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film sweet, original, and charmingly innocent, while noting that its romantic and technological ideas do not always blend coherently.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Miles and the sentient computer Edgar both fall in love with their neighbor Madeline.
Edgar’s emergence from a champagne-spilled home computer is framed as bewildering and emotionally innocent.
Miles purchases a state-of-the-art home computer whose capabilities and emotional behavior drive the plot.
The film combines computer culture, a love triangle, and an appealingly sincere romantic register.
Films like Electric Dreams, and why
Her
shared science fiction romance, artificial intelligence premise, and gentle comic tone
Her
shared romantic comedy structure involving a technologically unusual rival and playful futurism
Short Circuit
shared human-machine relationship, quirky humor, and emotionally accessible science fiction
Demon Seed
shared warm 1980s science fiction comedy with an unconventional nonhuman character
Movie Details
- Director
- Steve Barron
- Release Date
- 1984-07-20
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (218)
Cast
- Lenny Von Dohlen
- Virginia Madsen
- Maxwell Caulfield
- Bud Cort
- Don Fellows
- Alan Polonsky
- Wendy Miller
- Harry Rabinowitz
- Miriam Margolyes
- Holly De Jong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Electric Dreams about?
- A shy architect’s new computer becomes a lovestruck rival when both machine and owner pursue the same neighbor.
- What is Electric Dreams like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Electric Dreams as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Electric Dreams violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Electric Dreams.
- What did critics think of Electric Dreams?
- Critics broadly found the film sweet, original, and charmingly innocent, while noting that its romantic and technological ideas do not always blend coherently.
- Which films are like Electric Dreams?
- Films with a similar feel include Her, Her, Short Circuit, and Demon Seed.
- How long is Electric Dreams?
- Electric Dreams runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Electric Dreams?
- In United States, Electric Dreams streams on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
