*batteries not included
Tiny extraterrestrial machines bring hope and playful resistance to elderly apartment tenants fighting demolition and displacement.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- cheerful
- warm
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics generally found it sweet, cheerful, funny, and suitable for children, while noting that its formula and limited imagination kept it from matching stronger Spielbergian family fantasies.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The apartment tenants unite against developers seeking to demolish their building and force them out.
The visiting mechanical extraterrestrials befriend the tenants and become the film's central source of wonder and affection.
Tiny flying saucer-like life-forms move through an endangered apartment building and confront the machinery of redevelopment.
Frank and Faye Riley anchor a group of tenants whose shared home and mutual loyalty drive the conflict.
Films like *batteries not included, and why
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
shares a family-friendly science fiction premise, lovable nonhuman visitors, and warm community-centered humor
The Cat from Outer Space
combines charming extraterrestrial technology with comedic human conflict and an uplifting tone
Short Circuit
features whimsical mechanical beings helping ordinary people resist threatening forces in a bright family adventure
The Iron Giant
pairs fantasy technology with vulnerable everyday characters and a comforting, feel-good resolution
Movie Details
- Director
- Matthew Robbins
- Release Date
- 1987-12-18
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (842)
Cast
- Hume Cronyn
- Jessica Tandy
- Frank McRae
- Elizabeth Peña
- Michael Carmine
- Dennis Boutsikaris
- Tom Aldredge
- Jane Hoffman
- John DiSanti
- John Pankow
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is *batteries not included about?
- Tiny extraterrestrial machines bring hope and playful resistance to elderly apartment tenants fighting demolition and displacement.
- What is *batteries not included like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of *batteries not included as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is *batteries not included violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in *batteries not included as mild.
- What did critics think of *batteries not included?
- Critics generally found it sweet, cheerful, funny, and suitable for children, while noting that its formula and limited imagination kept it from matching stronger Spielbergian family fantasies.
- Which films are like *batteries not included?
- Films with a similar feel include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Cat from Outer Space, Short Circuit, and The Iron Giant.
- How long is *batteries not included?
- *batteries not included runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch *batteries not included?
- In United States, *batteries not included is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
