*batteries not Included

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*batteries not Included

PG,

1987,

1h 46m,

Kids & Family/

Sci-Fi/

Fantasy/

Comedy

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57%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Frank (Hume Cronyn) and Faye Riley (Jessica Tandy) are an elderly New York City couple living in a depressed part of town. There, they run a diner as well as an apartment building, which is home to a poor but friendly group of people. One day, Frank and Faye learn that a property developer wants them to sell the apartment. When they refuse, their diner is vandalized. However, Frank, Faye and their tenants are aided by mysterious flying saucers, which help them repair the diner and fight back.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

Jan 7, 2026

The movie has a start-stop feel to it that could only be solved by a "Fast Forward" switch.

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Victoria Mather

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jan 7, 2026

Batteries Not Included is both ineffectual and dated.

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Henry Sheehan

Chicago Reader

May 10, 2022

3/4

Within that ugly image, the symbol for the enlightened middle class is one of submission and collaboration.

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Jack E. Wilkinson

United Press International

Jun 12, 2026

Good family fare.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Jan 7, 2026

I found the film highly resistible.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jun 15, 2022

Kids in the cinema had lots of fun…tolerable overall. [Full review in Spanish]

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Luke L

Aug 26, 2018

Modern day tribulations clash with angelic aliens to portray how far we as a nation have come and regressed as a melting pot. Pacing tends to be the biggest issue in this, but the stakes presented are nominal to see the story through.

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Poe S

Aug 12, 2018

Batteries Not Included is weaker in its humor, the aliens are underutilized and the film is somewhat familiarly plotted, but the VFX on the aliens is amazing, the film is very charming and it's also quite emotional in its tragic backstory while featuring two excellent turns from Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy.

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Theodore R

Apr 14, 2018

Spielberg should have taken notice. Wow

Hagrid L

Nov 22, 2017

Batteries Not Included was a wonderful family orientated movie. I found it wholesome and a good VS evil story line. No doubt that this movie shows that people can change from being bad to being good. Love the Movie

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George M

Nov 8, 2017

Loved this since i was a little kid. 1980's gentrification family movie :-)

Hermione W

Aug 1, 2017

Spielberg and Aliens are a very strong combo. A very sweet and cute Amblin movie with the always welcome team of real like husband and wife, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy.

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Matthew Robbins

Director

Hume Cronyn

Frank Riley

Jessica Tandy

Faye Riley

Frank McRae

Harry Noble

Elizabeth Peña

Marisa Esteval

Michael Carmine

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Synopsis

Frank (Hume Cronyn) and Faye Riley (Jessica Tandy) are an elderly New York City couple living in a depressed part of town. There, they run a diner as well as an apartment building, which is home to a poor but friendly group of people. One day, Frank and Faye learn that a property developer wants them to sell the apartment. When they refuse, their diner is vandalized. However, Frank, Faye and their tenants are aided by mysterious flying saucers, which help them repair the diner and fight back.

Director: Matthew Robbins
Producer: Ronald L. Schwary
Screenwriter: Brad Bird, Brent Maddock, S.S. Wilson
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 10, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.9M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround

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