Batteries Not Included

**Batteries Not Included** (stylized as "\*batteries not included") is a 1987 American science fiction comedy film directed by Matthew Robbins, which was released by Universal Pictures on December 18, 1987.

## Plot

The film is about small extraterrestrial living spaceships that rescues an apartment block that is under threat from property development.

## Cast

* Hume Cronyn as Frank Riley
* Jessica Tandy as Faye Riley
* Frank McRae as Harry Noble
* Elizabeth Peña as Marisa Esteval
* Dennis Boutsikaris as Mason Baylor
* Michael Carmine as Carlos
* John Pankow as Kovacs
* Michael Greene as Lacey
* Tom Aldredge as Sid Hogenson
* Wendy Schaal as Pamela

## Production

Principal photography for "Batteries Not Included" began in New York on August 20, 1986 and ended in November of 1986; however, location scouting began almost a year before.

According to producer Ronald Schwary: *"We had to find a vacant lot with burned-out buildings all around it. We finally settled on an actual building on 8th Street between Avenues C and D on New York's Lower East Side."*

The film was originally intended to be a story featured on the TV series, "Amazing Stories", but Steven Spielberg liked the idea so much, he decided to make it a theatrical release instead.

The black-and-white photos of Frank and Faye used in the opening credits were real-life photos of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, who were married for decades.

Esai Morales was offered a part in the film, but he turned it down for the role of Bob Morales in the 1987 film, "La Bamba" instead
because he shared a last name with his character from "La Bamba" and he felt a connection with his character in the film.

## Box Office

"Batteries Not Included" grossed $3,32,530 during its opening weekend at the box office. Overall, it grossed $65,088,797 on an estimated budget of $25,000,000.

## Critical Reception

"Batteries Not Included" received a mixed reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 60% based on 15 reviews with an average rating of 5.60/10.

Gene Siskel described it as *"a comic book with the best pages torn out" and accused the film of having "forced warmth."*

Roger Ebert defended the film, saying that it *"had a lot of good feeling in it, it had a few nice laughs, it had a few interesting special effects, and...it's better than most of the stuff out there."*

Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader said: *"Matthew Robbins acquits himself honorably as cowriter and director of this gentle 1987 fantasy about miniature spaceships that land on a tenement in Manhattan's Lower East Side and save the tenants from imminent expulsion and disaster at the hands of greedy real estate developers."*

Variety magazine wrote: *"Batteries Not Included could have used more imaginative juices to distinguish it from other, more enchanting Spielbergian pics where lovable mechanical things solve earthly human dilemmas. Still, it’s suitable entertainment for kids.*"

In her review of "Batteries Not Included", Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote: *"Children may enjoy this, but their adult escorts will have a harder time...It's been well made and, especially in Miss [Jessica] Tandy's case, acted with a sense of fun. But the time for this brand of fantasy may have come and gone.*"

TV Guide Magazine said: *"The performances are passable: [Jessica] Tandy and [Hume] Cronyn are talented enough to avoid looking foolish. The special effects team has created some truly convincing sequences that give the saucers more personality than the human characters."*

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post called "Batteries Not Included" a *"strange kids' movie, a queer mix of violence and otherworldly benevolence.*"

## Awards

**Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films** (1988)

* Best Actress: Jessica Tandy [**Winner**]
* Best Fantasy Film [*Nominated*]

**Young Artist Awards** (1989)

* Best Family Motion Picture (Comedy) [**Winner**]