The ’80s Sci-Fi Fantasy Comedy Being Totally Forgotten
Content streaming’s biggest selling point is availability, as it enables subscribers to access said content on demand without worrying about all the downsides associated with owning physical media, like storage space and storage environments. But what happens when someone pulls the plug on the content? Too many movies have fallen into oblivion merely because they’re not on streaming anymore, and the sci-fi comedy-drama Batteries Not Included is one such movie.
Alien Robots Save The Day In Batteries Not Included
Batteries Not Included tells a rather interesting story that offers a nice mixture of fantasy and sci-fi. Introducing a group of tenants facing eviction from a dilapidated New York City building, the movie also introduces extraterrestrial robotic creatures that help the tenants in their struggles while also repairing everything in their power. The story was originally intended to be an episode in the Amazing Stories television series, but exec producer Steven Spielberg liked the idea so much that he decided to adapt it into a film.
Impressive Special Effects For The Time
But despite a reasonably well-crafted narrative, Batteries Not Included was also a notable achievement for a film of its time, as it seamlessly integrated then-advanced animatronics and special effects that brought the aforementioned alien robots to life. This aided in creating the characters that, aptly named “The Fix-Its” due to them constantly fixing stuff, were technologically impressive and quite endearing to the audiences enjoying the film.
The Cast
The special effects, impressive as they were at the time, weren’t the highlight of Batteries Not Included. The strong acting performances from a diverse cast, including Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, Frank McRae and Elizabeth Peña, complemented the special effects and the little robotic aliens.
The resulting narrative ends up providing a heartfelt and relatable story about community, resilience, and hope against the backdrop of a harsh and uncaring city drive, at least partially, by property development plans the tenants and Fix-Its are trying to fight against.
Despite Its Praise, Batteries Not Included Never Reached Blockbuster Status
Now for the interesting part. Batteries Not Included received a rather warm reception from the audiences, who were captivated by its stories and robotic aliens that didn’t require batteries. It made $65 million in 1987, the year of its release, against a $25 million budget and debuted at #4 at the box office.
Unfortunately, it never achieved blockbuster status, and despite receiving praise for its imaginative plot and special effects (as recounted by the GenreVision podcast), Batteries Not Included slowly faded from popular culture. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find the movie online.
Not Streaming Anywhere
The fact that Batteries Not Included can’t be found on any streaming service is yet another case that underlines the critical importance of media preservation. Movies are more than mere entertainment; they’re cultural artifacts that reflect the state of our society, technology, and artistic expressions associated with the times of their making.
They’re a part of our history, and preserving them allows future generations to enjoy and perhaps even study and learn from these works.
As things currently are, Batteries Not Included isn’t currently available for streaming in the US. You can still watch the movie on another regional streaming service through some internet and computer wizardry.
