The ’80s was filled with sci-fi films. One aspect of these movies was seeing a lot of robot characters. There are a ton of mechanical characters in ’80s cinema but we decided to pick out the ones that managed to make us laugh.
Here are five of the funniest ’80s movie robots.
Sico a.k.a. Paulie’s Robot — Rocky IV (1985)
Who would have thought that Rocky would eventually spawn seven sequels? And who could have ever guessed that one of those sequels would give the character Paulie a robot butler? Yes, Rocky IV turned the pitiful and sometimes awful character of Paulie into an outright cartoon. That was expanded upon by giving him a bizarre robot companion named Sico as a birthday gift. Paulie eventually reprogrammed the robot to have a female voice. We’re gonna leave the speculation of Paulie and Sico’s relationship to you.
Johnny 5 — Short Circuit (1986) & Short Circuit 2 (1988)
Short Circuit tells the story of rogue robot Number 5 who escapes from the laboratory he’s made in and begins to learn more and more about the outside world. He eventually decides to name himself Johnny 5 and creates a personality that’s curious, playful, and all-together sweet. Johnny 5 would go on to star in a sequel that only amped up his ridiculous nature. His many catchphrases and silly demeanor cement him as one of the funniest and most charming of the ’80s movie robots.
Killbots — Chopping Mall (1986)
This probably isn’t one a lot of people would expect, but the cult classic Chopping Mall is one of the most fun movie experiences you can have. The premise is simple: a bunch of friends hang out in a mall overnight to party, but the mall has instituted new robotic security guards to patrol the place. Unfortunately, the robots have malfunctioned and now view everything as an infraction worthy of lethal force. The killbots are dryly humorous as they electrocute and explode their enemies. Don’t miss out on this one. It’s a treat.
Max — Flight of the Navigator (1986)
This Disney film is a strange one that involves time travel and alien technology, but a lot of kids remember it thanks to the goofy artificial intelligence known as Max. Although he starts out serious and unemotional, he scans the brain of lead character David and is suddenly turned into a goofball. Fun fact: the voice of Max is none other than Paul Reubens. He is most famous for portraying the character of Pee-wee Herman in Pee-wee’s Playhouse and a number of films that starred the character. Once you hear Max do that Pee-wee laugh, it gives it all away.
Dot Matrix — Spaceballs (1987)
Mel Brooks’ send-up of the Star Wars films is a beloved spoof that is chock-full of memorable gags and characters. Of course, the movie had to riff on the uppity C-3PO. And what is its version of a stuffy robot assistant? Dot Matrix, a caricature of a nagging Jewish mother who chides Princess Vespa and her companions throughout the entire film. Naturally, you have to cast Joan Rivers to perform the voice and it’s an acerbic delight. There is a lot to love about Spaceballs and Dot Matrix is definitely one of those reasons.
If you need more ’80s sci-fi goodness, check out these underrated ’80s sci-fi movies that are begging to be rediscovered and reevaluated!
