Number Five Alive Again: Short Circuit 40th Anniversary Party Hits Oregon Coast in June

Published 03/18/26 at 7:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – Back in the '80s, the goofy flick Short Circuit made a bit of a splash in the film scene of the decade, though the 1986-released comedy didn't really overwhelm at the box office or culturally. It did, however, do enough to garner a sequel two years later. (Short Circuit house photos Air BNB - Short Circuit House).

Like the “Goonies” a bit earlier, it had its frothing fans, which managed to only grow over the decades. “Number Five alive” - said in that comedic robotic voice - is one of those lines that sticks with some people forever, including those who didn't really ever love the celluloid excursion all that much.

So it's only fitting that the 40th anniversary of the first Short Circuit (and by relation its sequel) would come to the north Oregon coast – where the first was filmed. For diehard fans of the flick, there's much to rejoice and wallow in.

The 40th anniversary of the film Short Circuit will be celebrated in Astoria from June 5 to 7, 2026, with a weekend of cast appearances, panel discussions, film screenings, workshops, trivia, licensed merchandise, and an ’80s-themed prom spread across multiple venues. Organizers describe it as a large reunion for one of the Pacific Northwest’s most recognizable movie productions.

Several actors and creators connected to the film are scheduled to attend. Organizers just announced some mammoth names, including stars Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg.

Sheedy played Stephanie Speck and became one of the defining performers of the 1980s through roles in The Breakfast Club, War Games, and St. Elmo’s Fire. She's definitely part of the celebration.

Guttenberg, known for portraying NOVA Robotics engineer Newton Crosby in Short Circuit and for his work in the Police Academy series, Cocoon, Diner, and Three Men and a Baby, is also set to appear.

Tim Blaney, the puppeteer and voice behind Johnny 5 in both Short Circuit films, will join the lineup. Blaney’s long career with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop includes work on Men in Black, where he voiced Frank the Pug, as well as contributions to The Muppets, Dinosaurs, and Team America: World Police.

Toby Froud - award-winning creature designer, puppet maker, and filmmaker – shows up at the gig. Joey Cramer from the beloved '80s sci-fi adventure Flight of the Navigator will be on hand as well. Special effects meister Eric Allard – who brought Number Five to life – pops in.

Look for a variety of Johnny 5 replicas: robots that even get down 'n funky with you on the dance floor.

Then there are the locales themselves. The north Oregon coast town hosts a few memorable sights from the flick, including what's now called the “Short Circuit House” on Hume Avenue. It has, in recent years, become an Air BNB, carefully restored by owner Richard Bates. It's crammed full of movie memorabilia – the slightly more public version of the nearby Goonies House in Astoria.

Parts of the Columbia Gorge and Beaverton made it into Short Circuit, but more remember shots of the streets of the steeply-hilled north Oregon coast town and the bridge – as well as some key moments on Marine Drive.

The event is expected to draw fans of the film, 1980s pop culture, and Oregon's vast movie history for a rare gathering tied to a production that left a lasting mark on the region. It promises to be a kick in the pants, even if you aren't necessarily a Short Circuit fan. See Short Circuit 40th.

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