Chopping Mall (Killbots) (1986)

50% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(5,845 ratings)

This high-tech spin on the slasher genre pits a group of sex-obsessed teens spending the night in a shopping mall against the mall's marauding robotic security guards -- whose programming turns homicidal after a bolt of lightning scrambles their control circuits. Director Jim Wynorski cut his… More This high-tech spin on the slasher genre pits a group of sex-obsessed teens spending the night in a shopping mall against the mall's marauding robotic security guards -- whose programming turns homicidal after a bolt of lightning scrambles their control circuits. Director Jim Wynorski cut his exploitation teeth working for Roger Corman's legendary "B"-movie factory New World Pictures in the '70s and '80s, and this film's comic early scenes contain homages to that outfit's heyday -- with humorous cameos from Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov (reprising their characters Paul and Mary Bland from Bartel's Eating Raoul) and the ubiquitous Dick Miller. The majority of the film, however, is essentially a teens-in-jeopardy story, with the lethal bots unleashing their amped-up arsenal and bringing the victims to nasty ends amid buckets of gore -- such as the unforgettable moment when one woman's head is targeted by one of the droids and blown up like an overripe melon. (The shot is repeated during the end credits.) ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Jim Wynorski
Genres: Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Mar 21, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Aug 17, 2004
Studio: Concorde Pictures

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Disreputably fun... just about the best low-budget movie about killer robots destroying a shopping mall that can ever be produced.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the film features horny teens being chased around a shopping mall by clunky robots that shoot lasers. What more do you need to know?
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Robot killers in a mall. Like 'Dawn of the Dead' done by dorks.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Goofball horror flick is salvaged by a quick pace and diverting sense of humor.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lee ?

Silly, cheesy fun that's sure to raise a smile among 80s b-movie horror fans. The plot has three new security robots go on a manhunt around a shopping mall after malfunctioning during a lightning storm. Very 80s stuff with the typical cliched cannon fodderof horny teens.… More
Silly, cheesy fun that's sure to raise a smile among 80s b-movie horror fans. The plot has three new security robots go on a manhunt around a shopping mall after malfunctioning during a lightning storm. Very 80s stuff with the typical cliched cannon fodderof horny teens. It's actually more action that horror as the would-be heroes amass a sizeable arsenal to defeat the crazed Killbots... but that doesn't stop some of them meeting a bloody end. It's laughably bad but entertaining for sure.
Cory T

After a 'Robocop'-esque infomercial satirizing the "neutralization" of a criminal, 'Chopping Mall' is a wacky B-movie that exudes a jovially fun attitude that removes the drive-in idiocy of the high-concept. Like the Universal classic… More
After a 'Robocop'-esque infomercial satirizing the "neutralization" of a criminal, 'Chopping Mall' is a wacky B-movie that exudes a jovially fun attitude that removes the drive-in idiocy of the high-concept. Like the Universal classic 'Frankenstein' and, to a lesser extent, 'Friday the 13th: Jason Lives', lightning is the catalyst for the robot's blood-soaked carnage. The mall setting is perfect for eclectic locales and weapons to duel against the robots such as gasoline cans, a paint store and automatic machineguns in a hunting store. The film is concise, explosively self-effacing in it's humor (with a cameo from Joe Dante regular Dick Miller who scolds the robot for spilling his mop bucket) and truculently aware of it's absurdist plotline ("It's alright. I guess I'm not used to being stuck in a mall, chased by killer robots.").
Tim S

A pretty silly 80's horror movie...or any decade, for that matter. It does have several things going for it though. The yummy Barbara Crampton for one, Dick Miller for another and a really horrible 80's cheese synthesizer score. Other than the head-exploding scene, there… More
A pretty silly 80's horror movie...or any decade, for that matter. It does have several things going for it though. The yummy Barbara Crampton for one, Dick Miller for another and a really horrible 80's cheese synthesizer score. Other than the head-exploding scene, there isn't really that much horror on display. It's a fun movie though. The terrible dialogue will keep you smiling. :)
AJ V

This is another great machines gone crazy movie, this time taking place at a mall after hours, which is always scary. I loved this techno terror film.
Jeff "

Chopping Mall is a fun, cheesy ride and is an underrated gem of a horror film. The films story is simple, Security robots at a mall malfunction after the main computer gets struck by lightning, and the robots go on a rampage on a group of teens partying after hours inside the mall.… More
Chopping Mall is a fun, cheesy ride and is an underrated gem of a horror film. The films story is simple, Security robots at a mall malfunction after the main computer gets struck by lightning, and the robots go on a rampage on a group of teens partying after hours inside the mall. Simple, yet effective story, Chopping Mall originally titled Killbots is a prime example of why 80's horror were so great and amusing to watch. Definitely not a perfect film, the film could have been better, but in many ways as well, I wouldn't have changed a single thing. The film is pure gold. The acting leaves a lot to be desired, but with awesome on screen kills, you really don't care in the end. In a movie titled Chopping Mall you can only expect murder and mayhem in a mall. Thats exactly what you get. The thing thats so great about the bots themselves is that there seems no way to kill them off, and they just keep killing. Chopping Mall is a fun film to watch and has many scenes that will appeal to horror fans. The film is silly, but what 80's horror film isn't? The end result is something thats very amusing to watch, and Chopping Mall is a very underrated gem of 80's horror. Killer robots+horny teens, how can no one like that combination? Chopping Mall is the perfect definition of a guilty pleasure, this is one of the better cheesy horror films of the 80's, as a few have missed the mark. But Chopping Mall will definitely appeal to horror fans who enjoy a silly horror film. Theres plenty to enjoy in this film, and the film succeeds at providing a good hour and 15 minutes worth of silly entertainment. My only problem with the film is that it's too short, other than that, it's a terrific, underrated gem of horror sleaze. Don't take this film too seriously, and you'll enjoy it.
Sylvester K

Cliche 80s slasher, the robots looked harmless... stereotypical characters that are expandable, the explosion-of-the-head scene was marvellous, but everything else was crap.
Quinto W

Can you say "awesome"? This movie has everything in it to be absolutely fantastic: 1980s idiocy and killer robots.
Grifty G

Low budget Corman film about 30 year old teenagers locked in a mall overnight with killbots that look a lot like Johnny 5. A Cheesefest worth a look for some laughs... with lines like "We're gonna send these robots a Rambo-gram", you have to give it a little credit...
Barry L

I cannot beleive this is on here. Brilliant movie and so silly.