• Explorers (1985)

    Young Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result -- when he has a vivid dream about technology, his science-loving friend Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix) manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren Woods (Jason Presson), the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.

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Explorers
58
metacriticBased on 14 Critics

Release Date: 1985

DVD Release Date: October 19th, 2004

PG |1 hr 44 min

Plot Summary

Young Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result -- when he has a vivid dream about technology, his science-loving friend Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix) manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren Woods (Jason Presson), the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Dick Miller, Robert Picardo, Dana Ivey, Meshach Taylor

Director: Joe Dante

Genres: Children , Science fiction , Drama

Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures International

Keywords: Father , Endearing , Growing up , Friendship , 1980s , Friend , Amusing , Quest

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 63
    Gene SiskelChicago Tribune

    Explorers offers an attractive premise to a very small payoff. show more

  • 63
    Miami Herald

    Explorers is good at probing the wrinkles of the 14-year-old heart and boys are always better than other-world beings.

  • 75
    Josh LarsenLarsenOnFilm

    Director Joe Dante provides a loving, detail-filled snapshot of youthful camaraderie and creativity – I love how their cockpit is a Tilt-A-Whirl – before indulging in the sort of bizarre satire that can be found in most of his films (especially Small Soldiers and Gremlins). show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com