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Explorers (1985)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 4

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Release Date: Jul 12, 1985 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 12,790

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Movie Info

Explorers turns out to be much ado about nothing, but it's so sublimely assembled we're willing to overlook the sappy climax. Young sci-fi geek Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) (could he possibly be based on director Joe Dante?) would give anything to travel in space. Thanks to his computer-happy pal Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix), Ben gets his wish, together with best bud Darren Woods (Jason Presson). In the Great Beyond, the boys encounter an extraterrestrial (Robert Picardo), whose knowledge of

PG, 1 hr. 49 min.

Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Joe Dante

Written By: Eric Luke

In Theaters: Jul 12, 1985 Wide

On DVD: Oct 19, 2004

Paramount Home Video

Explorers Trailer & Photos

Cast

Ethan Hawke
Ben Crandall
River Phoenix
Wolfgang Muller
Jason Presson
Darren Woods
Amanda Peterson
Lori Swenson
Dick Miller
Charles Drake
Robert Picardo
Starkiller/Wak/Wak and ...
Leslie Rickert
Neek
James Cromwell
Mr. Muller
Dana Ivey
Mrs. Muller/Freda Mulle...
Bobby Fite
Steve Jackson
Mary Kay Place
Mrs. Crandall
Tricia Bartholome
Girl in Classroom
Simone Blue
Snack Bar Girl
Brooke Bundy
Science Teacher
Bradley Gregg
Steve Jackson's Gang
Taliesin Jaffe
Ludwig Muller
Karen Mayo-Chandler
Starkiller's Girl Frien...
John P. Navin Jr.
Couple at Drive-In
Danny Nucci
Nasty Kid at School
Meshach Taylor
Gordon Miller
Robert F. Boyle
Starkiller's Girl Frien...
Eric Luke
Darren's Teacher
Bradley Alan
Stunts
Mary Hillstead
Couple at Drive-In
Georg Olden
Steve Jackson's Gang
Chance Schwass
Steve Jackson's Gang

Critic Reviews for Explorers

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (5) | DVD (11)

The offbeat teen comedy gets off to a good start, but when it takes off in space the spoof becomes too alien to be anything more nourishing than junk food for the soul.

July 3, 2010 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The birth of fanboy culture?

January 27, 2009 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm

| Comment

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Kids' sci-fi adventure never fully blasts off.

November 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Teresa Talerico

Common Sense Media

A terrific little kid flick

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

The one that started it all! Started what? No idea!

January 21, 2004 Comment

Gregory Weinkauf

New Times

A family feature on Acid. What a strange, strange film.

October 8, 2003 Comment

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

After so much build-up, the ending's a bit of a letdown, but as a kids flick, this is way above average.

May 7, 2003 Comment

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

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Audience Reviews for Explorers

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Another classic kids flick from a time when imagination seemed to flow like a waterfall, made a year before 'Flight of the Navigator' and along the same kind of lines but much more wild with a stronger fantasy element. The direction from Dante is spot on giving this film a pure family feel which anyone can enjoy whilst

February 10, 2009

Phil Hubbard

Super Reviewer

An extremely fun little movie, even it is hampered a bit by the knowledge of "what could have been." I personally would love to see Paramount do a branching version of the film on Blu-ray with all of the known versions of the film (US theatrical, UK theatrical, TV version, DVD version, VHS version), but one can only

May 6, 2011

Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

Explorers Quotes

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1. Ben Crandall: If this is all a dream, what's gonna happen when we wake up?
2. Wolfgang Muller: I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.
– Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)