Explorers (1985)
Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Jul 12, 1985 Wide
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 13,563
My Rating
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
Jul 12, 1985 Wide
Oct 19, 2004
Paramount Studios
Watch It Now
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
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Explorers Trailer & Photos
All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | 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.
The birth of fanboy culture?
Kids' sci-fi adventure never fully blasts off.
A terrific little kid flick
The one that started it all! Started what? No idea!
A family feature on Acid. What a strange, strange film.
After so much build-up, the ending's a bit of a letdown, but as a kids flick, this is way above average.
Audience Reviews for Explorers
Super Reviewer
Visuals for the time were slick and colourful with an air of mystic as allot of the action is during the night, the classic look and feel of the 80's gives this film such a charm much like many other fantasy films of the age, 'E.T.' being a good example. These days of course the effects do look dated but they still do their job and will thrill young viewers as I'm sure the wacky, zany aliens will too. Off the wall and a mix of 'Max Headroom' with 'Pee Wee Herman' and you have the fun creations in full bodysuits that are obvious yet at the same time great fun to watch (like many 'Star Wars' creatures).
Personally I always found 'Flight of the Navigator' more enjoyable than 'Explorers' as it was alittle more sensible in general and really did make me wanna travel in space as the navigator hehe. 'Explorers' was always great fun to watch as the plot builds but I was always kinda disappointed at how the aliens were handled, nice idea to make them kids but I thought they should of been more grounded to give the ending alittle more heart perhaps.
Think 'Goonies' in space ;)
Super Reviewer
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- Ben Crandall: If this is all a dream, what's gonna happen when we wake up?
- Wolfgang Muller: I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Explorers yet.
Latest News on Explorers
September 14, 2012:
Kevin Costner Wants to Start The Explorers GuildCostner's trying to get a multi-platform franchise off the ground; also, he's in talks for a...
September 4, 2008:
IGN Screening Series Doubles Up On '80s Sci-FiIGN's new ongoing screening series, IGN Presents, will host a double feature of "Explorers" and...
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