The Boy Who Could Fly

1986, Fantasy, 1h 48m

30 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Writer-director Nick Castle's careful command of tone keeps The Boy Who Could Fly from fully surrendering to its story's sentimental tendencies. Read critic reviews

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The Boy Who Could Fly Photos

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Movie Info

Kindly adolescent Milly (Lucy Deakins) moves in next door to autistic teen Eric Gibb (Jay Underwood). The mute Eric, whose parents were killed when he was 5 years old, lives with his hard-drinking uncle, Hugo (Fred Gwynne), and is obsessed with birds. His tendency to stand on rooftops and window ledges posed as if he's flying alarms his social workers, but when Eric saves Milly from a potentially deadly fall, she begins to believe that the boy really can take flight.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Fantasy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Nick Castle
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $6.3M
  • Runtime:
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

Lucy Deakins
Milly
Jay Underwood
Eric
Bonnie Bedelia
Charlene
Fred Savage
Louis
Colleen Dewhurst
Mrs. Sherman
Fred Gwynne
Uncle Hugo
Louise Fletcher
Psychiatrist
Jason Priestley
Gary
Nick Castle
Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Boy Who Could Fly

All Critics (30) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (11)
Full Review… Gavin Bainbridge Empire Magazine Full Review… Johanna Steinmetz Chicago Tribune Full Review… Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Full Review… Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Roger Hurlburt South Florida Sun-Sentinel Full Review… Ángel Luis Inurria El Pais (Spain) Full Review… Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Caffeinated Clint Moviehole Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com
View All Critic Reviews (30)

Audience Reviews for The Boy Who Could Fly

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