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Bolstered by impressive special effects and a charming performance from its young star, Flight of the Navigator holds up as a solidly entertaining bit of family-friendly sci-fi. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch Flight of the Navigator
Watch Flight of the Navigator with a subscription on Disney+, or buy it on Apple TV, Vudu.
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Movie Info
This 1978 Disney adventure tells the story of 12-year-old David (Joey Cramer) who lives with his family in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. When he awakens from being accidentally knocked out in the forest near his home, he finds that eight years have passed. His family is overjoyed to have him back, but just as perplexed as he is by the fact that he hasn't aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) discovers a UFO nearby, David gets the chance to unravel the mystery and recover the life he lost.
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Rating: PG
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Genre: Kids & family, Sci-fi, Adventure
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Original Language: English
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Director: Randal Kleiser
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Producer: Robert Wald, Dmitri Villard
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Writer: Michael Burton, Matt McManus
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Release Date (Theaters): original
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $17.2M
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Runtime:
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Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Viking Film, Producers Sales Organization
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Sound Mix: Surround
Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews for Flight of the Navigator
Audience Reviews for Flight of the Navigator
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great and original film, like so many sci fi family films attempting to find its feet in the 80s, this film is no exception. Flight of the navigator has strong character, an intriguing concept and just unleashes something really fresh. great for a trip down memory lane.
brendan n Super Reviewer -
A 12 year old boy (David Freeman) goes missing and returns 8 years later. He has not aged in this time and is unaware of his disappearance. Scientists, Doctors and his family are all equally baffled over this strange phenomenon. All are at a loose end until NASA come on the scene. NASA are very interested in David following their discovery of a UFO; which seems to have a lot in common with the young boy. The fun really begins when the 2 are reunited. The Flight of the Navigator is an 80's classic, Sci-Fi, family film. The story is easy to follow, light-hearted and very easy going. This is a great movie to watch when you are tired, ill or just don't want to use your brain too much. Flight of the Navigator is a very enjoyable watch. I had fun revisiting it this week and loved this film as child. It was one of my most watched "taped off the TV" VHS tapes. I think the special effects are quite good for the time, I like the pun in the opening credits, the music is pretty good throughout and I find Joey Cramer's performance as David very good indeed. I think it's a shame his movie career began to fade away rapidly after this point. Randal Kleiser (Director) did a decent job with this film. I think it's one of his greater achievements. He also had success and praise with Grease, The Blue Lagoon and White Fang. As a movie it achieves everything that it sets out to do; to entertain a family audience. I feel that it can stand comfortably amongst many other solid, light hearted, family movies of this time, such as; Batteries not Included, Honey, I shrunk the Kids, The Never Ending Story, Big, The Karate Kid, Short Circuit, Gremlins, Cocoon, etc. I think that, that category is where Flight of the Navigator belongs. To set it's sights on anything higher would be, in my opinion, "punching above it's weight". I don't think that it can be regarded as one of the really great or top family movies of the 80's. There's too much competition with movies such as; Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark and ET. Mr. Spielburg was really firing with both barrels at this time. Comparisons aside, The Flight of the Navigator remains an enjoyable family movie that entertains children and adults alike. I think it was probably my favorite movie when I was about 8, and continued to be so until the release of Independence day. But what did I know, I also liked Teen Wolf, Mac and Me and Harry and the Hendersons.
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Once you get past the so-so acting and seeming plot holes early in the flick, Flight of the Navigator is light, wholesome family entertainment which hits on a broad number of topics near and dear to kids. There's a fantasy of being a VIP in major, interstellar affairs (and having an all-powerful best friend). The film is heavy on the family aspect, particularly between David and his brother-once adversaries, but now friends in the future. Bad adults who just don't understand a kid. And the list goes on. No one gets any particular depth to their characters-especially poor Howard Hesseman as the NASA scientist trying to figure out what's going on. The chase piece of the film is extremely light: after all, how do humans chase down a spaceship? Still, it's a fun nostalgic trip with more than a couple laughs thrown in.
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a fantastic film from the minds of disney and had a gripping story that sucked me in in the first 20 minutes
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