Explorers

Explorers (1985)

  • 78% of critics liked it
    (18 reviews)

  • 65% of users liked it
    (13,563 ratings)

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… More

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PG,
Directed By
Written By
Eric Luke
Genres
Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Jul 12, 1985 Wide
Paramount Studios

Critic Reviews

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    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.

  • Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm

    The birth of fanboy culture?

  • Teresa Talerico, Common Sense Media

    Kids' sci-fi adventure never fully blasts off.

  • Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

    A terrific little kid flick

  • Gregory Weinkauf, New Times

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

Read all 7 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Anthony L


    An 80's kids classic that seems to have totally passed me by. Was this even released in the UK? Released in the summer of 85, it had some pretty tough competition. It starts so well, it has all the ingredients of a classic kids 80's film until it gets to the end and then it… More

  • Phil H


    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… More

  • Tim S


    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,… More

  • Conner R


    A kooky 80s classic about kid space exploration and aliens. Sure it makes little sense from a logistical standpoint, but it doesn't matter when it's such a great story. Both Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix are unmatched when it comes to child stars in that they're just… More

  • danny d


    one of those classic films from my childhood that i am now excited to share with me kids. early ethan hawke, and even better, early cindy mancini, this is one of those completely unbelievable stories that isnt fleshed out well at all but you didnt care as a kid because it was so much… More

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

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