Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tender
- wistful
- hopeful
- family movie night
- nostalgic viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a well-intentioned, emotionally graceful family fantasy whose careful tone keeps its heavy themes from becoming overly maudlin, though its sentimentality remains apparent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Eric's belief that he can fly begins when his parents die in a plane crash, while Milly's family is also adapting to the death of her father.
Mrs. Sherman argues that Eric belongs in a regular classroom despite authorities advocating institutionalization.
Milly's central task is to understand Eric's silence, flight belief, and inner psychological reality.
The film addresses parental death, mental illness, and institutionalization while maintaining the careful, non-maudlin tone noted by critics.
Films like The Boy Who Could Fly, and why
The Last Starfighter
Shared coming-of-age fantasy, child-centered emotional storytelling, and a gentle supernatural premise.
The Sixth Sense
Shared family fantasy, grief-related emotional stakes, and an extraordinary child viewed through skeptical adults.
The Iron Giant
Shared teen perspective, outsider identity, tender melancholy, and magical-realist emotional escape.
Movie Details
- Director
- Nick Castle
- Release Date
- 1986-08-15
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (153)
Cast
- Lucy Deakins
- Jay Underwood
- Fred Savage
- Bonnie Bedelia
- Colleen Dewhurst
- Fred Gwynne
- Jason Priestley
- Cameron Bancroft
- Janet MacLachlan
- Mindy Cohn
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Boy Who Could Fly about?
- A grieving teenager forms a transformative bond with her silent neighbor, whose impossible belief in flight challenges every adult explanation of him.
- What is The Boy Who Could Fly like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Boy Who Could Fly as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Boy Who Could Fly violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Boy Who Could Fly as mild.
- What did critics think of The Boy Who Could Fly?
- Critics broadly found the film a well-intentioned, emotionally graceful family fantasy whose careful tone keeps its heavy themes from becoming overly maudlin, though its sentimentality remains apparent.
- Which films are like The Boy Who Could Fly?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Starfighter, The Sixth Sense, and The Iron Giant.
- How long is The Boy Who Could Fly?
- The Boy Who Could Fly runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Boy Who Could Fly?
- In United States, The Boy Who Could Fly streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
