Explorers
Three bullied young friends turn a dream-inspired computer program into a homemade spacecraft and discover an eccentric galaxy beyond their suburban lives.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- eccentric
- playful
- family movie night
- nostalgic 1980s viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film charming and visually imaginative, with a terrific young cast and dazzling effects, but too thin and uneven to surpass its 1980s family-fantasy competitors.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ben's vivid dream of a space-like circuit board becomes the basis for Wolfgang's working computer program and the homemade spacecraft.
The boys build an interplanetary craft in a makeshift laboratory before traveling from their everyday lives to another galaxy.
Ben, Wolfgang, and Darren are school-age outsiders whose shared curiosity and loyalty enable their secret space adventure.
Late-night B movies, comic books, Galaga, alien jokes, and unusual extraterrestrial encounters give the family adventure a quirky register.
Films like Explorers, and why
The Last Starfighter
shared child protagonists, homemade technology, optimistic science fiction adventure, and family-friendly wonder
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
shared youthful friendship, playful extraterrestrial encounters, and warm 1980s family science fiction
The Goonies
shared eccentric humor, adolescent protagonists, comic-book imagination, and adventurous fantasy tone
Short Circuit
shared child-led invention, comic science fiction, and heightened 1980s adventure comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Dante
- Release Date
- 1985-07-12
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (528)
Cast
- Ethan Hawke
- River Phoenix
- Jason Presson
- Amanda Peterson
- Bobby Fite
- Dana Ivey
- James Cromwell
- Dick Miller
- Bradley Gregg
- Georg Olden
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- 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 Explorers about?
- Three bullied young friends turn a dream-inspired computer program into a homemade spacecraft and discover an eccentric galaxy beyond their suburban lives.
- What is Explorers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Explorers as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Explorers violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Explorers as mild.
- What did critics think of Explorers?
- Critics broadly found the film charming and visually imaginative, with a terrific young cast and dazzling effects, but too thin and uneven to surpass its 1980s family-fantasy competitors.
- Which films are like Explorers?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Starfighter, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Goonies, and Short Circuit.
- How long is Explorers?
- Explorers runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Explorers?
- In United States, Explorers streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
