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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Eric Luke (written by)
Release Date:
12 July 1985 (USA) more
Tagline:
You don't need a driver's license to reach the stars. more
Plot:
Ben Crandall, an alien-obsessed kid, dreams one night of a circuit board. Drawing out the circuit, he and his friends Wolfgang and Darren set it up... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Columbus Day Tales Of Discovery, Real And Imagined
(From MTV Movies Blog. 12 October 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)
Exclusive: Down in The Hole - An Interview with Joe Dante
(From Fangoria. 21 September 2009, 11:14 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Fun, imaginative romp more (61 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Ethan Hawke | ... | Ben Crandall | |
| River Phoenix | ... | Wolfgang Müller | |
| Bobby Fite | ... | Steve Jackson | |
| Bradley Gregg | ... | Steve Jackson's Gang | |
| Georg Olden | ... | Steve Jackson's Gang | |
| Chance Schwass | ... | Steve Jackson's Gang | |
| Amanda Peterson | ... | Lori Swenson | |
| Danny Nucci | ... | Nasty Kid at School | |
| Jason Presson | ... | Darren Woods | |
| Dana Ivey | ... | Mrs. Müller | |
| Taliesin Jaffe | ... | Ludwig Müller | |
| James Cromwell | ... | Mr. Müller | |
| Brooke Bundy | ... | Science Teacher | |
| Tricia Bartholome | ... | Girl in Classroom | |
| Eric Luke | ... | Darren's Teacher |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG for some mild language and action, and a brief scene involving beer. (special home entertainment version)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
109 min | 100 min (restored video version)
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Iceland:L | Netherlands:MG6 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | West Germany:12 | Australia:G | France:U | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Although Robert Picardo received the actor credit for the father alien, his voice was actually provided by Frank Welker. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Darren puts the headphones on Wak's head, he puts them on the side of his eyes. His ears are much lower on his head. more
Quotes:
Ben Crandall: [stuttering, astounded at the violent film footage] But thi - see, this isn't real! A-a-and we don't really kill people! Well, we do, b-but n-not aliens, 'cause we haven't met any! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Transformers (2007) more
Soundtrack:
LESS THAN PERFECT more
FAQ
What's with the ending?more
more (61 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Explorers (1985) moreRecommendations
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This is a fun little story about a group of kids who are inspired by alien transmissions to build a spaceship from old junk parts. It features some of the early performances by Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix, back when they were young and enthusiastic performers. I'm actually totally green with envy at River Phoenix's role; it's the sort I always imagined playing as a kid.
The climax is very similar to a classic Star Trek episode called 'The Squire of Gothos', and the effects and showmanship of this story is very cool. A great piece of entertainment.