IMDb > Explorers (1985)
Explorers
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Explorers (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Explorers (1985) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   5,051 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 39% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Eric Luke (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Explorers on IMDbPro.
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
Plot Keywords:
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:
quite a movie to explore 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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG for some mild language and action, and a brief scene involving beer. (special home entertainment version)
Runtime:
109 min | 100 min (restored video version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When the helicopter pilot looks the newspaper, one of the headlines says "Kingston Falls 'Riot' Still Unexplained". Kingston Falls was the town where the events in Gremlins (1984) (also directed by Joe Dante), took place. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At 07:16 on the DVD, "2517 Davana County School District" is written on the side of the school bus, but at 49:58, the sheriff's helicopter lands by a sign reading "Davanna County" and at 50:51, deputy Gordon reads a copy of the "Davanna County Gazette". more
Quotes:
Mr. Müller: [to his son's "talking" rat] "Shut up, Heinlein!" more
Movie Connections:
References Citizen Kane (1941) more
Soundtrack:
LESS THAN PERFECT more

FAQ

What's with the ending?
more
11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
quite a movie to explore, 14 July 2005
7/10
Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

The '80s yielded a number of movies about kids going on adventures, but "Explorers" was something else. On the surface, it seems like any other movie, but the aliens aren't what anyone is expecting. Mostly, the movie is about Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke), Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix) and Darren Woods (Jason Presson), and their fantasies.

And then there are director Joe Dante's touches. Dick Miller - whom Dante always casts - plays a cop who discovers the boys' spaceship. Robert Picardo (another frequent Dante player) voices one of the aliens. And of course Dante has many allusions to '50s B-movies. Maybe "Explorers" isn't anything special, but it's still pretty fascinating.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Explorers (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Good film... for the first hour jimbob02111980
river phoenix questions icould_Fly
Soundtrack? HorrorFan78
Help please!! ... I'm searching Gooniesque 80's film!! matias_celentano
the best scene in the movie is...the old guy saying 'nice going kid' carlstaples74
Unfinished? lordasaki
more

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