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The Boy Who Could Fly

  • 19861986
  • PGPG
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,972
5,103
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
40 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Romance

An autistic boy who dreams of flying touches everyone he meets, including a new family who has moved in after their father dies.An autistic boy who dreams of flying touches everyone he meets, including a new family who has moved in after their father dies.An autistic boy who dreams of flying touches everyone he meets, including a new family who has moved in after their father dies.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,972
5,103
  • Director
    • Nick Castle
  • Writer
    • Nick Castle
  • Stars
    • Lucy Deakins
    • Jay Underwood
    • Bonnie Bedelia
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nick Castle
  • Writer
    • Nick Castle
  • Stars
    • Lucy Deakins
    • Jay Underwood
    • Bonnie Bedelia
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    The Boy Who Could Fly
    Trailer 1:40
    The Boy Who Could Fly

    Photos40

    The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Jay Underwood and Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Fred Savage in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Mindy Cohn and Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Jay Underwood in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Jay Underwood and Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Fred Savage, Bonnie Bedelia, Jay Underwood, and Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Jay Underwood and Lucy Deakins in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    Louise Fletcher in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lucy Deakins
    Lucy Deakins
    • Millyas Milly
    Jay Underwood
    Jay Underwood
    • Ericas Eric
    Bonnie Bedelia
    Bonnie Bedelia
    • Charleneas Charlene
    Fred Savage
    Fred Savage
    • Louisas Louis
    Colleen Dewhurst
    Colleen Dewhurst
    • Mrs. Shermanas Mrs. Sherman
    Fred Gwynne
    Fred Gwynne
    • Uncle Hugoas Uncle Hugo
    Mindy Cohn
    Mindy Cohn
    • Genevaas Geneva
    Janet MacLachlan
    Janet MacLachlan
    • Mrs. D'Gregarioas Mrs. D'Gregario
    Jennifer Michas
    • Monaas Mona
    Michelle Bardeaux
    Michelle Bardeaux
    • Erinas Erin
    Aura Pithart
    • Coletteas Colette
    Cameron Bancroft
    Cameron Bancroft
    • Joeas Joe
    • (as Cam Bancroft)
    Jason Priestley
    Jason Priestley
    • Garyas Gary
    • (as Jason Priestly)
    Chris Arnold
    • Sonnyas Sonny
    Sean Kelso
    • Bad Boyas Bad Boy
    Meredith Bain Woodward
    Meredith Bain Woodward
    • Female Administratoras Female Administrator
    • (as Meredith B. Woodward)
    Raimund Stamm
    • Attendant #1as Attendant #1
    Dan Zale
    • Attendant #2as Attendant #2
    • Director
      • Nick Castle
    • Writer
      • Nick Castle
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Charlene Michaelson, her two children - teen-aged Amelia 'Milly' Michaelson and precocious adolescent Louis Michaelson - and their dog Max move into a new house in a new neighborhood after the passing of Charlene's husband/the kids' father, Donald Michaelson. Beyond life without Donald, they are all nervous about starting a new life, which, for Charlene, means getting back into the workforce after thirteen years. Milly quickly settles into the neighborhood if only because she becomes fascinated with their next door neighbor, teen-aged Eric Gibb, who authorities believe is autistic. Orphaned Eric has never spoken a word, and without having been told about the incident, began to think he could fly at the exact moment his parents died in a plane crash. Many believe Eric's belief is because he felt he could thus save his parents. Eric's guardian is his dipsomaniac Uncle Hugo Gibb. Milly's high school teacher, Mrs. Carolyn Sherman, who used to be a special needs teacher, looks after Eric as much as anyone. Mrs. Sherman believes that having Eric in her class with "normal" students is a positive environment for him, unlike the authorities who believe he should be institutionalized. Milly's official and unofficial tasks become to see what lies deep within Eric's psyche, and if there really is any validity to what people think Eric believes. —Huggo
    • autism
    • punishment
    • gender in title
    • nightmare
    • family relationships
    • 96 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Between a silent boy and a beautiful girl lies an amazing secret.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fred Savage's film debut.
    • Goofs
      Cables holding Eric can visibly be seen as he and Millie are falling off the roof of the school before they crash into Millie's mom.
    • Quotes

      Bad Boy: So you thought you could make it around the block?

      [Louis pulls out a water pistol]

      Bad Boy: Oh, so now I'm supposed to be scared of a water pistol?

      Louis Michaelson: There ain't no water in this gun.

      Bad Boy: So what's in it?

      Louis Michaelson: Piss!

    • Alternate versions
      The Disney Channel version of this film that aired in 1987 had been edited. Some scenes had been edited down or taken out, and the bad language had been dubbed. Also at the end of the program the star Jay Underwood gave a special message to young viewers telling them not to try anything they saw him perform in the film. He explained that they had special wires attached to him to make it look as though he could fly.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Runaway Bride/The Iron Giant/Twin Falls Idaho/Deep Blue Sea/Genghis Blues (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Walkin' On Air
      Written and Performed by Stephen Bishop

    User reviews41

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    One of the classic and wonderful films from the 80's!
    The boy who could fly was and still is one of my favourite films and my feelings about this film haven't changed since. It opens as Millie and her family are starting there new life in town and moving in to their new home. As they are settling in Millie sees a boy called Eric he lives just opposite her he doesn't speak and shows no emotions. But one thing he can do is fly. Millie befriends him and tries to get to know him better and slowly he begins to open up to her. They fall in love and it's so sweet and heart warming This is an underrated gem from the 80's.Some people may have missed this film but I recommend it to anyone looking for something with a heart and a great story. The music by Bruce Broughton is just beautiful and wonderful and the song in the closing credits walking on air is just fantastic. This film has a positive message about dreams and believing that things can happen it's one of the best films I've ever seen. They just don't make films like this anymore.
    helpful•8
    1
    • RUKIA22
    • Jan 18, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 15, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Knabe, der fliegen konnte
    • Filming locations
      • Bloedel Floral Conservatory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Lorimar Film Partners
      • Lorimar Motion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,177,431
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $204,461
      • Aug 17, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,177,431
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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