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In 1978, a boy travels 8 years into the future and has an adventure with an intelligent, wisecracking alien ship.

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writers:

Mark H. Baker (story), Michael Burton (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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Popularity
2,192 ( 788)
4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joey Cramer ... David Freeman
Paul Reubens ... Max (voice) (as Paul Mall)
Cliff De Young ... Bill Freeman
Veronica Cartwright ... Helen Freeman
Sarah Jessica Parker ... Carolyn McAdams
Albie Whitaker Albie Whitaker ... Jeff (8 years)
Matt Adler ... Jeff (16 years)
Howard Hesseman ... Dr. Louis Faraday
Robert Small ... Troy
Jonathan Sanger Jonathan Sanger ... Dr. Carr
Iris Acker Iris Acker ... Mrs. Howard
Richard Liberty Richard Liberty ... Mr. Howard
Raymond Forchion ... Detective Banks
Cynthia Caquelin Cynthia Caquelin ... Woman Officer
Ted Bartsch Ted Bartsch ... Night Guard Brayton
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Storyline

A 12-year-old boy goes missing in 1978, only to reappear once more in 1986. In the eight years that have passed, he hasn't aged. It is no coincidence that at the time he "comes back", a flying saucer is found, entangled in power lines. Written by Rob Hartill

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

David is eight years late for dinner... and the U.S. Government wants to know why. But David has an excuse, an absolutely fantastic excuse! See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the prop hulls was refurbished, and is now the topper of a drink station in Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. See more »

Goofs

When David's mind is unloading images of star charts on to the computer screens, they flash past at a tremendous rate, at least ten a second. One of the scientists says, "These are uncharted systems," but there is no way he could possibly know this given their speed. See more »

Quotes

Max: Are we there yet? Where are we anyway?
David: Geez, I have no idea where we are. We got to get directions.
MaxDavid: [they hear "Trapped in My Mind" coming from a convertible on the highway] Hmm.
David: I wonder if that's that Twisted Sister stuff Carolyn was talking about.
Teen in Car: Come on.
David: [they lower the space ship beside the car at a stop sign] Hi, you wouldn't happen to know the way to Fort Lauderdale, would you?
Max: [Max sticks his 'head' out] Try to make your directions clear because we get lost easy.
Teen in Car: [freaking out] Floor it!
[...]
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Alternate Versions

The original print of this starts with the titles "Through PSO Producers Sales Organization PSO And Viking Film Present A New Star Entertainment Production A Randall Kleiser Film Flight Of The Navigator". On the BBC2 TV 2015 print the titles have been changed to display "Walt Disney Pictures[castle logo] Walt Disney Pictures Presents Flight Of The Navigator A Producer Sales Organization Picture A Randall Kleiser Film A New Star Entertainment Production". The broadcast was on 21 December 2015. See more »

Connections

References Roller Boogie (1979) See more »

Soundtracks

Blame It On The Bossa Nova
Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Published by Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc., BMI
Performed by Hollie Denei Hewitt
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User Reviews

 
Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage!
27 April 2004 | by vertigo_14See all my reviews

Flight of the Navigator is one of those terrific adventure films for kids, even after all these years. It also falls into a long line of fun 80s sci-fi/adventure family movies.

Davey (Joey Cramer) goes into the woods looking for his little brother one evening in 1978. When he wakes up after a brief period of unconsciousness, he turns into a scientific marvel. Nothing is as Davey remembers it, but he can't figure out why because he only fell asleep for a brief period.

Davey is told that his parents reported the young boy missing in 1978, the evening that he went searching in the woods for his younger brother, referring to the incident in the past tense because it is 1985. Only Davey is still exactly the same age and everything he was from 1978, while time has passed for everyone else. His little brother is now his big brother (Matt Adler). His parents are old. Everyone is confused and the scientific world find the situation fascinating.

The scientists turn Davey into their personal guinea pig, running tests and probing him and all that junk. And soon they discover, that Davey was abducted. Davey, understandably a confused little kid, can't figure out what's going on and he sure doesn't want to be locked up in some lab where people prod at him all day long and tell him very little. So, he breaks lose, and hops aboard the spaceship that took him through time before. While it is an escape from the scientists and their security (briefly), it also holds the answers to what happened to him. It is also an opportunity for Davey to learn everything from this spaceship. And a kid's movie isn't complete without personifying inanimate objects. The spaceship is essentially controlled by Max, which is like it's CPU, a CPU with a cool sense of humor who likewise tries to learn about human emotions and condition from his passenger, Davey.

Filmed around Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, it is still a cool movie for kids...teenagers...whatever, having a little bit of something for everyone. Great humor, cool special effects, and the like.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1986 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Flight of the Navigator See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,115,097, 3 August 1986

Gross USA:

$18,564,613

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,564,613
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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