Ethan Hawke,
River Phoenix,
Jason Presson,
Amanda Peterson,
Dick Miller
... see more 
Explorers turns out to be much ado about nothing, but it's so sublimely assembled we're willing to overlook the sappy climax. Young sci-fi geek Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) (could he possibly be based o... read more
DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004
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Stats: 731 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (731)
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February 20, 2012An 80's kids classic that seems to have totally passed me by. Was this even released in the UK? Released in the summer of 85, it had some pretty tough competition. It starts so well, it has all the ingredients of a classic kids 80's film until it gets to the end and then it gets ... read more
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June 28, 2011Another classic kids flick from a time when imagination seemed to flow like a waterfall, made a year before 'Flight of the Navigator' and along the same kind of lines but much more wild with a stronger fantasy element. The direction from Dante is spot on giving this film a pure f... read more
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May 6, 2011An extremely fun little movie, even it is hampered a bit by the knowledge of "what could have been." I personally would love to see Paramount do a branching version of the film on Blu-ray with all of the known versions of the film (US theatrical, UK theatrical, TV version, DVD v... read more
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June 12, 2010A kooky 80s classic about kid space exploration and aliens. Sure it makes little sense from a logistical standpoint, but it doesn't matter when it's such a great story. Both Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix are unmatched when it comes to child stars in that they're just too smart an... read more
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October 21, 2009one of those classic films from my childhood that i am now excited to share with me kids. early ethan hawke, and even better, early cindy mancini, this is one of those completely unbelievable stories that isnt fleshed out well at all but you didnt care as a kid because it was so... read more
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September 14, 2009Rather uninspired and boring to me, especially when compared to other River Phoenix films and ones in this genre from the time period.
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July 14, 2007An 80's kids' space odyssey. It was a sensation in it's time, but barely memorable 20 years later. The aliens are quirky and fun, but for what? Big cosmic showtune of an end theme during the credits. I always thought of this movie: "What's all the hub-bub, Bub?"
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March 15, 2007Average sci-fi fantasy film about a group of kids travelling into space with their own spaceship. There's not enough spectacle or action for the kids and not enough meat for adults.
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March 14, 2007Explorers has a great premise - kids messing with computers discover they can create a mysterious physics-defying bubble allowing them to build a home-brew spaceship. However, it lets itself down with a tacky sci-fi second half that even 9 year-olds find absurdly silly! Classic c... read more
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Critic Reviews
July 3, 2010
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
January 21, 2004
Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
The one that started it all! Started what? No idea!
October 8, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
A family feature on Acid. What a strange, strange film.
May 7, 2003
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
After so much build-up, the ending's a bit of a letdown, but as a kids flick, this is way above average.
September 17, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Hardly out of this world, but a pleasing spinkle of space dust
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
A fun-time nostalgic trip into outer space.
March 7, 2002
Andy Klein, New Times
The movie's pleasures are obvious and considerable.
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Explorers
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