Movie

Explorers

1985 · 109 min

A nostalgic, gentle adventure that captures the wonder of childhood imagination and friendship, with a quirky, offbeat charm.

Directed by: Joe Dante
Genres: Science fiction, Adventure, Family
Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson

Tagline: The adventure begins in your own back yard.
Overview: Middle schooler Ben spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result – when he has a vivid dream about technology, his prodigy best friend Wolfgang manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren, the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: Explorers

Rent or buy in the UK

Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video

More options Data from JustWatch

Directed by: Joe Dante
Genres: Science fiction, Adventure, Family
Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: whimsicalstrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
lightstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: coming-of-age
friendship
exploration
identity
family
Places: suburbs
space
home
Era: contemporary
Audience: family
Form: ensemble
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	4
Horror	1
Humour	5
Realism	4
Romance	3
Tension	3
Darkness	2
Complexity	3
Emotional weight	4

Titles like Explorers

Movie

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1982

A warm, wondrous childhood adventure that swells with feeling and leaves you glowing, though the parting aches.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: warm
earnest
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 115 min

Details

E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Toy Story

1995

Bright, bouncy and endlessly rewatchable, it pairs slapstick chases with a surprisingly tender look at jealousy and friendship.

Whimsical, warm · about friendship and identity

Via: whimsical
warm
friendship
identity
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 81 min

Details

Toy StoryHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

1977

A rousing, good-humoured adventure that sweeps you along with likable heroes, witty banter, and a thrilling underdog triumph.

Earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship · ensemble

Via: earnest
coming-of-age
friendship
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 121 min

Details

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New HopeHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Back to the Future

1985

Breezy, inventive thrill ride with sly wit, warm nostalgia and a giddy sense of discovery at every turn.

Whimsical, warm · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: whimsical
warm
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 116 min

Details

Back to the FutureHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Flight of the Navigator

1986

A playful, heartwarming sci-fi adventure with a sense of wonder, light humour, and a bittersweet edge about time and family.

Whimsical, warm · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: whimsical
warm
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 90 min

Details

Flight of the NavigatorHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Project Hail Mary

2026

A warm, funny, and awe-filled space adventure about friendship and sacrifice, balancing hard science with heartfelt emotion.

Warm · about friendship

Via: warm
friendship
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 157 min

Details

Project Hail MaryHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Kiki's Delivery Service

1989

A gentle, charming flight through a young witch's struggles, blending whimsy with quiet moments of doubt and self-discovery.

Whimsical, warm · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: whimsical
warm
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 103 min

Details

Kiki's Delivery ServiceHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Big

1988

A warm, playful wish-fulfilment comedy that lets you enjoy adult life through a child's eyes, then quietly tugs at the heart.

Whimsical, warm · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: whimsical
warm
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 104 min

Details

BigHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Castle in the Sky

1986

A soaring, heartfelt adventure that blends gentle wonder with thrilling chases and a touch of melancholy.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: warm
earnest
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 125 min

Details

Castle in the SkyHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Elio

2025

A gentle, colorful space adventure that balances quirky alien humor with a heartfelt story about a lonely kid finding connection.

Whimsical, warm · about friendship and identity

Via: whimsical
warm
friendship
identity
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 98 min

Details

ElioHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

1989

A playful, family-friendly adventure that turns a backyard into a thrilling jungle, balancing peril with warmth and humor.

Whimsical, warm · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via: whimsical
warm
coming-of-age
friendship
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 93 min

Details

Honey, I Shrunk the KidsHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Earth to Echo

2014

A scrappy, handheld kids' adventure that feels like a sleepover quest, sweet and a little shaky, with heart outweighing polish.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship · ensemble

Via: warm
earnest
coming-of-age
friendship
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 91 min

Details

Earth to EchoHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy

Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: science fiction, adventure, family
Directed by: Joe Dante
Written by: Eric Luke
Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Bobby Fite, Dana Ivey, James Cromwell, Dick Miller
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography: John Hora
Runtime: 109 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: German, English

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

Explorers

How it feels

More like this

Titles like Explorers

Where to watch in the UK

Details