Flight of the Navigator (1986)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Bolstered by impressive special effects and a charming performance from its young star, Flight of the Navigator holds up as a solidly entertaining bit of family-friendly sci-fi.
Flight of the Navigator Videos & Photos
Movie Info
The year is 1978: 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer), playing in the woods near his home, is knocked unconscious. He awakens and heads home, only to find strangers living there. He also finds that the year is 1986, and that he's been officially missing for eight years. NASA officials determine that David was abducted by aliens during his blackout, and hope to scan the boy's brain in order to unlock a few secrets of the universe. Answering the call of a strange, unseen force, David boards a … More
| Rating: | PG |
| Genre: | Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy |
| Directed By: | Randal Kleiser |
| Written By: | Matt MacManus, Douglas Day Stewart, Michael Burton, John Hill |
| In Theaters: | Jul 30, 1986 Wide |
| On DVD: | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Runtime: |
People Who Like this movie also like
Cast
as David Freeman
as Helen
as Bill
as Carolyn
as Faraday
as Troy
as Jeff (age 16)
as Max
as Jeff (age 8)
as Dr. Carr
as Mrs. Howard
as Mr. Howard
as Female Technician
as Detective Banks
as Detective Banks
as Woman Officer
as Night Guard Brayton
as Technician
as Technician
as Technician
as Scientist
as Scientist
as Observation Guard
as NASA Officer
as Hangar Guard
as Control-Room Guard
as Control-Room Guard
as Radar Technician
as Radar Technician
as Lt. King
as Agent
as Agent
as Gas Station Attendan...
as Tourist Man
as Tourist Child
as Jennifer Bradley
as Newscaster
as Hangar Guard
as Newscaster
as Kid in Mustang
as Bixby
as NASA Technician
as NASA Technician
as Max
Friend Ratings
No Friends? Inconceivable! Log in to see what your friends have to say.
LoginCritic Reviews for Flight of the Navigator
All Critics (27) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (5) | DVD (5)
When the film shifts into the action mode in its second half -- the flying saucer returns to aid in David`s rescue -- it becomes quite bright and lively.
If there is more than a little something borrowed from Spielberg, Kleiser's movie is amiably undemanding entertainment that says the right things, albeit without great originality.
There's no mistaking Flight of the Navigator for a really first-rate children's picture like, say, The Black Stallion. But Flight of the Navigator is an enjoyable film that encourages kids to use their heads.
Whereas its plot may be derivative--and at several junctures, unconvincing--"Flight of the Navigator" nevertheless manages to develop considerable humor and poignancy from David's predicament and what he does about it.
This children's adventure turns out to be, despite its title, less of a Star Wars trip than an entertaining variation on the time-travel adventure Back to the Future.
Instead of creating an eye-opening panorama, Flight of the Navigator looks through the small end of the telescope. Life on Earth is magnified but without an expansive vision.
Audience Reviews for Flight of the Navigator
Always loved this Disney flick, great effects and adventurous plot that is kinda 'Back to the Future' mixed with 'Explorers' purely for kids with an extraterrestrial twist.
The effects were fantastic for the time and it was the first film to use environment mapping, the CG was some of the first used in motion pictures and in my personal opinion they still hold up very well today, I might add they also used stop motion in the mix too! truly classic workmanship.
As said the effects were always the star attraction with this film, the ship looked way cool (simple design for today of course), the hydraulic alien arm thing inside was nicely designed, the ships interior was really well designed and looked almost like the interior of the 'Predator 2' ship whilst the other aliens creatures were all decent muppet style creatures which were simple fun and amusing.
The whole film was so well made and showed so much vivid imagination, it was colourful and a really exciting ride for kids at the time, I loved every minute of it. The only thing I never liked was Paul Reubens voice as the alien later on in the film, that spoilt the sensible aspect of the plot and made it stupid with his 'Pee Wee Herman' voice. SJP made up for it being very very cute and one of my first kid crushes :)
Super Reviewer
This lively alien-fantasy-action film is exciting without relying on agression. The extra-terrestrial creatures are bad Muppet imitations, although that alien with a cold is a gem.
As a NASA intern, Sarah Jessica Parker looks the same as she does now.
Super Reviewer
Another movie I saw as a kid, this sci-fi adventure is pretty cool, but very much for kids. I don't think I'd like it as much today.
Super Reviewer
Flight of the Navigator Quotes
| Max: | I crashed into electrical towers and my star charts were erased. I need the ones in your head to complete my mission. |
| David Freeman: | So you need ME and my INFERIOR brain to fly that thing? |
| Max: | Correction, I need the SUPERIOR information in your INFERIOR brain to fly this... thing. |
Discussion Forum
Discuss Flight of the Navigator on our Movie forum!
