Flight of the Navigator (1986)
81%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Flight of the Navigator may not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it certainly has its charms. The film manages to balance the familiar human-meets-alien trope with a sense of humor and poignancy that makes it an enjoyable watch for both kids and adults. While it may borrow from other sci-fi classics, Flight of the Navigator still manages to stand on its own as a fun and entertaining adventure that encourages viewers to use their heads. With a mix of nostalgia and feel-good entertainment, this underrated gem is a must-see for any sci-fi fan.
Flight of the Navigator may not be a Disney classic, but it’s definitely a fun and entertaining sci-fi movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story may be a bit stale with the whole human-meets-alien theme, but the flying saucer scenes are bright and lively. It’s almost like two movies in one, with a creepy sci-fi mystery and a BFF road trip comedy all squished up together. And let’s not forget the nostalgia factor that will make you feel like a kid again. So, buckle up and get ready for a euphoric mix of pop culture and feel-good entertainment!
Production Company(ies)
Alien, Disney+, The Walt Disney Studios
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures, Viking Film, Producers Sales Organization
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1986
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 29m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 30, 1986 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 5, 2006
Genre(s)
Kids & family/Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Joey Cramer, Veronica Cartwright, Cliff DeYoung, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matt Adler, Howard Hesseman, directed by Randal Kleiser, written by Michael Burton and Matt McManus, Kids & family, Sci-fi, Adventure, PG rating, reviewed by Lee Siegel, Dave Kehr, Desmond Ryan, Jay Boyar, Kevin Thomas, Gene Siskel, Kelechi Ehenulo, William Wolf, Emmet Asher-Perrin, Dennis Schwartz, Joe Baltake, Candice Russell, box office gross $17.2M, budget, produced by Robert Wald and Dmitri Villard, Walt Disney Pictures, Viking Film, Producers Sales Organization
Worldwide gross: $18,564,613
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $18,564,613
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Veronica Cartwright – Helen Freeman
Cliff DeYoung – Bill Freeman
Sarah Jessica Parker – Carolyn McAdams
Matt Adler – Jeff (16 years)
Howard Hesseman – Dr. Faraday
Director – Randal Kleiser
Producers – Robert Wald, Dmitri Villard
Writers – Michael Burton, Matt McManus
Director(s)
Randal Kleiser
Writer(s)
Michael Burton, Matt McManus
Producer(s)
Robert Wald, Dmitri Villard
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (31) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (5)
Flight of the Navigator won’t earn a place among Disney’s classics. but it’s a perfectly entertaining sci-fi movie that does a creditable job with the stale human-meets-alien theme.
October 25, 2018
Lee Siegel
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
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.
April 1, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
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.
April 1, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Desmond Ryan
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
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.
April 1, 2014
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
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.
April 1, 2014
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 16, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
When you add up all the evidence, Flight of the Navigator remains one of the most underrated pinnacles of the sci-fi genre, a euphoric mix of pop culture nostalgia and feel-good entertainment.
July 15, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Kelechi Ehenulo
VultureHound
Flight of the Navigator, the Disney studio’s new movie aimed at children, has the warmed-over feeling of other time-travel yarns. But the story is snappily told and is sure to keep youngsters enthralled.
November 6, 2019
William Wolf
Gannett News Service
Flight of the Navigator is almost like two movies in one — a creepy sci-fi mystery and a BFF road trip comedy all squished up together.
January 9, 2019
Emmet Asher-Perrin
Tor.com
Appealing children’s sci-fi fantasy film, that follows the squeaky-clean Disney formula.
April 9, 2014 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The brain-assaulting sci-fi second half of Flight of the Navigator is made palpable by Cramer, who deftly conveys anguish during the first half. Now, he wants to go home and his gung-ho attitude makes every dumb effect exciting.
April 1, 2014
Joe Baltake
Philadelphia Daily News
Flight of the Navigator, in spite of a rough beginning, soars as it should, taking a child on the journey of his life.
April 1, 2014
Candice Russell
South Florida Sun-Sentinel…
Plot
After being knocked out in the forest, 12-year-old David wakes up to find that eight years have passed and he hasn’t aged, leading him on a journey to unravel the mystery and recover the life he lost in Flight of the Navigator.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t say anything goofy or funny about the film Signed in.
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