Flight of the Navigator

Name: Flight of the Navigator
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family
Released: August 1, 1986
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Albie Whitaker, Cliff De Young, Howard Hesseman, Joey Cramer, Jonathan Sanger

1986

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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Flight of the Navigator

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: August 1, 1986 | TV-PG

Starring: Albie Whitaker, Cliff De Young, Howard Hesseman, Joey Cramer, Jonathan Sanger, Matt Adler, Paul Reubens, Robert Small, Sarah Jessica Parker, Veronica Cartwright

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

Director: Randal Kleiser

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 90 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Not a particularly original or insightful film of its kind, and marred slightly by the whining of Cramer in the lead role, this is nevertheless enjoyable fare for kids. Read full review

Gene Siskel

The film doesn't have the pace or the scale of Back to the Future, but it does have the same sweet moment when a child declares his love for his parents because he's seen them in a different light. Joey Cramer is quite winning as David. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The time-shift plot may be a bit too complicated for a children's film, and the sheer amount of talk necessary to explain it may cause some restlessness. But 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. Read full review

Bill Cosford

Flight of the Navigator is a cheerfully unaccomplished little movie, a kind of E.T. for kids that recalls the Disney live-action films of a generation ago. E.T is not the only movie borrowed from here; there are echoes of Back to the Future and most of the rest of the last decade's science-fiction fantasies, though Flight of the Navigator is generous in acknowledging its sources. It's a happy knockoff. [31 July 1986, p.C5]

Jay Boyar

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. Unlike those children's movies that spoon-feed their audiences, this film keeps setting up challenging situations that young moviegoers must think through. Read full review

Lee Siegel

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. [18 Sep 1986]

Paul Attanasio

This may be catnip to a kiddie audience that, these days, would seem to know no other world. But it's hard to think much of a movie whose only point of identification with its audience is its utter superficiality. [05 Aug 1986, p.C10]

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User Reviews

Steven1981

May 20, 2020

Flight of the Navigator is a family sci-fi adventure.. It's suitable for any age really, made in 1986 it's a film I grew up with and the basic story is time has skipped 8 years and the child in the movie who plays David Freeman (Joey Cramer) doesn't know until he finds his home invaded byFlight of the Navigator is a family sci-fi adventure.. It's suitable for any age really, made in 1986 it's a film I grew up with and the basic story is time has skipped 8 years and the child in the movie who plays David Freeman (Joey Cramer) doesn't know until he finds his home invaded by other tenants and when he finds his real parents they look older and even his brother, Jeff is much older... So David becomes a lab guinea pig in some terms by a bunch of scientists or Nasa or something and they are holding some flying saucer or alien ship in a hanger.... David receives contact from the ship, jumps on board and makes a journey to travel backwards in time by 8 years to be reunited with his parents.... There are strange lifeforms on the ship but also a cute creature.... What I remember is the Feast ice cream David holds in the movie because that itself is testament to how oldskool this movie is and David Freeman once inside the spacecraft communicates with some computer being named Max ... Great movie that's never boring and the pace is good but also watch out for Sarah Jessica Parker and Veronica Cartwright as David's mother.… Expand

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Deanomite

Jan 24, 2020

mostly i found this because the child star never made another movie after really, ended up robbing a bank in the little town he lived in, had a life of crime. So, gotta check out the movie. I remember this as a kid because he was my age and there was a Beach Boys song with a spaceship, itmostly i found this because the child star never made another movie after really, ended up robbing a bank in the little town he lived in, had a life of crime. So, gotta check out the movie. I remember this as a kid because he was my age and there was a Beach Boys song with a spaceship, it seemed a variation on Wonder Years, loved that show. This has a McDonalds commercial in it. Fairly entertaining, like a downgrade of The Last Starfighter.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eva3si0n

Jan 9, 2022

Flight of the Navigator movie of my childhood. At the beginning of the zero when I saw him for the first time he left a storm of emotions, especially the flights of an alien ship on Earth. Now, when you watch it at a sober age, all the magic is lost, technically the film is very outdated,Flight of the Navigator movie of my childhood. At the beginning of the zero when I saw him for the first time he left a storm of emotions, especially the flights of an alien ship on Earth. Now, when you watch it at a sober age, all the magic is lost, technically the film is very outdated, and the film does not have a strong plot and message, Disney shot it for children. Therefore, do not destroy your childhood impressions, it is better to watch it only as a child.… Expand

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