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Explorers

1985·Movie
1h 49min·PG
57
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Metacritic585.7Rotten Tomatoes49%66%
IMDb6.4Metacritic585.7Rotten Tomatoes49%66%

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fuboTVMGM+PhiloKanopy

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Explorers fingerprint

High energy, big heart.

Energy

Fast-paced and spectacular

Fast from start to finish.

  • Fast Pace7
  • Spectacle7
  • Adrenaline6

Heart

Hopeful and wondrous

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Coming of Age9
  • Hopefulness8
  • Wonder8

Humor

Some slapstick and absurdist humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Physical Comedy5
  • Absurdist Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay4

World

The future, growing up, and pop culture

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7
  • Novelty7

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Character Depth7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Visual Stylization7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

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Feel Good moviesWhimsical movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The adventure begins in your own back yard.

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.
Sci-Fi AdventureComing-of-AgeChildhood Wonder80s NostalgiaTechnological ImaginationFriendshipFamily FriendlySpace Exploration

Crew

Directed by:
Joe Dante
Written by:
Eric Luke
Produced by:
Edward S. Feldman, Michael Finnell, Tom Jacobson
Composed by:
Jerry Goldsmith, Arthur Morton, Mark Mangini

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Explorers

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Explorers legally?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloKanopyHoopla

Explorers is included with a subscription to fuboTV, Philo, and MGM+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Explorers worth watching?

57
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 58/100 (IMDb 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes 49%, and Metacritic 58). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Explorers rated?

PG

It's rated PG in the United States.

How long is Explorers?

1 h 49 min

Explorers runs 1 h 49 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Explorers?

Critics54
Audiences62

Not quite. Audiences rate Explorers higher (62) than critics (54). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Explorers a box office hit?

Budget$25 million
Box office$10 million

No. It cost about $25 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 40% of its budget.

What language is Explorers in?

EnglishGerman

It was made in English, with some German. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Explorers?

70AEAOARATAUAZBEBFBGBOBRBYBZCA+56

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Explorers in 70 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Explorers use?

Aliens Steal Cable"The Reason You Suck" SpeechPuppy LoveShared DreamSympathetic Inspector AntagonistAdults Are UselessInterspecies RomanceLarge HamAlways a Bigger FishBold ExplorerCatapult NightmareJerkassand 38 more

TV Tropes lists 50 storytelling tropes for Explorers, including Aliens Steal Cable, "The Reason You Suck" Speech, Puppy Love.