Flight of the Navigator

1986 "David Freeman is eight years late for dinner, and his family wants to know why. But David's got an absolutely fantastic excuse."
6.9| 1h30m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 30 July 1986 Released
Producted By: Walt Disney Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

12-year-old David is accidentally knocked out in the forest near his home, but when he awakens eight years have passed. His family is overjoyed to have him back, but is just as perplexed as he is that he hasn't aged. When a NASA scientist discovers a UFO nearby, David gets the chance to unravel the mystery and recover the life he lost.

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Reviews

Skunkyrate Gripping story with well-crafted characters
Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict
Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
hardgravem Great all time favorite.A 12 year old boy (David) goes into the wood to meet his little brother to take home. He wakes up 8 years later and finds out that he has been reported as missing. Tests are conducted at the local hospital to find out why he hasn't aged in the time passed.NASA Finds a UFO nearby where he was found and pretty soon David is in the middle trying to piece together the unanswered questions and get back his life.I loved this movie as a kid and still do, it had aged but is still a loved classic.
utgard14 Fun sci-fi family movie about a twelve year-old boy (Joey Cramer) who disappears and returns eight years later, still twelve years old and unaware he's been missing. At the same time, NASA finds a spaceship but are unable to open it. NASA attempts to hold the boy against his will, but he escapes on board the spaceship. Paul Reubens is great as the voice of Max, the ship's computer.This is an awesome '80s movie. A good story told with nice special effects and lots of heart. The cast is terrific. In addition to Cramer and Reubens, there's Sarah Jessica Parker in an early role, Veronica Cartwright and Cliff De Young as the boy's parents, and Howard Hesseman as the film's antagonist.
Spikeopath Flight of the Navigator is directed by Randal Kleiser and is adapted to screenplay by Michael Burton and Matt MacManus from a story by Mark H. Baker. It stars Joey Cramer, Veronica Cartwright, Cliff De Young, Sarah Jessica Parker, Howard Hesseman and the voice of Paul Reubens. Music is by Alan Silvestri and cinematography is by James Glennon and Eric McGraw.Young David Freeman (Cramer) is out in the woods near his home in Fort Lauderdale when he falls down a ravine and is knocked unconscious. Waking up he finds that the world around him has advanced by 8 years but he hasn't. After being reunited with his overjoyed parents, it becomes apparent that David has had an encounter with a extra terrestrial life form, which of course greatly interests the authorities...It's a family friendly sci-fi with a difference, in that it doesn't have to take us into space for its tale, yet this in no way detracts from how enjoyable Flight of the Navigator is. It is told from young David's perspective (with Cramer impressionable), thus it firmly engages the kids in the audience. The relationship between David and the Phaleon computer system (Reubens) engages with witty chatter and educational purpose, and the effects work should not be taken for granted either. If we are to be picky then the build up is a touch long before the pic goes "extra terrestrial", and Cartwright and De Young are barely given time to impact as parents coming to terms with a family life turned upside down. But small complaints really and this is a lovely film, one that isn't just for 1980s nostalgists. 7/10
Neil Welch When young David is kidnapped by aliens (or, to be more precise, a sentient alien spacecraft, and then dropped off 8 years in the future, everything in his life turns to complete horrible. His relationship with every member of his family has changed, not to mention the military finding him to be of extreme interest. If only the spaceship would kidnap him back, and drop off when he came from...This is a family film with an original premise, some terrific special effects (state of the art at the time, and they still stand up well), and excellent central performances, particularly from Joey Cramer in the central role of the biggest film in his short career.This film gets nearly everything right. Although there is comedy (Paul Reuben's voice performance of spaceship Max), it is not overdone. The relationships and reactions are all spot on, and the story really works.Recommended.