Flight of the Navigator

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
19861h 30m

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.

Production

Logo for Walt Disney Pictures
Logo for PSO

Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Flight of the Navigator (1986) - HD Trailer

Flight of the Navigator (1986) - HD Trailer

Thumbnail for video: Flight Of The Navigator

Flight Of The Navigator

Cast

Photo of Joey Cramer

Joey Cramer

David Scott Freeman

Photo of Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens

Max (voice)

Photo of Veronica Cartwright

Veronica Cartwright

Helen Freeman

Photo of Cliff DeYoung

Cliff DeYoung

Bill Freeman

Photo of Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker

Carolyn McAdams

Photo of Matt Adler

Matt Adler

Jeff (16 years)

Photo of Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman

Dr. Louis Faraday

Photo of Raymond Forchion

Raymond Forchion

Detective Banks

Photo of Ted Bartsch

Ted Bartsch

Night Guard Brayton

Photo of Parris Buckner

Parris Buckner

Scientist #1

Photo of Robyn Peterson

Robyn Peterson

Scientist #2

Photo of Julio Oscar Mechoso

Julio Oscar Mechoso

Hangar Guard #1

More Like This

Reviews

R

r96sk

7/10

Enjoyable enough.

'Flight of the Navigator' features an interesting concept which they bring to life rather well. It isn't anything special and it could've probably been more thrilling, but it still produces a fine 90 minutes. The special effects haven't aged amazing, yet they still suitably serve the intended purpose.

Joey Cramer is good in the lead role as David, while Paul Reubens is fairly amusing as Max. A young Sarah Jessica Parker (Carolyn) also appears. The film doesn't quite hit the intended heartfelt spots with the plot, but there is an element of care for David from me in there minorly; if only at the end.

Decent Disney.

G

CinemaSerf

7/10

This has stood the test of time remarkably well since it was released in 1986. Aside from a rather dated synthesised soundtrack, it's still quite a fun sci-fi adventure. When "David" (Joey Cramer) goes to meet his brother, he slips and bangs his head. Returning home he discovers that, well it isn't his home any more. The police soon reunite him with his parents but where has he been for the last eight years? Scientists decide to prod and poke him, and that's when he discovers they have a space ship - and that ship is calling to him. Once onboard, he realises that he was an experiment that went wrong for the ship's super computer - but can they sort it all out and get the youngster back to the correct timeline before the authorities catch up? There's no jeopardy here, so of course we now what's going to happen - but there are a couple of amiable efforts from the young Cramer, from his partner in crime at the lab "Carolyn" (Sarah Jessica Parker - no less) and Howard Hesseman makes for decent scientist "Dr. Faraday". The story is a simple family-friendly affair, with adequate visual effects as the ship changes shape, travels underwater, at high speed, etc. I like watching this every now and again - it has a inquisitive good-nature to it that makes for a good watch.

You've reached the end.