Explorers
“The adventure begins in your own back yard.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K UHD & Blu-ray Promo TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-05-01
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Ethan Hawke
Ben Crandall
River Phoenix
Wolfgang Müller
Jason Presson
Darren Woods
Amanda Peterson
Lori Swenson
Bobby Fite
Steve Jackson
Dana Ivey
Mrs. Müller
James Cromwell
Mr. Müller
Dick Miller
Charlie Drake
Bradley Gregg
Steve Jackson's Gang
Georg Olden
Steve Jackson's Gang
Chance Schwass
Steve Jackson's Gang
Meshach Taylor
Gordon Miller
Danny Nucci
Nasty Kid at School
Taliesin Jaffe
Ludwig Müller
Brooke Bundy
Science Teacher
Tricia Bartholome
Girl in Classroom
Eric Luke
Darren's Teacher
Robert Picardo
Starkiller / Wak / Wak and Neek's Father
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 12, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$25M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$9.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.4x
-$15.1M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joe Dante
- Screenplay & Story
- Eric Luke
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- Explorers
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, English
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Production Budget
- $25M
- Worldwide Gross
- $9.9M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joe Dante
Eric Luke
Jerry Goldsmith
John Hora
Tina Hirsch
David Bombyk, Edward S. Feldman, Michael Finnell
Department Leadership Roster
David Bombyk
Producer
Edward S. Feldman
Producer
Joe Dante
Director
Tina Hirsch
Editor
Eric Luke
Screenplay
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
John Hora
Director of Photography
Robert F. Boyle
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Explorers.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Explorers.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Explorers
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Explorers about?
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.
Who directed Explorers?
Explorers was directed by Joe Dante.
Who stars in Explorers?
The principal cast of Explorers includes Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Bobby Fite.
When was Explorers released and how long is it?
Explorers was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 1h 49m.
What was the box office and production budget of Explorers?
Explorers had a reported production budget of $25M and grossed $9.9M at the worldwide box office (0.4 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Explorers?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Explorers was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Explorers?
Explorers holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).