Flight of the Navigator (1986)

On 4 July 1978, 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is accidentally knocked out after falling into a ravine in the forest near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He wakes up eight years later having not aged a day but finds himself in an altered world with his home and family changed, and a voice in his head calling for help.

Meanwhile, a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) discovers a mysterious alien spacecraft nearby and it soon becomes apparent that David’s eight-year “disappearance” is linked to alien space travel.

The scenes where David attempts to get to grips with the fact that he has missed out on eight years of his life (his younger brother is now his elder) are neatly handled by director Randal Kleiser, who proves equally adept at the action sequences.

Of the adults, Veronica Cartwright and Howard Hesseman come off best, while a pre-stardom Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) provides the voice of the intelligent alien spaceship, Max.

“See you later, navigator!”.

David Freeman
Joey Cramer
Helen Freeman
Veronica Cartwright
Bill Freeman
Cliff De Young
Carolyn McAdams
Sarah Jessica Parker
Dr Faraday
Howard Hesseman
Max (voice)
Paul Reubens
Troy
Robert Small
Jeff aged 16
Matt Adler
Jeff aged 8
Albie Whitaker

Director
Randal Kleiser