Before Stranger Things made 80s kids cool again, there was Explorers — Joe Dante’s curious little film about three boys, a homemade spaceship, and aliens who learned English from late-night TV.
In this episode of The Cinema Psychos Show, we team up with The VHS Club Podcast to unpack one of the weirdest, most uneven cult films of the 80s. From Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix’s early roles to a studio-mandated third act that derailed everything, we explore why Explorers still lingers in our memories.
🎙️ A Special Podcast Crossover
We joined forces with The VHS Club Podcast to dive deep into the film’s legacy. Together, we break down:
- The wild tonal shift from act two to three
- River Phoenix’s underappreciated genius
- Whether Explorers was doomed or destined for cult status
🛸 A Dream Fueled by Circuit Boards and Spielberg Envy
The first half of Explorers is a childhood fantasy come to life: science class scribbles become spaceship schematics, and a tilt-a-whirl car becomes a vessel to the stars. It’s E.T. with junkyard parts — and it works.
😬 When the Studio Interferes… Hard
Paramount forced Joe Dante to release the movie early — and it shows. What starts as an imaginative journey nose-dives into alien slapstick and awkward tonal shifts. The ending feels unfinished because it literally was.
💬 Forgotten Gem or Cult Classic That Never Was?
Explorers lives in a liminal space — loved by some, forgotten by many. But its sincerity, imagination, and studio-damaged legacy make it a fascinating time capsule of 80s genre filmmaking.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
If you liked this episode, check out:
🎙️ Howard The Duck with The VHS Club
🎙️ Nothing But Trouble (1991) with The VHS Club