Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Flight of the Navigator

film

Flight of the Navigator

1986

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.

Ages 8+Source checked

Why this age? PG-rated family adventure with an abducted child, frightening separation, confinement, pursuit, alien imagery, and danger including possible vaporization; the tone is generally playful and reassuring. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age8+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Violence2/5
  • Death of a character1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models3/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

No significant product placement; incidental background branding only.

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

No character dies on screen. The story mentions a planet destroyed by a comet and a dangerous possible vaporization, but these are background or hypothetical rather than depicted deaths.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Language is very mild and infrequent, consistent with a family-oriented 1980s adventure.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Very minor friendly interaction between David and a slightly older teen girl; not a focus.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

A child disappears, awakens eight years later, faces alien technology and confinement, and is pursued. The playful tone moderates the suspense.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Some scenes involve chases and brief, non-graphic tension during escape sequences.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

David faces abduction, isolation, confinement, pursuit, and the danger of returning through time, making brave choices to regain his life.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Inventive ideas about time travel, alien worlds, a robotic navigator, mind transfer, space travel, and problem-solving are central to the film.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Limited diversity, consistent with the era and setting of the production.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It introduces accessible ideas about space travel, time dilation, alien technology, NASA, and scientific investigation, though entertainment is the main intent.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

David bonds with an unusual creature, family members show concern, and friendship develops despite conflict and displacement.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story supports family loyalty, friendship, empathy, curiosity, and seeking freedom while showing the harm of treating a child as an experiment.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

David displays resourcefulness and bravery in an overwhelming situation.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in Flight of the Navigator would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Flight of the Navigator, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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