Explorers

Details

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This special limited edition deluxe magnet box + slipcover set (designed by JJ Harrison), includes a 40-page perfect bound book and is limited to 8,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Inspired by his vivid dreams of flying through space and elaborate electrical grids, and fueled by comic books and classic sci-fi, 8th-grader Ben fantasizes about a way to explore the Universe. When his friend Wolfgang manages to build a matching circuit board from Ben's hazily-sketched diagrams of his dreams, the board eerily begins to program itself, resulting in precisely the technology they need to secretly cobble together a real spacecraft in a backyard. Along with their friend Darren, they venture out of suburbia and blast into the cosmos seeking whatever alien life they can find — perhaps even something which was reaching out to them all along.

A sentimental adventure of childhood wonder and the regenerative cycle of pop culture (and B-movies), which links '80s childhoods to the fantasy of '50s sci-fi, Joe Dante's EXPLORERS shows the Piranha director's unique skill in blending genres. Featuring childhood film debuts from Ethan Hawke (Dead Poets Society) and River Phoenix (Sneakers), with Robert Picardo (The Howling) and, naturally, Dick Miller (Gremlins), it also boasts extensive use of a broad range of effects by Rob Bottin and visuals from Industrial Light & Magic, as well as an epic score by Jerry Goldsmith (Alien). Vinegar Syndrome Ultra is proud to present this cult film to 4K UHD in both its theatrical and home video versions, newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative, and featuring a brand new extended making-of documentary produced exclusively for this release.

directed by: Joe Dante
starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Robert Picardo, James Cromwell, Dana Ivey, Dick Miller
1985 / 109 min / 1.85:1 / English 5.1 Surround + 2.0 Stereo

Additional info:

• 3-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray x2
• 4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
• Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
• Commentary with the Movie Oubliette podcast (Theatrical Version)
• "The Thunder Road: Making Explorers" - an all-new 77-minute documentary produced and edited by Elijah Drenner, exclusive for this release. Featuring new interviews with director Joe Dante, screenwriter Eric Luke, producer Mike Finnell, 2nd A.D. Carol Green, actor Robert Picardo, sound designer Mark Mangini, members of the ILM visual effects team, and newly discovered, never-before-seen on-set interviews with actors Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, make-up effects artist Rob Bottin, production designer Robert Boyle, and many more!
• "A Science Fiction Fairy Tale" (64 min) - a making-of documentary from 2021
• Deleted scenes - with commentary by director Joe Dante (34 min)
• Original 1985 Electronic Press Kit (5 min)
• "The Tale of the Farmer and the Wise Man" (10 min) - a 1976 UCLA student film by Explorers screenwriter Eric Luke
• Still gallery (5 min)
• Theatrical trailer
• Teaser trailer
• 40-page perfect-bound book with writing by Max Evry, Michael Almereyda, Gabe Klinger, and Patrick Dahl (limited edition only)
• Reversible sleeve artwork
• English SDH subtitles