Ethan Hawke, now a celebrated actor with over forty years in Hollywood, actually made his film debut in 1985 in a little-known science fiction movie called Explorers. Directed by Joe Dante and co-starring River Phoenix, this early film tells the story of children who build a spaceship and venture into outer space, marking Hawke’s first step into the industry well before his breakout role in 1989’s Dead Poets Society. Despite its imaginative premise, Explorers failed to make an impact at the box office, largely due to studio interference and poorly timed release.
The Story Behind Explorers, Hawke’s First Movie
Released in 1985, Explorers features a young Ethan Hawke as Ben Crandall, a boy obsessed with old science fiction films and fantastic sketches inspired by vivid dreams. Alongside River Phoenix’s character Wolfgang and their friend Darren, Ben constructs a homemade spacecraft, leading to an adventure beyond Earth where they encounter aliens who have learned about humans from television shows. Joe Dante, fresh from the success of Gremlins, directed the film, aiming to capture the wonder and imagination of youthful exploration.
Interestingly, Hawke’s casting was accidental. Joe Dante disclosed in a 2016 interview that Hawke had no prior acting ambitions and came to the audition merely as a companion to a friend.
He wasn’t an actor or anything!
Dante recalled.
He had braces. He was kind of awkward and gawky and I thought he was cute. So I figured let’s give him these pages and see if he wants to do this — and he ended up getting the lead in a Paramount picture over all these professional Disney kids.
Factors Behind the Poor Box Office Performance of Explorers
Though the concept behind Explorers was imaginative, the film’s production and release faced significant challenges. According to Dante, the studio rushed the movie to theaters before post-production was complete, insisting on a summer release date that left the film rough around the edges.
[The studio] ruined it by releasing it before it was finished, then didn’t support it with advertising — so it bombed and they lost a fortune,
Dante explained in the 2016 interview.
The movie’s timing was unfortunate, opening just one week before the Live Aid concert and shortly after the massive success of Back to the Future. As a result, Explorers earned less than $10 million and quickly vanished from theater screens.
Despite the dismal theatrical run, Explorers later gained recognition among viewers who discovered it on VHS and cable television, eventually rising to cult status and becoming a cherished part of Joe Dante’s filmography. For Hawke, it served as a foundation for his acting career, leading to his well-known appearance in Dead Poets Society just four years later.
Ethan Hawke Reflects on His Early Film Experience
Unlike Dante’s critical stance on the film’s troubled release, Ethan Hawke has generally spoken positively about his time working on Explorers. Although he avoids extensive commentary on the movie itself, he appreciates the lessons learned on set, particularly in the realm of genre filmmaking. In a 2012 interview with Dread Central, Hawke remarked on the valuable exposure he gained:
I feel like I’m one of the few people of my generation that has firsthand knowledge of Roger Corman and what those B-movies were about and how great they were because of working with Joe Dante.
Where to Watch Ethan Hawke’s First Movie Today
For those interested in revisiting the film that marked Ethan Hawke’s film debut, Explorers is currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV. This offers a chance to view the early work of an actor who would go on to have a substantial impact in Hollywood, amid a career resurgence with recent projects like FX’s The Lowdown and the Black Phone film franchise.
