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Poster for The Boy Who Could Fly

The Boy Who Could Fly

Seen it?

1986 | 114 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With a lukewarm 6.3 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for fantasy fans and families. If you loved The Secret Life of Bees, start here.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.

Milly and Louis, and their recently-widowed mom, Charlene, move to a new neighborhood. Once there, they all deal with a variety of personal problems, but Milly finds a friend in Eric, her autistic next door neighbor. Eric has a fascination with flight, and as the story progresses, he exerts an enthralling force of change on all those around him.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    63% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.3 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $7 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 60K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Nick Castle

  • Lucy DeakinsMilly
  • Jay UnderwoodEric
  • Fred SavageLouis
  • Bonnie BedeliaCharlene
  • Colleen DewhurstMrs. Sherman
  • Fred GwynneUncle Hugo
  • Jason PriestleyGary
  • Cameron BancroftJoe
  • Janet MacLachlanMrs. D'Gregario
  • Mindy CohnGeneva