Here's the truth: Flight of the Navigator is a beloved 80s classic that scores well on paper—imaginative premise, safe content, decent emotional depth. But in 2025? It's borderline unwatchable for most kids.

The pacing is glacial, the special effects look like a middle school computer lab project, and the whole vibe screams 'this is what your parents thought was cool.' The sentient spaceship is genuinely fun, and the time-travel concept is thought-provoking, but you're asking modern kids to sit through 90 minutes of slow-burn sci-fi that feels like it was filmed in sepia tone.

If you're a nostalgic parent desperate to share your childhood, go for it—but manage expectations. This works best as a 'let's watch something old together and talk about how movies have changed' experience, not as a Friday night entertainment pick. Your kid will probably ask to switch to something else, and honestly? That's fair.