'Flight of the Navigator' at 40: the Disney space movie that messed with time dilation long before 'Interstellar'

Despite the popular misconceptions about traveling faster than light, cinematic depictions of such phenomena are typically as simple and unproblematic as crossing the street. This notion is echoed in the 1978 Disney film "Flight of the Navigator," which, despite its inherent improbability, managed to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide.

The story revolves around an 8-year time lapse experienced by a young boy named David, who finds himself in a strange world where his family has aged and popped culture has changed drastically. This time dilation is attributed to a mysterious trip aboard a Trimaxion drone ship, which managed to travel 560 light years in a mere 4.4 solar hours.

Director Randal Kleiser faced a challenge in balancing the film's family-friendly appeal with its more mature themes, such as the army attempting to shoot down the spaceship. He ultimately found a compromise that satisfied both Disney executives and the film's production partners. The casting process was equally challenging, with Paul Reubens' iconic portrayal of the alien spacecraft, Max, standing out among the diverse cast.

Max, a sentient ship, serves as an AI companion to David as they navigate the complexities of his new reality and work together to return home.

The film's groundbreaking exterior design, a mirrored and shapeshifting version of the classic flying saucer, set it apart from its contemporaries. Despite the skepticism of former USC colleague George Lucas, who warned of the challenges of reflective surfaces, Kleiser persisted with this design choice. As a result, "Flight of the Navigator" introduced a visually striking spaceship that would later influence the design of similar spacecraft in later films.