The Boy Who Could Fly (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1986, The Boy Who Could Fly is a fantasy, drama, family and science fiction film directed by Nick Castle, running about 114 minutes. “A very special love. And a very special magic. But is it real magic or just an illusion?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Boy Who Could Fly stars Jay Underwood as Eric, Fred Savage as Louis, Bonnie Bedelia as Charlene and Colleen Dewhurst as Mrs. Sherman, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Boy Who Could Fly has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $7.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Boy Who Could Fly page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Boy Who Could Fly tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)?
- In US, The Boy Who Could Fly is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Boy Who Could Fly worth watching?
- The Boy Who Could Fly holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy, drama, family and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Boy Who Could Fly?
- The Boy Who Could Fly stars Jay Underwood, Fred Savage, Bonnie Bedelia, Colleen Dewhurst and Fred Gwynne.
- When was The Boy Who Could Fly released?
- The Boy Who Could Fly was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 114 minutes.