History Film / Explorers

* CallingMeALogarithm: An early scene has Ben calling JerkJock Steve Jackson as "having elephantiasis on his ego" (because he bullied Wolfgang) before class. GilliganCut to after class and Jackson [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating the holy hell out of Ben alongside his buddies]] because he ([[HandWave somehow]]) heard that Ben called him that, and not knowing what "elephantiasis" really means, just assumed it to be an insult worth beating someone into a coma over ([[RightForTheWrongReasons he's not completely wrong]], however the implication is that, with Ben being one of the class "nerds", he was just looking for ''any'' reason to beat him up. Ben deciding to explain ([[DeadpanSnarker in the most insulting way possible]]) what the term means wasn't going to do him any favors).

-->'''Wolfgang''': ExplosionsInSpace? [[ArtisticLicenseSpace That's impossible!]]

** Wolfgang has one [[InterspeciesRomance with]] Neek.

** The name "Starkiller" was Luke Skywalker's original name in ''Film/StarWars''.

* MegaMawManeuver: Twice, fist the Thunder Road, then the alien ship that did it to them by "{{space pirates}}" [[spoiler: Actually the first aliens parents.]]

* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: Charlie Drake, the cop who investigates the ''Thunder Road'' after her disastrous first flight. He and Ben are ultimately NotSoDifferent, and he wishes the boys well when he sees them launch into space.

They create a spaceship and call it the "Thunder Road", and they fly into space. Not long afterwards, they explore an alien spacecraft that they get sucked into.

* AlwaysABiggerFish: [[spoiler: The Thunder Road is swallowed by a large spaceship. Then that one is swallowed by a larger one in the same way.]]

* CaliforniaDoubling: Ben's jacket clearly states that his address is in Maryland, but the movie was filmed in California. The vegetation is a giveaway.

* CoolSpaceShip: The Thunderroad, sorta. Wak and Neek's, too. [[spoiler:And their Dad's ship.]]

** They also manage to stay out all night and come home the night of the first flight ''with their clothes and breath smelling like beer'' from christening the Thunder Road.

* HardWorkMontage: The scene depicting the construction of the Thunder Road.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: An in-universe example. The Thunder Road, actually flying around, passes in front of a drive-in screen showing a cheesy sci-fi movie, prompting a moviegoer to snark "That looks so fake!"

** [[Film/CitizenKane Rosebud]] can be seen at the top of a junk pile when the boys build the Thunder Road.

* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: Charlie Drake, the cop who investigates the Thunder Road after their disastrous first flight. He and Ben are ultimately similar, and he wishes them well when he sees them launch into space.

* CallingMeALogarithm: An early scene has Ben calling JerkJock Steve Jackson as "having elephantiasis on his ego" (because he bullied Wolfgang) before class. GilliganCut to after class and Jackson [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating the holy hell out of Ben alongside his buddies]] because he ([[HandWave somehow]]) heard that Ben called him that, and not knowing what "elephantiasis" really means, just assumed it to be an insult worth beating someone into a coma over ([[RightForTheWrongReasons he's not completely wrong]], however the implication is that, Ben being one of the class "nerds", he was just looking for ''any'' reason to beat him up. Ben deciding to explain ([[DeadpanSnarker in the most insulting way possible]]) what the term means wasn't going to do him any favors).

* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: Charlie Drake, the cop who investigates the Thunder Road after their disastrous first flight. He and Ben are ultimately NotSoDifferent, and he wishes them well when he sees them launch into space.

-->'''Wolfgang''': ExplosionsInSpace? [[SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay That's impossible!]]

* NoEndorHolocaust: The Thunder Road crashes through a crowded concession stand. No injuries. The [[RealityEnsues property damage does attract police attention, though]].

* Adorkable: Ben and Wolfgang, respectively. Two kids who have an endearing and precocious love for science.

* MegaMawManeuver: Twice, fist the Thunder Road, then the alien ship that did it to them by "{{space pirates}}" [[spoiler: Actually the aliens parents.]]