15 Best Feel Good Sci-Fi Movies

Pretty much anything from Gremlins helmer Joe Dante’s excursions into the sci-fi genre could fit here, but as great as 1987’s Dennis Quaid vehicle Innerspace is, it’s not quite as uplifting as this Stranger Things-style story of some suburban kids coming across a couple of interstellar adventurers during a hazy summer.

Lit with the same warm nostalgic sunshine as Stand By Me, Explorers eschews the deconstructive nostalgia of that hard-edged flick in favour of pure sweet fun, and the stellar performances from a young Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix make this one a feelgood adventure well worth taking. It's also another cinematic testament to the young actor's obvious talent, but that's a list for another day.