Explorers (2017 film)

Warning: This is a made-up (and hopefully real in the future) film.Explorers is an American comedy family mystery film directed by Jon Favreau. The film is produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and distributed by Walt Disney Studios. It stars Gabriel Combs and Jackson Bond in the title roles.

The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 7, 2017. The film was a box office success, grossing over $300 million against a $90 million budget, and received critical acclaim for its plot, cast, humor, and performances. The film sparked a massive line of sequels due to its success.

Plot
On an island where a war continues to happen, Johnson’s parents (Dwayne Johnson, Madison Iseman) carry a young Johnson (Ezra Richardson) to safety as the explosion continues. Johnson’s parents take him to a hidden cave, Johnson’s future home. Johnson’s parents leave the baby in the cave to end the war and are killed in the process.

10 Years Later, Johnson (now an Explorer) searches the island for food. He is hunted by a bear and wins a fight against him. Johnson finds a pair of grapes and eats them for himself. That Night, Johnson mourns his loneliness on the island and wishes for a friend to keep him company due to memories of his parents’ deaths. He falls asleep as a helicopter goes by.

In the Helicopter, pilot Arnold (James Marsden) and movie star Mike Jackson (Tom Holland), along with Mike’s son Bill (Jackson Bond), who goes by the name “Explorer Jackson” fly over the island. The plane crashes as they land on the island due to a fireball hitting the plane. Jackson’s home is destroyed and his dad (along with the pilot) are killed. Jackson searches the island for help figuring out who killed his parents.

The Next Day, Johnson searches for breakfast. He comes across a terrified Jackson, who believes him to be a savage due to a lack of social interaction. Johnson introduces himself as an Explorer. Jackson and Johnson formally introduce each other as they discuss Jackson’s parents’ deaths. Johnson suggests it to be Indians and/or an unknown island presence. Jackson believes the unknown presence.

The two decide to explore the island for clues to the past. The two come across an ancient river and try to swim through. Jackson is nearly brought into a waterfall and killed until Johnson saves his life. Johnson and Jackson come across an ancient rock structure, leading straight to Jackson’s home. The rock structure contains snakes and wasps. Jackson accidentally destroys a wasp nest, causing the wasps to attack the two. They leave to replan the situation.

Johnson continues to question why Jackson asked for help, leading to Jackson revealing his desire to kill whoever killed his parents as vengeance. The two get into a fight over whether they should kill him. Johnson abandons Jackson out of anger for murder. Johnson goes back to his life alone. He searches for food and discovers an Indian, leading to Jackson’s dead parents. Johnson goes back to Jackson to help fight them.

Jackson, meanwhile, is attacked by wasps and snakes. James Rainstone (Idris Elba), the killer of Jackson’s parents, nearly kills him and leaves. Johnson saves him at the last second, bringing their friendship back. The two pass the rock structure and battle the Indians. Johnson battles Rainstone as Jackson battles the henchmen. Johnson is nearly killed as Rainstone reveals that he killed his parents. Johnson regains strength and he and Jackson defeat Rainstone and save the jungle.

Jackson’s backup plane arrives and he prepares to leave Johnson’s jungle. He decides to stay instead of leave to keep their friendship going. He then discovers another mystery and the two separate to research the mystery. Johnson and Jackson decide to stay friends forever.

Cast
Additionally, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey, Tom Holland, James Marsden, Dwayne Johnson, and Madison Iseman appear in the film in uncredited roles as Indian James Rainstone, the two henchmen of Rainstone, Jackson’s father, and Johnson’s parents, respectively.
 * Gabriel Combs as Explorer Johnson, an explorer who was born on an island and the friend of Explorer Jackson.
 * Ezra Richardson as a young Johnson.
 * Jackson Bond as Explorer Jackson, a former son of a pilot who crash lands on an island and the friend of Explorer Johnson.

Reception
The film received generally positive reviews for its plot, cast, humor, and performance. The film received a 95% Rotten Tomatoes Score, stating “Prepped with outstanding performances by Gabriel Combs and Jackson Bond, Explorers is a truly funny family film that aims for the heart.” On an A+ to F Scale, the film received an “A+”.

Release
The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 7, 2017. It was also released digitally on September 29, 2017, and on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 9, 2017.

Sequels
The first sequel, titled Explorers 2, was released on July 6, 2018. The second sequel, titled Explorers 3, was released on July 5, 2019. The third sequel, titled Explorers 4, was released on July 3, 2020, and a fourth sequel, titled Explorers 5, is scheduled to be released in summer 2021.