Movies Under the Microscope: Explorers at the NHM

The Natural History Museum of L.A. County is turning a Friday night into a trip back to the 1980s, when sci-fi movies took real science, Cold War nerves and wild guesses about the future and ran with all of it. The Movies Under the Microscope series pairs a classic of the decade with people who actually work in the field, and the October 16 entry is Explorers (1985). If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles this month, this one has a rare mix of nostalgia and nerdy conversation.

When: Friday, October 16, 2026. Doors 6 PM, film at 7:30 PM Where: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles Tickets: Reserve through the museum's own calendar page

What is on the screen

Explorers is the adventure from Joe Dante, the director of Gremlins and Innerspace. Three young friends build a homemade spacecraft and head off on a journey full of friendship, imagination and extraterrestrial surprises. It is a kid's-eye view of space that holds up as a charming, slightly odd piece of 80s cinema, and seeing it in a museum setting suits it.

The conversation after the credits

The post-film discussion is the reason to pick this screening over streaming the movie at home. The guests listed by the museum are:

• Dr. Clifford V. Johnson, a theoretical physicist and professor at UC Santa Barbara who has served as a science consultant on Avengers: Endgame and Star Trek: Discovery
• Barbra Dillon, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Fanbase Press
• Lee Supercinski, a producer on Futurama

Expect a lively look at what 80s sci-fi nailed and what it got hilariously wrong. The series also advertises expert-led discussions and pre-screening receptions, so arriving when doors open at 6 PM gives you time to settle in before the movie starts.

Practical info

Plan to arrive early, since doors open ninety minutes ahead of the film. Tickets are reserved through the museum's calendar page, which the Discover Los Angeles listing links to, so check that page for current availability and pricing before you go. The museum sits in Exposition Park near USC, with the Metro E Line stop and on-site parking both within reach.

If you are lining up LA events this weekend, this is a good anchor for a night that is part movie, part science class, and entirely off the usual Friday-night path. Browse more arts and culture events on OTBLA for what else is coming up.