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Movies / On DVD / Stand by Me
Stand by Me

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Stand by Me (1986)

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58 %
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Reviews Counted:46

Fresh:27

Rotten:19

Average Rating:5.1/10

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Based on Stephen King's novella THE BODY, director Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME is the disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four kids on the precipice of early adulthood who embark upon a... Based on Stephen King's novella THE BODY, director Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME is the disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four kids on the precipice of early adulthood who embark upon a quest. There's Gordie (Wil Wheaton), the intelligent, creative one with the obviously bright future. His best buddy, Chris (River Phoenix), hardens his image in order to hide the pain from the physical abuse he endures at home, all the while harboring the hope of escaping that image. Rounding out the foursome are Vern (Jerry O'Connell), the pudgy tagalong, and Teddy (Corey Feldman), a loyal and funny but troubled kid with a death wish. When the four boys hear about a dead body 20 miles down the railroad tracks from their small Oregon town, they clandestinely set upon the unwieldy journey to lay eyes on this rare find. Amid numerous misadventures, Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy savor what may be their last chance to revel in the simple life of children; around the corner is a future that could tear them apart, not to mention a tough teen gang who desires local fame by finding the body first. Enhanced by excellent performances and an engaging plot, STAND BY ME ranks among the best of the myriad coming-of-age films to dot the 1980s cinematic landscape. [More]

Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell

Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Richard Dreyfuss, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Jason Oliver, John Cusack, Marshall Bell

Director: Rob Reiner

Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans
Producer: Andrew Scheinman, Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans
Composer: Jack Nitzsche

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Stand by Me

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

An absorbing, touching examination of the loss of innocence that, despite occasionally drifting towards the sappy, undeniably deserves its place in the heart of a generation.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark Dinning
Mark Dinning
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Upcomingdiscs.Com | comment Comment
02/11/09
Jeremy Frost
Jeremy Frost
Upcomingdiscs.Com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Exclaim! | comment Comment
08/03/07
Exclaim!

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Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
02/27/07
Entertainment Weekly

The kind of movie that's so honest about what it was like to be a kid ... that it's hard to fully appreciate it until you're an adult.

Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | comment Comment
10/22/06
Betsy Bozdech
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com

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Full Review Source: The Cinema Source | comment Comment
09/10/05
Alexis Tuminello
Alexis Tuminello
The Cinema Source
N/R

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Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
07/29/05
Nikki Tranter
Nikki Tranter
PopMatters

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Full Review Source: MovieFreak.com | comment Comment
04/27/05
Keith Helinski
Keith Helinski
MovieFreak.com

Remains a sterling coming-of-age tale, by turns funny, juvenile, frightening and poignant.

Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine | comment Comment
04/11/05
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Now Playing Magazine
N/R

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Full Review Source: digitallyOBSESSED.com | comment Comment
03/23/05
Nate Meyers
Nate Meyers
digitallyOBSESSED.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Dvd-Dweeb.com | comment Comment
03/23/05
Oliver Korioth
Oliver Korioth
Dvd-Dweeb.com

Some movies are perfect for their time, and some movies are perfect forever. Stand by Me is one of the latter.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
03/22/05
Sarah Chauncey
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com

Like A Christmas Story, Stand By Me cobbles together moments from an author's childhood that ring true for anyone who grew up during that era.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
03/20/05
James Plath
James Plath
DVDTown.com

Fans of Stephen King will be glad to know that one of the best page-to-screen adaptations of his work is finally getting the Deluxe DVD treatment it deserves.

Full Review Source: Horror.com | comment Comment
03/19/05
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
Horror.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: dvdmg.com | comment Comment
07/12/04
dvdmg.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: CurrentFilm.com | comment Comment
07/12/04
Aaron Beierle
Aaron Beierle
CurrentFilm.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
07/11/04
Boxoffice Magazine

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Full Review Source: CinemaZone.dk | comment Comment
07/11/04
CinemaZone.dk
N/R

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Full Review Source: DVD Verdict | comment Comment
07/11/04
Harold Gervais
Harold Gervais
DVD Verdict
N/R

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Full Review Source: DVD Authority.com | comment Comment
07/11/04
Matt Brighton
Matt Brighton
DVD Authority.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Stand by Me

October 09, 2008: Meet Corey Feldman Courtesy of RT
The Raindance Film Festival is ongoing in London and, as part of our media partnership, we're proud to remind all RT readers that we'll be presenting a very special Dinner and... More...

April 07, 2008: Director Garth Jennings on Son of Rambow: The RT Interview
We catch up with one half of Hammer & Tongs to talk First Blood, a return of innocence, and why an 60 year-old bloke sitting on a gun isn't much fun. More...

December 19, 2006: McG Spills a Little Oil on "Hot Wheels"
While out drumming up some publicity for his new drama "We Are Marshall," director McG (I think his real name is Joe McGinty McNichol or something) was (of course)... More...

March 16, 2006: Hurt To Play Costner's Evil Twin In "Mr. Brooks"
William Hurt, whose role as a crime boss in David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" nabbed him an Oscar nomination, joins the cast of MGM's psychological thriller... More...

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