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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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Reviews Counted:33

Fresh:31

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.8/10

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 critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An ode to youthful friendship and a lament for the loss of that precious bond between grown men.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
03/16/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Though nostalgic, Reiner's film, based on Stephen King's autobiographical novella, is suffused with the magic of childhood; the narrative is framed by a long flashback that brings distance to the remembered reality.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
02/08/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Rob Reiner's tale of innocence warms the heart.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix

A well-observed and executed little film.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/05/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Scripters have written inspired dialog for this quartet of plucky boys at that hard-to-capture age when they're still young enough to get scared and yet old enough to want to sneak smokes and cuss.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/29/09
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It transports you back, not to the 1950s, but to a time when, like Vern, you knew the important things in life.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment 2 Comments
03/31/05
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
06/30/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Walter Goodman
Walter Goodman
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Haunting coming-of-age drama; young River Phoenix's presence adds considerable poignancy

comment Comment
06/16/06
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Still powerful Reiner film with great kid actors.

comment Comment
12/27/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

A lot of folks go in for this movie in a big way, but I have a hard time seeing past the cloying comedy and clichéd white-guy sentimentality.

comment 4 Comments
04/20/04
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

Classic coming of age movie that stands the test of time.

comment Comment
08/16/02
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

Soggy with false sentiment.

comment 2 Comments
03/11/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

Okay coming of age story. About as solidly middle-brow as they come.

comment Comment
02/02/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A classic coming of age story with outstanding performances.

comment Comment
11/06/03
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

The most important film ever made about Friendship. The young cast are superb

comment 1 Comment
09/17/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

One of my favorite movies of all time. This film will never fade away.

comment 1 Comment
11/22/02
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

A solid coming of age story that actually improves upon its source material.

comment Comment
03/26/04
Widgett Walls
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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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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