A River Runs Through It (1992)
86%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
4 wins & 11 nominations total
Tasteful to a fault, this period drama combines a talented cast (including a young Brad Pitt) with some stately, beautifully filmed work from director Robert Redford
A River Runs Through It is a movie that will make you want to pack your bags and head straight to Montana. The cinematography is breathtaking, and Brad Pitt’s performance is as handsome as ever. Robert Redford’s direction is graceful, capturing the essence of Maclean’s childhood memories. The fly-fishing sequences are surprisingly magical, making you feel like you’re watching a Spielberg film. While the movie may not come fully alive at times, it’s still a great family movie to watch during the holidays. Overall, A River Runs Through It is a moving and powerful story of two brothers that will leave you feeling inspired to explore the great outdoors.
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Kemp Company, Splendid Pictures,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Pioneer Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Granite Falls, Wyoming, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for momentary nudity, and some language in a family drama
Year of Release
1992
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 3m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 1992 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Lloyd, Edie McClurg, directed by Robert Redford, written by Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Michael Rechtshaffen, Adam Mars-Jones, Owen Gleiberman, Nell Minow, David Ansen, produced by Patrick Markey, Robert Redford, PG, fly fishing, rural Montana, period drama, talented cast, stately, beautifully filmed, family, brothers, minister, college, rebellion, fishing outings, assessment, cinematography, soundtrack, period costumes, scenery, coming of age, family drama, relationships, spirituality, nature, American West, adaptation, literary, memoir, 20th century, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Pioneer Entertainment, Dolby, Surround, Stereo
Worldwide gross: $43,440,294
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $92,985,059
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,052
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,140,137
US/Canada gross: $43,440,294
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $92,985,059
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 787
US/Canada opening weekend: $298,277
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $638,470
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,348
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25,686,307
Production budget ranking: 1,234
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,832,076
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $53,466,677
ROI to date (est.): 135%
ROI ranking: 811
Brad Pitt – Paul Maclean
Tom Skerritt – Rev. Maclean
Brenda Blethyn – Mrs. Maclean
Emily Lloyd – Jessie Burns
Edie McClurg – Mrs. Burns
Director – Robert Redford
Producers – Patrick Markey, Robert Redford
Writers – Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg
Director(s)
Robert Redford
Writer(s)
Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg
Producer(s)
Patrick Markey, Robert Redford
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
4 wins & 11 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (9)
Redford directs with a fluid grace… to capture the idyllic, light-drenched aura of Maclean’s early childhood memories. Even the seemingly unexciting fly-fishing sequences take on a magical air worthy of Spielberg.
October 10, 2018
Michael Rechtshaffen
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Redford remains a fine director of actors. With Brad Pitt, who gives a particularly good performance, he is dealing moreover with an actor whose handsomeness is reminiscent of his own at that age.
November 15, 2017
Adam Mars-Jones
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Moving, powerful movie of two brothers.
December 21, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Redford does an honorable job emulating the author’s unsentimental, laconically witty style. A River Runs Through It is made with reverence and taste, but it only fitfully comes fully alive as a film.
July 7, 2010
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
A skilled, careful adaptation of a much-admired story.
November 8, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The film is blighted by an inability to break free from its source.
July 24, 2018
Vanessa Letts
The Spectator
Redford’s heartfelt yet unfulfilled film feels more watered-down than haunting.
May 29, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Sherritt has been in a lot of movies, but the role of Rev. Maclean seems like one he was born to play. He owns it, the way that Pitt and Sheffer own theirs, and as a result it takes no time at all to believe this group as a family and become involved.
July 14, 2009 | Rating: 8/10
James Plath
Movie Metropolis
There is too much taste, discretion and detachment in Redford’s rendition of MacLean’s sprawling family saga, but the scenery and Brad Pitt are nice to look at due to Philippe Rousselot’s gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography.
March 24, 2008 | Rating: C+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A great movie to watch with the family at Christmas.
December 4, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
October 27, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com…
Plot
The Maclean brothers, Paul and Norman, live a relatively idyllic life in rural Montana, spending much of their time fly fishing. The sons of a minister, the boys eventually part company when Norman moves east to attend college, leaving his rebellious brother to find trouble back home. When Norman finally returns, the siblings resume their fishing outings, and assess both where they’ve been and where they’re going.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
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