The Straight Story (1999)
Kernel Score: 89% · 1,746 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Drama
Released: 1999-10-15
Runtime: 112 minutes
Where to watch The Straight Story
- Stream: Disney+
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.
The Straight Story parents' guide: all ages
Parents need to know that The Straight Story is a G-rated, gentle true-story drama about an elderly man's cross-country lawnmower journey to reconcile with his estranged brother.
- Violence & scariness: None — No violence; a quiet, contemplative family drama.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Straight Story
If you liked The Straight Story, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Paris, Texas (1984) — 91%
- Into the Wild (2007) — 89%
- The Shack (2017) — 83%
- A River Runs Through It (1992) — 76%
- East of Eden (1955) — 84%
- Dances with Wolves (1990) — 88%
- Train Dreams (2025) — 80%
- Minari (2021) — 82%
Director
Cast
- Richard Farnsworth as Alvin
- Sissy Spacek as Rose
- Jane Galloway Heitz as Dorothy
- Joseph A. Carpenter as Bud
- Donald Wiegert as Sig
- Tracey Maloney as Nurse
- Dan Flannery as Doctor Gibbons
- Jennifer Edwards as Brenda
- Ed Grennan as Pete
- Jack Walsh as Apple
The Straight Story FAQ
Is The Straight Story good?
The Straight Story has an 89% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,746 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Straight Story?
In the US you can stream The Straight Story on Disney+ and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Straight Story OK for kids?
The Straight Story is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests all ages. Parents need to know that The Straight Story is a G-rated, gentle true-story drama about an elderly man's cross-country lawnmower journey to reconcile with his estranged brother.
What movies are like The Straight Story?
If you liked The Straight Story, try Paris, Texas, Into the Wild, The Shack and A River Runs Through It.