Wind River (2017)
Kernel Score: 84% · 5,670 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Mystery, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2017-08-03
Runtime: 107 minutes
Is Wind River worth watching?
Worth watching. A cold, slow crime story set on a snowy Wyoming reservation. The mystery is plain, the setting is the star, and it ends with real emotional weight. It's bleak, but well made.
Watch it if you
- like quiet, serious crime dramas
- enjoy bleak landscapes and grief
- prefer character over twists
Skip it if you
- want a fast-paced mystery
- find the subject matter too heavy
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Wind River
- Stream: Netflix
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
An FBI agent teams with the town's veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.
Wind River parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that Wind River is a grim crime thriller centered on a murder investigation on a Native American reservation.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — The R-rated crime thriller involves a murder investigation with depressing, harrowing content per reviewer descriptions.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Wind River
If you liked Wind River, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Mystic River (2003) — 89%: Dark crime drama about grief and violence.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) — 85%: Cold, serious investigation into a disturbing case.
- Mississippi Burning (1988) — 86%: Investigators in a hostile place.
- Chinatown (1974) — 87%: Classic mystery with a bleak view of the world.
- L.A. Confidential (1997) — 89%: Strong-acted crime drama in a corrupt world.
- Hostiles (2017) — 75%: Western with similar harsh landscape and weight.
Director
Cast
- Jeremy Renner as Cory Lambert
- Elizabeth Olsen as Jane Banner
- Gil Birmingham as Martin Hanson
- Graham Greene as Ben
- Jon Bernthal as Matt Rayburn
- Kelsey Asbille as Natalie Hanson
- Teo Briones as Casey Lambert
- Tantoo Cardinal as Alice Crowheart
- Matthew Del Negro as Dillon
- Hugh Dillon as Curtis
Wind River FAQ
Is Wind River worth watching?
Worth watching. A cold, slow crime story set on a snowy Wyoming reservation. The mystery is plain, the setting is the star, and it ends with real emotional weight. It's bleak, but well made.
Where can I watch Wind River?
In the US you can stream Wind River on Netflix and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Wind River OK for kids?
Wind River is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that Wind River is a grim crime thriller centered on a murder investigation on a Native American reservation.
What movies are like Wind River?
If you liked Wind River, try Mystic River, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Mississippi Burning and Chinatown.