Stand by Me (1986)
94%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
5 wins & 11 nominations total
Stand By Me is a wise, nostalgic movie with a weird streak that captures both Stephen King’s voice and the trials of growing up.
Stand by Me” is like a warm hug from your childhood best friend, if that friend was a movie. It’s got everything you need for a good time: adventure, humor, and a touch of sadness that makes you appreciate the good times even more. Sure, some critics might say it’s a bit too self-indulgent or condescending, but who cares? This movie is a classic for a reason. So grab some popcorn, call up your old pals, and settle in for a trip down memory lane.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Act III Act III Communications,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Eagle Mountain Ln, Burney, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1986
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 29m
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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): Aug 8, 1986 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, directed by Rob Reiner, written by Stephen King, Raynold Gideon, Bruce A Evans, comedy, drama, R rating, box office gross $46.7M, reviewed by Adam Nayman, Carrie Rickey, Jay Boyar, Sheila Benson, Dave Kehr, Pat Graham, David Elliott, Mark Jackson, Eve Tushnet, Peter Canavese, Joe Baltake, Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, Vern Tessio, Ace Merrill, Billy Tessio, Bruce A Evans, Raynold Gideon, Andrew Scheinman, Columbia Pictures, growing up, nostalgia, friendship, adventure, coming-of-age, 1950s Americana, childhood, loss of innocence, Stephen King’s voice, defining event, leeches, mean junk man, rural homes, Oregon boys, different home lives, trials of growing up, weird streak, morbid fascination, haunting fact, male identity, autumnal movie, self-indulgent, emotional level, comedic touch, universal theme, bonds of friendship, undated, easygoing direction, joy to watch, innocence, paragon of beauty in simplicity
Worldwide gross: $52,287,414
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $144,872,123
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 852
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,798,487
US/Canada gross: $52,287,414
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $144,872,123
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 534
US/Canada opening weekend: $242,795
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $672,709
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,333
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $22,165,506
Production budget ranking: 1,317
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,936,125
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $110,770,492
ROI to date (est.): 325%
ROI ranking: 430
River Phoenix – Chris Chambers
Corey Feldman – Teddy Duchamp
Jerry O’Connell – Vern Tessio
Kiefer Sutherland – Ace Merrill
Casey Siemaszko – Billy Tessio
Director(s)
Rob Reiner
Writer(s)
Stephen King, Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans
Producer(s)
Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon, Andrew Scheinman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
5 wins & 11 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (5)
It’s among the light sprinkling of King tales that elide the supernatural entirely. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t morbid…
September 5, 2019
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
Stand by Me is a small, quiet film that walks tall and resonates long after.
June 26, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Its perspective is that of a knowing adult, which is to say that though the film is frequently affectionate and funny, it contains a drop too much condescension to be entirely successful.
June 26, 2013
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
It stands, sweet and strong, ribald, outrageous and funny, like its heroes themselves — a bit gamy around the edges, perhaps, but pure and fine clear through. It’s one of those treasures absolutely not to be missed.
June 26, 2013 | Rating: 4.5/5
Sheila Benson
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Stand by Me is a film of honorable ambitions severely compromised by a creeping show-biz phoniness.
June 26, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Reiner seems lost in his own cinematic wilderness — button-down careful, almost afraid to move
March 28, 2011
Pat Graham
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
“Stand by Me” stirs memories, especially if you’ve been a boy, especially if (like me), you were a ’50s kid whose old pals have grown up and drifted apart.
August 23, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune
The line, “I never really had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve,” is a haunting fact and true wellspring of great sadness for most men. “Stand By Me” is one of the most memorable, funny, and wise movies ever made about boyhood.
May 17, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Mark Jackson
Epoch Times
It’s an autumnal movie and a self-indulgent one, carried by the inherent pathos of its premise…
March 26, 2020
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Exquisitely captures the vulnerability not only of youth, but of the male identity.
September 26, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
When you are an adventure-seeker stuck in that odd transition between early youth and adolescence, few movies resonate more than “Stand by Me.”
September 26, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org
It is about the evolution of a writer, his relationship with his three closest friends and a situation that formed his talent — and morbid fascination.
June 26, 2013
Joe Baltake
Philadelphia Daily News…
Plot
It’s the summer of 1959 in Castlerock, Oregon and four 12 year-old boys – Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern – are fast friends. After learning of the general location of the body of a local boy who has been missing for several days, they set off into the woods to see it. Along the way, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship and the need to stand up for what is right.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
River Phoenix’s performance in Stand By Me is considered one of his best and helped launch his career as a young actor.
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