Stand by Me

Name: Stand by Me
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Released: August 22, 1986
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton

1986

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 119 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 119 Ratings

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Stand By Me

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: August 22, 1986 | R

Starring: Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton

Summary: Stand by Me's screenplay by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body," a somewhat autobiographical account of an overnight hike by four Oregon youngsters to seek the body of a boy who had been struck by a train. [New York Times]

Director: Rob Reiner

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 89 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

The resulting adventure – bizarre, mysterious and moving – is about lost youth and the recovery of innocence through writing and memory. It is also one of those vanishingly rare films where child actors have to carry almost the entire drama. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Alex Hannaford

Stand By Me is one of those films that stands up to the test of time. It may never top any critic’s “films of the century” list, like Citizen Kane, or Raging Bull, but it has a charm and depth that seems to resonate with each generation. Read full review

100

Empire Emma Cochrane

The entire cast is superb and it so perfectly paced, that the story unfolds with wit, pathos and sensitivity and completely free of emotional shortcuts. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Rob Reiner’s film is all about the journey, not the destination. And all of his young actors are great — Wheaton as the sensitive narrator, Feldman as the slightly crazy wild card, and especially Phoenix as the tough-yet-tender doomed soul. Read full review

R.L. Shafer

Stand by Me is easily one of the best Stephen King adaptations and one of the best coming-of-age stories ever made. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A sentimental film that works because of its unsentimental moments--in particular, its sometimes embarassingly honest portrayal of what interests boys and how they talk about it. Reiner elicits some excellent performances from his young cast (River Phoenix is a standout) and Kiefer Sutherland is memorable as a menacing teen hood. Read full review

Walter Goodman

Some of their horsing around, 1950ish style, is comical, but too much of what they do is only too plainly imposed by the movie makers. Rob Reiner's direction hammers in every obvious element in an obvious script. Read full review

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User Reviews

Maxisgoat1717

Apr 9, 2023

Why it rocks: This could be controversial, but I am around the same age as them so I can relate a lot and this movie brought me loads of laughs. The experience as a whole did something no other movie has done to me. A funny, heartwarming movie about a group of boys really changed me as aWhy it rocks: This could be controversial, but I am around the same age as them so I can relate a lot and this movie brought me loads of laughs. The experience as a whole did something no other movie has done to me. A funny, heartwarming movie about a group of boys really changed me as a person and made me feel so many emotions all at once.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Alimoghnieh

Jun 6, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. يرتكز هذا الفيلم حول فكرة أساسية : الصداقة في زمن الطفولة. الصداقة الحقيقية والتي تعبث بها السنون كلما تقدم بنا العمر. ولكن يبقى أثرها محفورا في نفوسنا!
قصة أربعة مراهقين في الثانية عشرة من العمر، يخوضون مغامرةً بحماس المراهق المستكشف بحثاً عن جثة طفلٍ مفقود في بلدتهم الصغيرة. الجثة ليست هي محور القصة، بل الصداقة وما تُخبؤه لهم ثنايا رحلتهم العجيبة. هذا المرحُ الكبير الذي يتسلل إلى كل طفلٍ في نفوسنا حينما نشاهد الفيلم. أداءٌ مبهرٌ لتلك الفتية المميزة : غوردي (ويل وايتون) وتيدي - كوري فيلدمان - و ڤيرن - جيري أوكونيل - و كريس - ريفر فونيكس والذي ترشّح لاحقاً لنيل جائزة الأوسكار عن فئة أفضل ممثل ثانوي لدوره في فيلم المعلم العظيم سيدني لاميت Running on Empty ولكنّ الأخ الأكبر للممثل الموهبة جواكين فينيكس لم يحظَ بفرصة جيدة في السينما بسبب وفاته المبكرة المفجعة في العام ١٩٩٣ بجرعة كوكايين زائدة! غوردي فقد أخاه الأكبر قبل شهور خلت. أخوه الذي دعمه في موهبته - الكتابة--وسانده وسطَ عدم اكتراث أبويه لا بل استهزاء والده الدائم وسخريته. يواجه غوردي كابوساً دائمأ حيث يرى أباه يلتفت إليه لحظة دفن أخيه الأكبر ويهمس إليه : كان يجب أن تكون أنت الميت، أنت بلا فائدة!
في البرية، وحينما يصلون إلى الجثة، يقف غوردي شارد المخيلة بالجثة،. هائماً على وجهه. هنا يلتفت كريس إليه، وهو الصديق الأقرب إليه في المجموعة، يتقدم إليه ويسأله : ما بك؟! يسرد عليه غوردي كابوسه المؤرّق قائلاً : كان يجب أن أكون أنا! أبي يقول ذلك دوماً، أبي يكرهني يا صديقي! هنا يرد كريس على خوفه بإجابة مذهلة، فيها الكثير من عبق الصداقة الحقيقية :
لا يا صديقي، أبوك لا يكرهك، أبوك فقط لا يعرفك! بالله عليكم تفكروا في تلك الكلمات المدهشة. هذا المشهد يُسجل ضمن المشاهد الخالدة لروب راينر. التصوير في هذا الفيلم بالكامل هو خارجي.
تتنقل كاميرا المخرج بين أحياء البلدة والمزرعة والبرية وخط سكة القطار، مما ساعده على إضفاء ألوان الحياة على فيلمه. الموسيقى المنتقاة صائبةٌ جداً. أغنية every day لـ Buddy Holly ،
واختتام الفيلم بأغنية stand by me لـ Ben E King والذي انبثق إسم الفيلم منها!
الإخراج كان هادئا رصينا ومتقناً، اعتمد راينر أسلوب السهل الممتنع، وزاد رونق الفيلم جمالاً براعة الممثلين الأطفال... باختصار، هذا الفيلم يدخل ضمن قائمة الأفلام العظيمة...… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

kyle20ellis

Mar 31, 2022

I saw Stand By Me yesterday for the first time in one and a half years, (I'm 17) and I absolutely loved it, and it is definitely one of my favourite Stephen King adaptations. I will say I absolutely loved Shawshank Redemption, and despite the fact that it was unfaithful to the book, andI saw Stand By Me yesterday for the first time in one and a half years, (I'm 17) and I absolutely loved it, and it is definitely one of my favourite Stephen King adaptations. I will say I absolutely loved Shawshank Redemption, and despite the fact that it was unfaithful to the book, and badly flawed, I liked It too.

Stand By Me, based on the novella by Stephen King, which I admit I haven't read, not only has a wonderfully engaging story, but it is both funny and moving. This is helped by the strong and wholly believable performances from the entire cast that include Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Conell and River Pheonix especially.

The script was very well-crafted, and the film tells brilliantly of the values of friendship and standing together. Other strengths were the beautiful photography and the fine direction from Rob Reiner. But what impressed me most about Stand By Me was not only its nostalgic feel, but despite the hour and a half running time, the characters particularly Chris were so well developed. And I mustn't forget the beautiful song Stand By Me over the end credits.

A beautiful, unforgettable film, with a definite 10/10. Bethany Cox.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

A youthful recollection of 1950's childhood, "Stand By Me" uses nostalgia not as an easy bargain, but as a loving exchange between two bright stakeholders- the audience and the film crew as they both embellish exuberant delight.  A special mention to the young cast of actors here for pullingA youthful recollection of 1950's childhood, "Stand By Me" uses nostalgia not as an easy bargain, but as a loving exchange between two bright stakeholders- the audience and the film crew as they both embellish exuberant delight.  A special mention to the young cast of actors here for pulling off believable shenanigans and dramatic revelations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All_ButTrU4

Apr 16, 2022

This is absolutely stunning. Watching this was an emotionally draining experience of varying proportion, each one perfect. The main cast is phenomenal!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KeithDow

Sep 7, 2019

The source material, director, and young actors all wondrously caught lightning in a bottle with this timeless ode to adolescence.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Karenlorraine

Feb 1, 2021

Its hard for me to watch the movie Stand by me or to listen to the song. A little girl I babysit & her family died after watching this movie. They were living in a duplex it caught fire! The night this movie was playing she went to watch it at the theatre with another little girl I babysit.Its hard for me to watch the movie Stand by me or to listen to the song. A little girl I babysit & her family died after watching this movie. They were living in a duplex it caught fire! The night this movie was playing she went to watch it at the theatre with another little girl I babysit. On her way home they were singing that song. There was a lot of questions about her death her mom & 2 brothers deaths! Her dad left shortly after. They said supposly a wire malfunction. But there were way too many unanswered questions!!… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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