Overview
A poignant journey of friendship and self-discovery unfolds in the summer of 1959.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- wistful
- warm
- darkly comic
- nostalgic movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Rob Reiner's warm direction, authentic ensemble performances, emotional honesty, and graceful handling of a familiar coming-of-age journey.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gordie recounts the 1959 adventure from adulthood, framing the boys' journey as a formative memory.
The search for a missing boy's body places death directly inside an otherwise youthful summer adventure.
Gordie's mourning and Chris's troubled home life shape how the friends understand themselves and one another.
The railroad journey, woods, and small-town summer setting combine playful peril with adult nostalgia and grief.
Films like Stand by Me, and why
The Goonies
shared coming-of-age drama, childhood friendship, nostalgic warmth, and emotionally candid adolescence
The Sandlot
shared boyhood adventure, small-town setting, male friendship, and wistful coming-of-age tone
The Wonder Years
shared retrospective coming-of-age structure, childhood trauma, friendship, and melancholic nostalgia
The Outsiders
shared literary coming-of-age drama, youthful journey, death, and reflection on formative friendship
Movie Details
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Release Date
- 1986-08-08
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (6766)
Cast
- Wil Wheaton
- River Phoenix
- Corey Feldman
- Jerry O'Connell
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Casey Siemaszko
- Gary Riley
- Bradley Gregg
- Jason Oliver
- Marshall Bell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Stand by Me about?
- Four Oregon boys turn a search for a dead classmate into a funny, frightening, and unforgettable passage out of childhood.
- What is Stand by Me like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Stand by Me as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Stand by Me violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Stand by Me as mild.
- What did critics think of Stand by Me?
- Critics broadly praised Rob Reiner's warm direction, authentic ensemble performances, emotional honesty, and graceful handling of a familiar coming-of-age journey.
- Which films are like Stand by Me?
- Films with a similar feel include The Goonies, The Sandlot, The Wonder Years, and The Outsiders.
- How long is Stand by Me?
- Stand by Me runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch Stand by Me?
- In United States, Stand by Me streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
