Stand by Me (1986)

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (4) | DVD (29)

Reiner seems lost in his own cinematic wilderness -- button-down careful, almost afraid to move

March 28, 2011 Full Review | Comments (5)

Pat Graham

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Good luck choking back the tears, folks.

March 17, 2011 Full Review | Comment

Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

Scripters have written inspired dialog for this quartet of plucky boys at that hard-to-capture age when they're still young enough to get scared and yet old enough to want to sneak smokes and cuss.

January 29, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Rob Reiner's direction hammers in every obvious element in an obvious script.

August 30, 2004 Full Review | Comments (2)

Walter Goodman

New York Times

Top Critic

It's as effective in 2009 as it was upon its initial release, and the richness of its tapestry, densely woven from human emotions and character interaction, ensure it will never lose that relevance.

January 1, 1800 Full Review | Comment (1)

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Stand By Me is 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.

March 28, 2011 Full Review | Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Well-crafted coming-of-age tale, now best remembered as the cornerstone of River Phoenix's scant legacy.

March 28, 2011 Full Review | Comment

Film4

...a timeless coming-of-age drama.

March 24, 2011 Full Review | Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

A near-perfect coming-of-age story peppered with regret, pain, nostalgia and love.

March 23, 2011 Full Review | Comment

R. L. Shaffer

IGN DVD

The 25th anniversary of Bob Reiner's film again shows why the film has become a classic on childhood, and it lso pays tribute to the talent of the late and great River Phoenix.

March 17, 2011 Full Review | Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

A well-observed and executed little film.

August 5, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

One of the best coming-of-age stories ever made.

June 30, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Reiner's film, based on Stephen King's autobiographical novella, is suffused with the magic of childhood; the narrative is framed by a long flashback that brings distance to the remembered reality.

February 8, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Haunting coming-of-age drama; young River Phoenix's presence adds considerable poignancy

June 16, 2006 Comment

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

The film is so well-observed and so energetically acted by its young cast that mawkishness is kept at bay.

February 9, 2006 Full Review | Comment

Time Out

• 1. Ace Merrill: What, are you going to shoot all of us?
  2. Gordie Lachance: No Ace, just you.
  – Submitted by Penny L (33 days ago)
• 1. Ace Merrill: Would you both just shut the fuck up. If either one of you had $2,000 I'd kill ya both.
  – Submitted by Michael C (46 days ago)
• 1. Gordie Lachance: Why did he have to die, Chris? Why did Denny have to die? Why?
  2. Chris Chambers: I don't know.
  3. Gordie Lachance: It should've been me.
  4. Chris Chambers: Don't say that.
  5. Gordie Lachance: It should've been me.
  6. Chris Chambers: Don't say that, man.
  7. Gordie Lachance: I'm no good. My dad said it, I'm no good.
  8. Chris Chambers: He doesn't know you.
  – Submitted by Melissa M (2 months ago)
• 1. Chris Chambers: I just never thought a teacher... Oh, who gives a fuck anyway? I just wish... that I could go some place... where nobody knows me. I guess I'm just a pussy, huh?
  2. Gordie Lachance: No way. No way.
  – Submitted by Melissa M (2 months ago)
• 1. Chris Chambers: Hey, Vern. You better turn yours over.
  2. Vern Tessio: This is the way I like to do it. [hot dog falls off stick] Oh, man! Gordie you got anymore?
  3. Gordie Lachance: [lauging] Sorry, Vern.
  4. Vern Tessio: This is not funny. What am I supposed to eat?
  5. Teddy Duchamp: Why don't you cook your dick.
  6. Chris Chambers: It'd be a small meal.
  – Submitted by Dan P (3 months ago)