My Own Private Idaho

Play trailer

2:39

My Own Private Idaho

R

1991

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.

Read Critics Reviews

Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 19

A self-indulgent mess redeemed by moments of brilliance.

Go to Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

06/02/2014

A simultaneously heartbreaking and exhilarating road movie.

Go to Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

06/02/2014

Holding all these elements together is Van Sant's sensibility, such an elusive thing it instinctively squirms away from any attempt to pigeonhole it.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 12

3/4

Van Sant made what in essence is a homosexual road movie that espouses the family values of a Disney feature and the pop art sensibilities of a Warhol piece -- with a liberal dose of Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

Go to Full Review

Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

May 28

Reeves uses a confident, playful swagger to cover his insecurity and internalized self-loathing, but it’s Phoenix who shines brightest as our soft-spoken, vulnerable hero.

Go to Full Review

Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

06/03/2024

Some critics called the movie undisciplined, and that’s exactly what's so cool about it!

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Tom F

@RT55173143 Feb 14

I never saw this until 2026, an interesting artifact of its time.

See more

Stoner J

@Stoner Sep 10

really good drama. Totally unique as well, as most of Van Sant's movies.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone May 17

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom.

See more

Lana t

@RT48857590 01/22/2025

A very interesting story and great acting.

See more

Catherine Imogen W

@RT67840195 12/13/2024

I find it hard to explain the power/ strength of this film from so long ago. Partly it is the excellent and committed performances of absolutely every actor. Chiefly it is the direction and writing of the Director and Author. It is so imaginative, it deals in matters beyond the pale, way and along. It has not got a single message. It deals with difficult and alarming characters but without simplicity.

See more

Sandra F

@RT24239036 12/01/2024

I will never stop falling in love and simultaneously be left heartbroken by this inexplicably stunning and sad tale that I feel had to be told by exactly these people.. Translates in and outside of the movie. I was truly so taken by it, by them that I just had to find my very own copy. It must be seen, for so many reasons but to keep this little part of Rivers many beautifully complexities yet simply.. his huge heart alive. Can't get enough of it even though it breaks my heart each time..

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Gus Van Sant

Director

River Phoenix

Mike Waters

Keanu Reeves

Scott Favor

James Russo

Richard Waters

William Richert

Bob Pigeon

Rodney Harvey

Gary

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

50%

65%

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Watchlist

This Boy's Life

76%

80%

This Boy's Life

Watchlist

The Sum of Us

63%

80%

The Sum of Us

Watchlist

When Night Is Falling

56%

80%

When Night Is Falling

Watchlist

Priest

67%

83%

Priest

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

On DVD This Week: Magic Mike XXL, Insidious: Chapter 3, And More

RT Interview: Gus van Sant and Dustin Lance Black on Milk

Five Favourite Films with James Franco

My Own Private Idaho: Trailer 1

2:39

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Laurie Parker
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Gus Van Sant
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1991, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.4M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Ultra-Stereo, Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now