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The River Wild

The River Wild (1994)

tomatometer

43

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

audience

49

liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 45,205

My Rating

Movie Info

In a change-of-pace role designed to prove that she could carry high-concept genre films as well as character-driven dramas, Meryl Streep headlined this fast-paced adventure as Gail, a whitewater rafting guide. For a vacation, Gail is accompanying her son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) and workaholic husband Tom (David Strathairn) on a river trip. Gail and Tom are experiencing marital troubles and contemplating divorce, but their problems take a back seat when they encounter some menacing rafters led

PG-13, 1 hr. 52 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

Denis O'Neill

Nov 1, 1998

MCA Universal Home Video

The River Wild Trailer & Photos

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Cast

Critic Reviews for The River Wild

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (13) | DVD (4)

The perfect high old time for audiences in the mood to be tossed into the spin cycle for a pulse-pounding thrill ride.

May 12, 2001 Comment
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

O'Neill proves to be a squeamish screenwriter. He doesn't allow his villain to do anything truly unnerving until the story's nearly done.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Constructed from so many ideas, characters and situations recycled from other movies that all the way down the river I kept thinking: Been there. Done that.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If watched from a mildly amused, forgiving distance, the movie has its enjoyable moments -- good and campy.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The thriller framework is still familiar, but the results exhibit a welcome freshness.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A buff Streep vs. bad guy Bacon on a wild river journey in which good acting overcomes several cliches.

December 11, 2007 Comment
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

corny but gripping

September 19, 2004 Comment
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Terrible "suspense" movie. Predictable and no action until the end.

August 15, 2003 Comment (1)
Fred Topel
About.com

It looks like an action movie, sounds like an action movie, but there's a lot more going on here.

March 25, 2003 Comment
Oz
Hollywood Bitchslap

The title promises more than the film delivers.

February 7, 2003 Comment
Gerry Shamray
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
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Audience Reviews for The River Wild

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Thriller about robbers who kidnap a family to help him escape down river. Good cast.

July 15, 2007
thmtsang
Candy Rose

Super Reviewer

Exciting, but not rewatchable

March 3, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

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