The River Wild

1994, Action, 1h 51m

35 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

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The River Wild Photos

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Movie Info

Fast-paced thriller in which a young family on a white-water rafting adventure in Montana are taken hostage by a pair of dangerous fugitives. The rafting holiday - a birthday gift for the New England couple's ten-year-old son - turns into a nightmare when the two armed killers take control and try to force the mother, a proficient rafter, to use her skills to help them escape down the treacherous rapids.
  • Rating:
    PG-13
  • Genre:
    Action
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Curtis Hanson
  • Producer:
    David Foster, Lawrence Turman
  • Writer:
    Denis O'Neill
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $46.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Universal Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround, Stereo

Cast & Crew

Meryl Streep
Gail Hartman
Kevin Bacon
Wade
David Strathairn
Tom Hartman
Joseph Mazzello
Roarke Hartman
John C. Reilly
Terry
Benjamin Bratt
Ranger Johnny
Stephanie Sawyer
Willa Hartman
Elizabeth Hoffman
Gail's Mother
Victor Galloway
Gail's Father
Diane Delano
Ranger
Thomas F. Duffy
Ranger
William Lucking
Frank
Paul Cantelon
Violinist
Glenn Morshower
Policeman
Curtis Hanson
Director
David Foster
Producer
Lawrence Turman
Producer
Ilona Herzberg
Executive Producer
Ray Hartwick
Executive Producer
Denis O'Neill
Screenwriter
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The River Wild

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (15)
Full Review… Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Nell Minow Movie Mom Full Review… Peter Travers Rolling Stone Full Review… Alison Macor Austin Chronicle Full Review… Rita Kempley Washington Post Full Review… Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot Full Review… James Croot Stuff.co.nz Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Hilary Mantel The Spectator Full Review… Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday Full Review… Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm
View All Critic Reviews (35)

Audience Reviews for The River Wild

  • Sep 22, 2018
    A few times the movie flirts with being a serious examination of masculinity's futility, but ultimately its just a silly thriller that's well directed and acted enough to warrant a viewing.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 21, 2012
    Formula thrillers aren't quite my cup of tea. I can't ever really get as into the action as much as I'd like, and I find myself, for the most part, bored. On the other hand, "The River Wild" is almost never boring. It maintains a consistent tone of peril, its characters always being thrust into precarious positions. While the storyline isn't fantastic, I liked the music and the camerawork -- especially the camerawork. There's not much rewatch value here, but its enjoyable nonetheless.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2011
    Exciting, but not rewatchable
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Jul 02, 2011
    One of my favorite movies that Kevin Bacon did...
    Deb J Super Reviewer
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