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Stand by Me (1986)

★★★★ — Stand by Me (1986)

Rob Reiner directed Stand by Me in 1986, adapting Stephen King's novella The Body (published in his 1982 collection Different Seasons), one of several King works from that period that proved the author's range extended well beyond horror. Reiner was riding the momentum of This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and The Sure Thing (1985), and this would cement him as one of the more reliable directors of his generation before he followed it with The Princess Bride (1987) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). The film was produced on a modest budget and became a genuine box office success, earning over $52 million worldwide. Shot largely in Oregon, it gave early prominent roles to Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell, with Phoenix in particular drawing significant critical attention for his performance.

Sick balls One of the best coming of age stories ever put to screen. It perfectly captures what it’s like to grow up as a young lad, those awkward friendships, the dumb conversations, the feeling like everything matters more than it really does, and that looming sense that childhood doesn’t last forever. It’s nostalgic in the best kind of way, funny, emotional, and quietly profound. The cast is superb, the narration adds a lovely reflective layer, and it’s probably my favourite Stephen King adaptation (yes, even more than the horror ones). Just a proper timeless classic.

Rating: ★★★★ | Year: 1986 | Watched: 2025-04-18

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