My Own Private Idaho

Play trailer

2:39

My Own Private Idaho

R

Released Oct 18, 1991

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

61 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

Buy 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

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A simultaneously heartbreaking and exhilarating road movie.

Jun 2, 2014

Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

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

Jun 2, 2014

Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Although River Phoenix has distinguished himself as an actor ever since his second film, Stand By Me, nothing he has ever done before prepares you for his performance in Private Idaho as the motherless, homeless, loveless piece of human driftwood.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 2, 2014

Full Review

Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

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

Jun 3, 2024

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

This is a fabulous disaster. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 20, 2023

Full Review

Michael Bronski

Gay Community News (Boston)

Perhaps it is a radical break from the elusive entity we have come to label a "gay sensibility" or maybe it is an attempt to redefine it.

Aug 26, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Mason M

This is a strange and dream like film. I'm not exactly sure how they showed such disgusting things in this film, in such a beautiful manner. I really like My Own Private Idaho, but I'm not really sure what to say about it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Jon T

Rewatching it over 30 years since last seeing it and l enjoyed more than first time even though l was conscious it was not my friends kind of movie and l had dragged her along. It’s interesting reading reviews by people who don’t like it. I like it for all the reasons they don’t. It’s a bit weird, at no point do you really know what is happening next. Sometimes it is psychologically realistic, other times not. The whole thing has a sort of makeshift quality. It is also impossible not talk about River Phoenix who is mesmerising throughout. Great, great slacker movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

Full Review

Julian S

A strange and mesmerizing film about unreciprocated love in all its most devastating forms.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/24

Full Review

Paul C

I’d always heard about or seen this movie listed in places but finally watched it on Blu-ray. I was honestly blown away by River Phoenix’s character and acting. I didn’t care for, in my initial viewing , the Shakespearean elements in places, but I will likely watch it again, and maybe get it. The movie was not what I expected, in a good way. It still feels very fresh.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

One of those films where from the second I turned it on, I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t care, kept losing interest. An indie film that never gripped. Watched on DVD.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Shioka O

Based on Shakespearean. I could see that! Theatrical.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

51%

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

63%

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