My Own Private Idaho

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2:39

My Own Private Idaho

R

Released Oct 18, 1991

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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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.

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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.

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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

Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

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.

May 28, 2025

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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

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

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

Jan 20, 2023

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thiago s

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.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

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Lana t

A very interesting story and great acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

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Catherine Imogen W

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

Sandra F

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..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

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

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Gus Van Sant

Director

River Phoenix

Mike Waters

Keanu Reeves

Scott Favor

James Russo

Richard Waters

William Richert

Bob Pigeon

Rodney Harvey

Gary

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My Own Private Idaho: Trailer 1

2:39

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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

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