My Own Private Idaho

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2:39

My Own Private Idaho

R

1991

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

63 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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Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 19

A self-indulgent mess redeemed by moments of brilliance.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

06/02/2014

A simultaneously heartbreaking and exhilarating road movie.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

06/02/2014

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

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 17

1/4

My Own Private Idaho segues into a momentum-free (and periodically unwatchable) midsection overflowing with misguided, aggressively avant-garde attributes...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 12

3/4

Van Sant made what in essence is a homosexual road movie that espouses the family values of a Disney feature and the pop art sensibilities of a Warhol piece -- with a liberal dose of Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

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Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

05/28/2025

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.

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Amy M

@RT76738538 Mar 17

I did not watch this film when it came out in 1991. I watched it last night and I found it very boring. I also really struggled with the acting as it was like Acting Class 101. I love Indie & Artistic films but this one did not do it for me.

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Tom F

@RT55173143 Feb 14

I never saw this until 2026, an interesting artifact of its time.

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Stoner J

@Stoner Sep 10

really good drama. Totally unique as well, as most of Van Sant's movies.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone 05/17/2025

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.

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Lana t

@RT48857590 01/22/2025

A very interesting story and great acting.

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Catherine Imogen W

@RT67840195 12/13/2024

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.

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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