A River Runs Through It

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2:29

A River Runs Through It

PG

Released Oct 9, 1992

2h 3m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The Maclean brothers, Paul (Brad Pitt) and Norman (Craig Sheffer), live a relatively idyllic life in rural Montana, spending much of their time fly fishing. The sons of a minister (Tom Skerritt), the boys eventually part company when Norman moves east to attend college, leaving his rebellious brother to find trouble back home. When Norman finally returns, the siblings resume their fishing outings, and assess both where they've been and where they're going.

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Critics Consensus

Tasteful to a fault, this period drama combines a talented cast (including a young Brad Pitt) with some stately, beautifully filmed work from director Robert Redford.

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Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

The film shimmers with grace and visual beauty.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 11, 2023

Full Review

Michael Rechtshaffen

The Hollywood Reporter

Redford directs with a fluid grace... to capture the idyllic, light-drenched aura of Maclean's early childhood memories. Even the seemingly unexciting fly-fishing sequences take on a magical air worthy of Spielberg.

Oct 10, 2018

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Redford remains a fine director of actors. With Brad Pitt, who gives a particularly good performance, he is dealing moreover with an actor whose handsomeness is reminiscent of his own at that age.

Nov 15, 2017

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Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

The film is blighted by an inability to break free from its source.

Jul 24, 2018

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Redford's heartfelt yet unfulfilled film feels more watered-down than haunting.

May 29, 2018

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Sherritt has been in a lot of movies, but the role of Rev. Maclean seems like one he was born to play. He owns it, the way that Pitt and Sheffer own theirs, and as a result it takes no time at all to believe this group as a family and become involved.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 14, 2009

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Mary S

So enjoyed this film , I have watched it twice, I must confess I love Robert Redford 's way of bring stories to life. I travelled to Montana and Yellowstone , and saw fly fishing. For a kid from Sydney, to see the mountains and the rivers was an wonderful experience. I was reminded of this when I watched the movie, to think of a young Brad Pitt, and Brendan Blythen, who later played Vera. I hope others enjoy the story of a family and how fly fishing , it's discipline and skill was what they had in common. Cheers , Mary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Just L

It's a good movie in which not all that much happens. Still it's never boring. Scenery is great and it's very recommendable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/12/24

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Brighton G

I've got great memories watching this with my dad when I was younger. Watched it again recently and just loved the sets and locations it was shot at. Absolute classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

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Audience Member

I drank four beers while watching this and would have drank another but decided to go fishing instead

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

Max G

Meh. Good scenery but very little of the wonderful fishing narrative that held the book together. And an odd selection of scenes that were narrated. For example, when he told his parents about how his brother was brutally killed, why was this narrated with the actors simply sitting there? It would have been much more powerful if the director had actors carry the emotion through dialog. Actors were too squeaky clean in appearance. It was backwoods Montana. Fishing. Hardscrabble.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Sophie N

The movie was horrible, not an ounce of action. The story was so boring that I had to speed the movie at 1.5.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

Full Review

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Robert Redford

Director

Craig Sheffer

Norman Maclean

Brad Pitt

Paul Maclean

Tom Skerritt

Rev. Maclean

Brenda Blethyn

Mrs. Maclean

Emily Lloyd

Jessie Burns

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A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - I'll Never Leave Montana

2:13

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - The Maclean Brothers Fight

1:54

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - We Can Love Completely

2:06

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - Shooting the Chutes

2:12

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - Learning to Fish and Write

2:13

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - Haunted by Waters

2:09

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - Witnessing Perfection

2:12

A River Runs Through It: Official Clip - Fishing with Father

1:50

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A River Runs Through It: Trailer 1

2:29

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Synopsis

The Maclean brothers, Paul (Brad Pitt) and Norman (Craig Sheffer), live a relatively idyllic life in rural Montana, spending much of their time fly fishing. The sons of a minister (Tom Skerritt), the boys eventually part company when Norman moves east to attend college, leaving his rebellious brother to find trouble back home. When Norman finally returns, the siblings resume their fishing outings, and assess both where they've been and where they're going.

Director: Robert Redford
Producer: Patrick Markey, Robert Redford
Screenwriter: Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg
Distributor: Pioneer Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Allied Filmmakers
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $43.4M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo

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