The River Wild

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The River Wild

PG-13

Released Sep 30, 1994

1h 51m

Action

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Popcornmeter

63%

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40 Reviews

52%

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25,000+ Ratings

Fast-paced thriller in which a young family on a white-water rafting adventure in Montana are taken hostage by a pair of dangerous fugitives. The rafting holiday - a birthday gift for the New England couple's ten-year-old son - turns into a nightmare when the two armed killers take control and try to force the mother, a proficient rafter, to use her skills to help them escape down the treacherous rapids.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

This is the movies, and director Curtis Hanson throws so much water at us that we are too enjoyably discomposed to think anyway.

Feb 12, 2024

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Geoff Brown

Times (UK)

Go and have fun; and wear waterproof clothing.

Feb 12, 2024

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Sheila Johnston

Independent (UK)

The film is energetically directed by Curtis Hanson, and it's certainly a refreshing change to see an action heroine at the helm, bossing all the men about.

Feb 12, 2024

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

The sympathetic characters are likeable, the chief villain someone you hope to see blown away, the stuntwork on the rapids is terrific.

Feb 12, 2024

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Quentin Falk

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Meryl Streep proves she's an all-acting heroine in The River Wild, an exciting though predictable outdoor thriller.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 10, 2024

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

The scenery, mostly photographed in Montana, is spectacular. The musical score, composed by the always-rousing Jerry Goldsmith, is lively.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 25, 2022

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Audience Member

Ok, watching now in 2025. The movie is a bit dated so it doesn't play as well but it was just a 'good' movie then. Meryl and Bacon and John are all great actors but the film is a bit meh. Some parts were quizzical. Why, when this river is some kind of beast- does she laugh or make light of it during? Bacon was good- but should've been Much darker or conniving and John should've probably said less or been more menacing. This feels like something that could've had greater impact with a more stout director asking his actors for ways they weren't being during the filming. I Will keep it in my collection but it's really close to Not keeping.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

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Gerald H

Squandering talent. And yes, she iS the greatest actress abroad. But I really hate those movies where they try to sell her as attractive girl. She isn‘t.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Chris K

Let's just say I wathced it again as an adult, and can't understand why anyone ever liked it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

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Daniel B

Im shocked at the ratings on here, This is an absolutely brilliant popcorn movie with incredible thrilling stunts on the rapids. Best actors in the world with Meryl, Bacon etc. Have no clue which film critics were watching This is a real family favourite for me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/24

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Jon G

A great, lesser-known flick from the 90s. I really enjoyed it. Kind of a family-friendly, popcorn-adventure tribute to Deliverance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

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Mike P

This is the PG13 version of Deliverance...It's the redneck kidnapping without the "squeal like a pig boy" scene... Meryl and Kevin are both fine, (and even have a weird, inappropriate sexual chemistry); and the story as it unfolds is fine. Although it's missing the edge that made the original so thrilling ...Without those elements, this is sort of just another NCIS Episode. But it's still watchable...Very moderate recommendation. 👍

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/18/24

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Curtis Hanson

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Synopsis

Fast-paced thriller in which a young family on a white-water rafting adventure in Montana are taken hostage by a pair of dangerous fugitives. The rafting holiday - a birthday gift for the New England couple's ten-year-old son - turns into a nightmare when the two armed killers take control and try to force the mother, a proficient rafter, to use her skills to help them escape down the treacherous rapids.

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: David Foster, Lawrence Turman
Screenwriter: Denis O'Neill
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, David Foster Productions, Turman-Foster Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $46.5M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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