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A River Runs Through It

  • 1992
  • PG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
220
3,589
Craig Sheffer in A River Runs Through It (1992)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:36
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgeDocudramaPeriod DramaTragedyDrama

Two sons of a stern minister - one reserved, one rebellious - grow up in rural 1920s Montana while devoted to fly fishing.Two sons of a stern minister - one reserved, one rebellious - grow up in rural 1920s Montana while devoted to fly fishing.Two sons of a stern minister - one reserved, one rebellious - grow up in rural 1920s Montana while devoted to fly fishing.

  • Director
    • Robert Redford
  • Writers
    • Norman Maclean
    • Richard Friedenberg
  • Stars
    • Craig Sheffer
    • Brad Pitt
    • Tom Skerritt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    69K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    220
    3,589
    • Director
      • Robert Redford
    • Writers
      • Norman Maclean
      • Richard Friedenberg
    • Stars
      • Craig Sheffer
      • Brad Pitt
      • Tom Skerritt
    • 188User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos2

    A River Runs Through It
    Trailer 2:36
    A River Runs Through It
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Clip 5:10
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Clip 5:10
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona

    Photos207

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    + 201
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    Top cast48

    Edit
    Craig Sheffer
    Craig Sheffer
    • Norman Maclean
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Paul Maclean
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • Rev. Maclean
    Brenda Blethyn
    Brenda Blethyn
    • Mrs. Maclean
    Emily Lloyd
    Emily Lloyd
    • Jessie Burns
    Edie McClurg
    Edie McClurg
    • Mrs. Burns
    Stephen Shellen
    Stephen Shellen
    • Neal Burns
    Vann Gravage
    • Young Paul
    Nicole Burdette
    • Mabel
    Susan Traylor
    Susan Traylor
    • Rawhide
    Michael Cudlitz
    Michael Cudlitz
    • Chub
    Rob Cox
    Rob Cox
    • Conroy
    Buck Simmonds
    • Humph
    Fred Oakland
    • Mr. Burns
    David Creamer
    • Ken Burns
    Madonna Reubens
    • Aunt Sally
    John Reubens
    • Uncle Jimmy
    Arnold Richardson
    • Old Norman
    • Director
      • Robert Redford
    • Writers
      • Norman Maclean
      • Richard Friedenberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews188

    7.269.1K
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    Featured reviews

    8rbverhoef

    A good movie

    In a little town in Montana two brothers grow up. One of them is Norman (Craig Sheffer), the other is Paul (Brad Pitt). Their father is Reverend Maclean and they grow up with his lessons that has to do with religion, and the lessons of fly-fishing. In this movie fly-fishing represents life, a little.

    The story is good and keeps your attention although there are some moments you need a little action. Probably the movie has this moments because it is not really about the events that happen, but about the message. Some things do happen though. Norman goes to Dartmouth to study. After six years he returns and gets involved with a nice girl named Jessie (Emily Lloyd) and he is invited to teach in Chicago. Paul has become a reporter and is known as the "fishing reporter". He is famous and it seems he has a nice life, but he drinks a little too much and gambles too much.

    The movie is very well directed, it has a nice score and all of the actors are good. The most beautiful thing in this movie is the cinematography. The mountains, the woods and the river all look very beautiful. If the movie was only made for these things it was good enough to watch. Fortunately there is more.
    7perfectbond

    Very moving

    In The Legend of Bagger Vance, Redford showed the purity and tranquility of purpose to be found in golf. Here he does it with fly fishing. And just as he captured the period so well in that film, so, too, does he here; not only the look (notably the beautiful Montana landscape) and sound but the cultural (especially religious) folkways as well. The stars, Pitt, Skerritt, and Sheffer, are all perfectly cast and they are backed by a strong supporting cast. This movie is an excellent exposé of a rural American's journey through his formative years. Recommended, 7/10.
    8whpratt1

    Very Deep Heart Searching Film

    Enjoyed this film produced by Robert Redford which deals with a Presbyterian Minister who has two sons, one is reserved and the other is a hell raiser. This film takes place in Montana and the beauty of their rivers and wonderful land and its beautiful mountains. Tom Skeritt, (Rev. MacLean) plays the role of a very loving parent of Norman MacLean, (Craig Sheffer) who is basically a very straight arrow and also his brother Paul MacLean, (Brad Pitt) who is a newspaper reporter and has a very wild way living especially with drinking and plenty of women. There is a sweet romance between Norman MacLean and Jessie Burns, (Emily Lloyd) who fall in love with each other and these two people try to guide Paul MacLean into a better way of living but he just cannot seem to settle down. Great film about what life is really about in many families. Enjoy
    shirlone

    classic movie

    If you don't like Brad Pitt, if you don't like long movies, if you don't like to see what life was like in the early 1920's Montana, don't watch this movie. This movie is pretty much the one that launched Brad Pitt's career. I didn't find this movie to be boring at all.
    9DrewAlexanderR1

    A True Classic

    When I first saw this movie I was with my dad. He encouraged me to watch this movie because it was one of his favorites. After watching the movie it instantly became one of mine.

    A River Runs Through It is about two brothers who each take a different path in life. Norman Maclean (Craig Sheffer) is the older of the two brothers and sets out on the path of education. Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) is the rebellious younger brother who travels on a path full of obstacles.

    The story follows these characters as the each walk their own path. There is no downside to this film. You will be entertained the whole way through. The acting, directing, and script are all perfect. The two things that are exceptional are the cinematography and the score. Both bring you into the world Robert Redford creates.

    This is an all around great film that is destined to be a classic. It sure is in my book. If you haven't seen it definitely watch it as soon as you can, because it will stay with you forever.

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    Related interests

    Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018)
    Coming-of-Age
    Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010)
    Docudrama
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Brad Pitt trained himself to fly-fish for four weeks before shooting. Since he was not near any river in Los Angeles, he trained on top of a building.
    • Goofs
      While on the library steps, Norman speaks of meeting boxer John L. Sullivan while at Dartmouth. Norman's departure for college was 1919, yet Sullivan died in 1918.
    • Quotes

      Rev. Maclean: Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true, we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.

    • Crazy credits
      No fish were killed or injured during the making of A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. The producers would like to point out that, although the Macleans kept their catch as was common earlier in this century, enlightened fisherman today endorse a "catch and release" policy to assure that this priceless resource swims free to fight another day. Good fishing.
    • Alternate versions
      The US DVD has different composer credits for the widescreen/pan & scan version. The widescreen version lists Elmer Bernstein (whose score was rejected) while the pan & scan version lists Mark Isham (who replaced Bernstein).
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Buried Treasures - 1992 Edition (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      The Sheik of Araby
      Written by Harry B. Smith, Ted Snyder and Francis Wheeler

      Used by Permission of Mills Music Corp, Inc. / Jerry Vogel Music Co.

      Ted Snyder Music Co. / Bienstock Publishing Co., on behalf of Redwood Music Ltd.

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 30, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nada es para siempre
    • Filming locations
      • Granite Falls, Wyoming, USA(row boating into waterfall)
    • Production companies
      • Allied Filmmakers
      • Wildwood Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,440,294
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $298,277
      • Oct 12, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $43,440,294
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 3m(123 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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