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The River Wild

  • 19941994
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
46K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, Meryl Streep, and Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild (1994)
  • Adventure
  • Crime
  • Thriller
Rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.Rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.Rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
46K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Curtis Hanson
  • Writer
    • Denis O'Neill
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Kevin Bacon
    • David Strathairn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Curtis Hanson
  • Writer
    • Denis O'Neill
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Kevin Bacon
    • David Strathairn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 55Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Photos34

    Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild (1994)
    Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly, Meryl Streep, and Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild (1994)
    David Strathairn in The River Wild (1994)
    Curtis Hanson in The River Wild (1994)
    Meryl Streep in The River Wild (1994)
    Meryl Streep in The River Wild (1994)
    Kevin Bacon, Curtis Hanson, and Meryl Streep in The River Wild (1994)
    Meryl Streep and Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild (1994)
    Kevin Bacon in The River Wild (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep in The River Wild (1994)
    John C. Reilly in The River Wild (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly in The River Wild (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Gail Hartmanas Gail Hartman
    Kevin Bacon
    Kevin Bacon
    • Wadeas Wade
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • Tomas Tom
    Joseph Mazzello
    Joseph Mazzello
    • Roarke Hartmanas Roarke Hartman
    Stephanie Sawyer
    Stephanie Sawyer
    • Willaas Willa
    Elizabeth Hoffman
    Elizabeth Hoffman
    • Gail's Motheras Gail's Mother
    Victor Galloway
    • Gail's Fatheras Gail's Father
    • (as Victor H. Galloway)
    Diane Delano
    Diane Delano
    • Rangeras Ranger
    Thomas F. Duffy
    Thomas F. Duffy
    • Rangeras Ranger
    John C. Reilly
    John C. Reilly
    • Terryas Terry
    William Lucking
    William Lucking
    • Frankas Frank
    Benjamin Bratt
    Benjamin Bratt
    • Ranger Johnnyas Ranger Johnny
    Paul Cantelon
    • Violinistas Violinist
    Glenn Morshower
    Glenn Morshower
    • Policemanas Policeman
    • Director
      • Curtis Hanson
    • Writer
      • Denis O'Neill
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Gail Hartman is facing problems with with her husband, the workaholic architect Tom. On their son Roarke's birthday, Gail decides to leave their, Willa, daughter with her parents and take her family to raft down a wild river where she was a guide. On the departure, a young man named Wade befriends Roarke and leaves the place with his friends, Terry and Frank. Later the Hartmans encounters Wade and Terry, who do not have rafting experience, and Gail helps them to cross a whitewater. They get closer to the Hartmans, who soon learn a dark secret about them. What will they do to get rid of them? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • rafting
    • criminal
    • estranged husband
    • gang
    • weapon
    • 115 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The vacation is over
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Crime
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some violence and threatening moments
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      An exhausted Meryl Streep balked when Director Curtis Hanson asked her to shoot one more scene before filming finished for the end of the day, however, she decided to attempt it. Swept off the raft, she was in real danger of drowning, before she was rescued. Returning upriver, she told a pale and shaking Hanson that "in the future, when I say I can't do something, I think we should believe me." Hanson hastily agreed.
    • Goofs
      When Tom loses his grip on the cliff and plunges into the river, the cliff face is actually gray fabric painted to look like rock. If you look carefully, it moves and bounces like fabric as he rolls down it.
    • Quotes

      Wade: I'm in charge now. I could bury you and Roarke tonight. I could do anything I want with you.

      Gail: Then go ahead. Don't keep telling me how tough you are, Wade, just show me.

    • Crazy credits
      Dog named 'Maggie' is listed in the credits (almost top-billing) as being played by a dog named 'Buffy.'
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The River Wild/Jason's Lyric/Ed Wood/The Scout/Rapa Nui (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Cope
      Written by David Gibbs, Paul Brouwer, Steve Hurley, and Paul Hurley

      Performed by Gigolo Aunts

      Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Music

    User reviews92

    Review
    Top review
    Great movie!
    I love this movie! Primarily because I love movies where girls kick ass! This is the only action flick I've seen Streep in and she holds her own. (Rumor has it she did a lot of her own stunts.) But I'm also a big fan of sleeper actor David Strathairn, and he does a great job, as always, and proves himself a superb supporting actor. Kevin Bacon is great as a creepy bad guy, it's a natural role for him.

    Sure, the plausibility gets a little thin in spots, but hey, it's a movie! Sit back and enjoy the action and some really good acting.
    helpful•14
    7
    • FadingParadise
    • Jan 6, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
    • Also known as
      • Río salvaje
    • Filming locations
      • Kootenai River, Libby, Montana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Turman-Foster Company
      • David Foster Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $45,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $46,816,343
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,214,450
      • Oct 2, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $94,216,343
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS-Stereo
      • DTS
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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