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Poster for The River

The River

Seen it?

1984 | 122 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It drew serious awards attention, though it had just 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 2 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Critics were cooler on it than audiences.

Tom and Mae Garvey are a Tennessee farming couple battling violent floods to save their land. In addition to natural disasters, the Garveys fight to stop a selfish land developer and a local corporation from foreclosing on their farm. While Mae stays at home to care for their children and tend to the crops, Tom finds work as a scab at a steel mill to preserve his family's property.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsWeak

    27% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.4 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Nominated for 4 Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $12 million worldwide on a $18 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 58K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Mark Rydell

  • Mel GibsonTom Garvey
  • Sissy SpacekMae Garvey
  • Scott GlennJoe Wade
  • Billy Green BushHarve Stanley
  • Shane BaileyLewis Garvey
  • Becky Jo LynchBeth Garvey
  • Don HoodSenator Neiswinder
  • James TolkanHoward Simpson
  • Bob W. DouglasHal Richardson
  • Andy StahlDave Birkin