Fans are hailing a 1986 coming of age tale as one of the best films and Stephen King adaptations of all time, calling it “masterful”. Stand by Me is based on King’s novella The Body, which follows four boys who try to find a missing local kid who’s presumed dead.
Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell) live in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon. The film is told through the perspective of the adult Gordie (narrated by Richard Dreyfuss), and tackles childhood friendship, grief, and the emotional complexities of growing up. Stand by Me was a box office success when it was released nearly 40 years ago, and it still has fans to this day.
One person wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “One of the best movies of all time. Top 10 for sure. Many of us lived this movie. A rare gem indeed.”
Another added: “Literally the best film I’ve ever seen. I can not properly describe its greatness grandeur masterfulness magic and majesty in words.”
A third chimed in: “A perfect adaption of Stephen King’s novella, this film is a masterpiece, showcasing incredibly real feeling themes.”
On the film revieing platform, Stand by Me has a critics approval rating of 92% and an audience rating of 94%.
The critical consensus reads: “Stand by Me is a wise, nostalgic movie with a weird streak that captures both Stephen King’s voice and the trials of growing up.”
While it did not win, Stand by Me was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, and the Golden Globe for Best Director, for Rob Reiner.
It did however win the Jackie Coogan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Through Motion Picture – Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film at the 8th Youth in Film Awards.