Stand by Me

Stand by Me (1986) is a coming-of-age drama directed by Rob Reiner — watch it online on iFILM. The film stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell, with Kiefer Sutherland as the menacing older gang leader Ace Merrill. Adapted from Stephen King's novella The Body, it earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Four twelve-year-old boys from Castle Rock, Oregon set off into the woods to find the body of a missing kid their age. What starts as a dare turns into two days of walking railroad tracks, wading through leech-filled marshes, and dodging Ace's crew. The journey strips away pretense. Gordie carries the grief of a dead brother nobody properly mourned. Chris knows the town has already written him off. Teddy and Vern have their own wounds. No one talks about feelings directly — they just keep walking.

Released in August 1986, the film grossed over 52 million dollars against an eight-million-dollar budget. River Phoenix's performance as Chris Chambers remains one of the most quietly powerful of his career. Watch Stand by Me (1986) online on iFILM.