A fine dramatic departure for a director who made his reputation in comedy.

| Jul 27, 2024

Stand By Me is a "coming of age" tale with moments of vulnerability that make it somewhat relatable while still keeping it unusual.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 11, 2023

It’s difficult to watch this film exactly as it is without reminiscing even a little bit about one’s own life as an adult, which I think speaks to Reiner’s approach in adapting the work.

| Dec 8, 2023

Rob Reiner (directing his first drama) captures the texture of adolescent friendship and draws superb, vital performances from his young cast.

| Oct 6, 2023

[The boys] petty bickering and self-revelations unfold convincingly and with great humour, bottling that uncertain moment in life between childhood and adolescence.

| Apr 25, 2023

Rob Reiner should’ve gotten at least like one cool mention in a Beastie Boys song for his hot streak.

| Sep 20, 2022

"Stand by Me" stirs memories, especially if you've been a boy, especially if (like me), you were a '50s kid whose old pals have grown up and drifted apart.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 23, 2021

The line, "I never really had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve," is a haunting fact and true wellspring of great sadness for most men. "Stand By Me" is one of the most memorable, funny, and wise movies ever made about boyhood.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | May 17, 2020

It's an autumnal movie and a self-indulgent one, carried by the inherent pathos of its premise...

| Mar 26, 2020

It's among the light sprinkling of King tales that elide the supernatural entirely. But that doesn't mean it isn't morbid...

| Sep 5, 2019

Exquisitely captures the vulnerability not only of youth, but of the male identity.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 26, 2013

When you are an adventure-seeker stuck in that odd transition between early youth and adolescence, few movies resonate more than "Stand by Me."

| Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 26, 2013

It is about the evolution of a writer, his relationship with his three closest friends and a situation that formed his talent -- and morbid fascination.

| Jun 26, 2013

Stand by Me is a small, quiet film that walks tall and resonates long after.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jun 26, 2013

Rob Reiner's bucolic, nostalgic drama is widely agreed to be one of the most successful adaptations of a story by horror master Stephen King.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jun 26, 2013

Its perspective is that of a knowing adult, which is to say that though the film is frequently affectionate and funny, it contains a drop too much condescension to be entirely successful.

| Jun 26, 2013

Gracefully blending raucous comedy with intense drama, the film is about the loss of innocence as well as the getting of wisdom.

| Jun 26, 2013

Shawshank aside, this is the best non-horror Stephen King adaptation of the bunch.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 26, 2013

It stands, sweet and strong, ribald, outrageous and funny, like its heroes themselves -- a bit gamy around the edges, perhaps, but pure and fine clear through. It's one of those treasures absolutely not to be missed.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jun 26, 2013

Stand by Me is a film of honorable ambitions severely compromised by a creeping show-biz phoniness.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 26, 2013