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The Best River Phoenix Movies

Updated June 11, 2019 2.5k votes 687 voters 40.9k views18 items

List RulesVote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

List of the best River Phoenix movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. River Phoenix's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top River Phoenix movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated River Phoenix movies will be at the top of the list. River Phoenix has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest River Phoenix movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining River Phoenix films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best River Phoenix role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest River Phoenix performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

The list you're viewing is made up of a variety of different films, including Explorers and The Thing Called Love.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best River Phoenix movies?" and "What are the greatest River Phoenix roles of all time?"

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Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman
Released: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming of age comedy-drama adventure film directed by Rob... more on Wikipedia
More Stand by Me
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Running on Empty
River Phoenix, Martha Plimpton
Released: 1988
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Running on Empty is a 1988 film featuring River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Christine Lahti, and... more on Wikipedia
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211
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My Own Private Idaho
Keanu Reeves, Jim Caviezel
Released: 1991
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 American independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van... more on Wikipedia
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Dogfight
Brendan Fraser, River Phoenix
Released: 1991
Directed by: Nancy Savoca
Dogfight is a 1991 film set in San Francisco, California, during the Vietnam War. It stars... more on Wikipedia
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The Thing Called Love
Sandra Bullock, River Phoenix
Released: 1993
Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich
The Thing Called Love is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. An... more on Wikipedia
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117
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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Harrison Ford, Sean Connery
Released: 1989
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven... more on Wikipedia
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The Mosquito Coast
Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren
Released: 1986
Directed by: Peter Weir
The Mosquito Coast is a 1986 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison... more on Wikipedia

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Sneakers
Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd
Released: 1992
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Sneakers is a 1992 caper film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, written by Robinson, Walter... more on Wikipedia
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Dark Blood
River Phoenix, Karen Black
Released: 2012
Directed by: George Sluizer
Dark Blood is a film directed by George Sluizer, written by Jim Barton, and starring River... more on Wikipedia
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100
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I Love You to Death
Heather Graham, Keanu Reeves
Released: 1990
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
This film is a 1990 American dark comedy film directed by Lawrence Kasdan. It is based in... more on Wikipedia
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A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
Matthew Perry, River Phoenix
Released: 1988
Directed by: William Richert
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is a 1988 film about a high school graduate who must find... more on Wikipedia
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Little Nikita
Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix
Released: 1988
Directed by: Richard Benjamin
Little Nikita is a 1988 American cult drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring... more on Wikipedia
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Explorers
Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix
Released: 1985
Directed by: Joe Dante
Explorers is a 1985 family-oriented science-fiction fantasy film written by Eric Luke and... more on Wikipedia
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Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia
Joaquin Phoenix, River Phoenix
Released: 1984
Directed by: Alex Grasshoff
Backwards: The Riddle Of Dyslexia is a 1984 ABC Afterschool Special about dyslexia. It stars... more on Wikipedia
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Silent Tongue
River Phoenix, Richard Harris
Released: 1994
Directed by: Sam Shepard
Silent Tongue is a Western written and directed by Sam Shepard. It was filmed in Spring 1992,... more on Wikipedia
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Circle of Violence: A Family Drama
River Phoenix, Tuesday Weld
Released: 1986
Directed by: David Greene
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama is a 1986 CBS television movie. Directed by David Greene... more on Wikipedia
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Surviving: A Family in Crisis
Molly Ringwald, River Phoenix
Released: 1985
Directed by: Waris Hussein
Surviving: A Family in Crisis is a 1985 ABC television movie. Directed by Warris Hussein and... more on Wikipedia
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Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Uma Thurman, Heather Graham
Released: 1994
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is a 1993 American comedy-drama-romance film based on Tom Robbins'... more on Wikipedia
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Circle of Violence: A Family Drama