Movie
Where to Watch The River (1984) in the US
- 1984
- PG-13
- 2h 4m
- 6.3IMDb
- 27%Rotten Tomatoes
- 46Metascore
The River is available to rent in the United States.
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Availability last checked Oct 9, 2026.
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What it's about
Tom and Mae Garvey are a hard working farming couple living with their two children on the east Tennessee farm owned by Tom's family for generations. They and many of their neighbors have hit hard times of late. A downturn in the economy has led to dwindling land prices. But the biggest problem of late has been that their crop land has been prone to flooding as the property is adjacent to a river. Manipulating the powers that be including a local senator and the local bank, Joe Wade, who also grew up in the area and now runs the local milling company that sets the local grain prices, is working behind the scenes to buy up the properties along the river for a song as he wants to build a dam which would flood the Garvey's and others riverfront properties. The dam would generate electricity, but more importantly for Joe it would provide irrigation opportunities for farm properties away from the river, such as his own. Tom already intensely dislikes Joe as he and Mae used to go together. Joe's behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings coupled with the continuation of these and many other farming problems makes it increasingly difficult for the Garveys to hold onto their farm, Tom who seems determined at any cost to stay on the land of his ancestors.
Cast and crew
- Director
- Mark Rydell
- Writer
- Robert Dillon, Julian Barry
- Starring
- Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Shane Bailey
Details
- Release date
- Jan 11, 1985
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Box office
- $11,489,982
- Awards
- Nominated for 4 Oscars. 2 wins & 6 nominations total
Where to Watch The River (1984) in the US — common questions
- Where to watch The River in the United States?
- The River is available to rent in the United States. Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
- Can I stream The River or do I have to rent it in the United States?
- Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
- Can I watch The River for free in the United States?
- We have not confirmed a free option for The River in the United States.
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