A River Runs Through It
Nothing perfect lasts forever. Except in our memories.
Directed by Robert Redford
Produced by Allied Filmmakers, Columbia Pictures
A tender, elegiac meditation on brotherhood and the passage of time, anchored in the beauty of Montana's rivers and the bittersweet knowledge that nothing perfect endures.
The Maclean brothers, Paul and Norman, live a relatively idyllic life in rural Montana, spending much of their time fly fishing. The sons of a minister, the boys eventually part company when Norman moves east to attend college, leaving his rebellious brother to find trouble back home. When Norman finally returns, the siblings resume their fishing outings, and assess where they've been and where they're going.
Clusters
Genres
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is A River Runs Through It sad? Yes. More sad than 88% of films.
Is A River Runs Through It scary? Barely. Less frightening than 84% of films.
Is A River Runs Through It easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 82% of films.
Is A River Runs Through It violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.
Does A River Runs Through It end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like A River Runs Through It, and what each one shares →
Like A River Runs Through It
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as A River Runs Through It
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like A River Runs Through It, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like A River Runs Through It, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like A River Runs Through It, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
