Stand by Me (1986)
Four young friends embark on a gritty, nostalgic journey that blends wholesome humor with melancholy self-discovery.
After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, but they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
How intense is Stand by Me?
Stand by Me is mildly scary, with light gore and some violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a comfort watch. The humor runs dark and wholesome. Rated R.
What Stand by Me feels like
- Tone
- nostalgicmelancholyheartwarminggritty
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dark and satirical, wholesome
- Best for
- Full attentionComfort watchFamily night
Where to stream Stand by Me
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Stand by Me for you?
Is Stand by Me scary?
Only a little. Stand by Me has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Stand by Me gory or violent?
Light gore (1 of 3) and some violence (1 of 3).
Is Stand by Me sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is Stand by Me OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 1, violence 1, each out of 3.
How long is Stand by Me?
Stand by Me runs 1h 29m.
Where can I stream Stand by Me?
Stand by Me is streaming on Max.
Does Stand by Me have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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