Nothing perfect lasts forever. Except in our memories.
Overview
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.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.9/10
IMDb: 7.2/10
Letterboxd: 3.64/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Metacritic: 68
TMDB: 7.0/10
Director
Robert Redford
Production
Allied Filmmakers, Columbia Pictures
Cast
Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Lloyd, Edie McClurg, Stephen Shellen, Vann Gravage, Nicole Burdette, Susan Traylor, Michael Cudlitz, Rob Cox, Buck Simmonds, Fred Oakland, David Creamer, Madonna Reubens, John Reubens, Arnold Richardson, MacIntyre Dixon, William Hootkins
Where to watch
fuboTV, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A lyrical, quietly moving family drama with striking Montana scenery, reflective narration, and a strong sense of place. It’s more about memory, brotherhood, faith, and the ache of growing apart than plot mechanics, so it rewards patience and mood over momentum.
Best for
viewers who like contemplative, literary dramas
fans of autumnal American landscapes and naturalistic cinematography
people drawn to stories about brothers, family, and regret
audiences who appreciate understated coming-of-age films
Skip if
you want a fast-moving or twist-driven story
you’re impatient with voiceover and reflective narration
you need high conflict or constant dramatic escalation
you’re not in the mood for a meditative, melancholic tone
Overview
A River Runs Through It is one of those films that feels less like a story being told than a memory being revisited. Robert Redford shapes Norman Maclean’s prose into something gentle, elegiac, and deeply rooted in place, letting the rhythms of fly fishing mirror the rhythms of family life, faith, and loss. The result is a film that lingers more than it announces itself.
Worth noting
What stands out most is the film’s patience. It understands that the emotional center is not a single event but the accumulation of small distances between people, especially brothers who love each other without ever fully knowing how to save one another. The performances are restrained, the imagery is gorgeous, and the narration gives the whole thing a literary ache that never feels forced.
Bottom line
It can feel slow if you’re not tuned to its wavelength, but that slowness is part of the design. This is a film about time passing, about beauty that can’t be held onto, and about the way ordinary lives become meaningful in hindsight. If you want a reflective American drama with real emotional afterglow, it’s an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Jake Watson (5★) · 713 likes
I'm currently on a walk at 12:38 am because of this movie
Devin Sheridan (2.5★) · 696 likes
A nap runs through me when I watch this.
Aidan Fealy (4★) · 486 likes
Brad Pitt circa 1992 is the metric by which all other men are measured.
Kieran Triplett (4★) · 466 likes
Your dad’s favorite movie
hnlewis13 (3★) · 324 likes
i get why men put fish in their tinder bios now... its because of brad pitt in this movie... young sexy free brad pitt... an artist with his rod