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River Phoenix

River Phoenix

16 movies on Netflix

Biography

River Phoenix was an American actor and musician who began his career at age 10 in television commercials and was often counted among the most talented performers of his era. Born in Madras, Oregon, he was raised in a family that moved often. Explorers (1985) gave him his first major motion picture role, and Stand by Me (1986) and The Mosquito Coast (1986) followed. His move into adult roles brought an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Running on Empty (1988). For playing Michael Waters in My Own Private Idaho (1991) he received the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award. Later credits include Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), I Love You to Death (1990), Dogfight (1991), Sneakers (1992) and The Thing Called Love (1993), his last completed film. A singer and songwriter, he formed the band Aleka's Attic in 1987. He died in 1993.

23years old at death

  • Born Madras
  • Died West Hollywood
  • Star sign: VirgoFirst day of the sign, on the Leo cusp
  • River Jude Bottom (birth name)Also credited as River Jude Phoenix

Movie Career

Films
16
Career span
35 years1985 to 2020

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • River Phoenix, photo 1 of 3
  • River Phoenix, photo 2 of 3
  • River Phoenix, photo 3 of 3

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  1. A role that slipped away

    George Lucas wanted Phoenix to play a younger Indiana Jones once more in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, an ABC spin-off and prequel series. Phoenix turned it down, since he had begun in sitcoms and fought to leave television behind.

  2. A role that slipped away

    In 1988, Phoenix was reportedly carrying the memoir The Basketball Diaries and hoped to take the autobiographical part of Jim Carroll. The 1995 film went to Leonardo DiCaprio.

  3. A role that slipped away

    River Phoenix was beaten out by Brad Pitt for the role of Paul in the film A River Runs Through It.

  4. A role that slipped away

    River Phoenix auditioned for the character Bill in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, but the role went to Alex Winter.

  5. Behind the award

    Phoenix was 18 when he appeared in Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty in 1988. He won a National Board of Review Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, and he jumped to his feet when Kevin Kline beat him.

  6. Behind the award

    At 21, Phoenix won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor, and he was the second-youngest winner of the former.

River Phoenix movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Stand by Me1986 Adventure, Dramaas Chris Chambers

    IMDb rating 8.1495K votes

  2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989 Action, Adventureas Young Indy

    IMDb rating 8.2872K votes

  3. My Own Private Idaho1991as Mike Waters

    IMDb rating 6.968K votes

  4. Sneakers1992as Carl Arbogast

    IMDb rating 7.168K votes

  5. Explorers1985as Wolfgang Müller

    IMDb rating 6.426K votes

  6. The Mosquito Coast1986as Charlie Fox

    IMDb rating 6.634K votes

  7. Running on Empty1988as Danny Pope

    IMDb rating 7.620K votes

  8. Dogfight1991as Eddie Birdlace

    IMDb rating 7.311K votes

Most often with

Bradley Gregg appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Bradley Gregg, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Bradley GreggDermot Mulroney, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Dermot MulroneyKeanu Reeves, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Keanu ReevesHarrison Ford, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Harrison FordSidney Poitier, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Sidney PoitierMartha Plimpton, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Martha Plimpton

Films together

Box office

What River Phoenix's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$675 million

11 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 16 films: 11 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 1 figure not found.

  • 11Worldwide figure
  • 2US gross only
  • 2Never in cinemas
  • 1Figure not found

Top grosser

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989as Young Indy$474 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989as Young Indy
    $474M70.3% of the total
  2. 2
    Sneakers1992as Carl Arbogast
    $105M15.6% of the total
  3. 3
    Stand by Me1986as Chris Chambers
    $52M7.8% of the total
  4. 4
    The Mosquito Coast1986as Charlie Fox
    $14M2.1% of the total
  5. 5
    Explorers1985as Wolfgang Müller
    $9.9M1.5% of the total
  6. 6
    My Own Private Idaho1991as Mike Waters
    $6.4M0.9% of the total
  7. 7
    A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon1988as Jimmy Reardon
    $6.3M0.9% of the total
  8. 8
    Running on Empty1988as Danny Pope
    $2.8M0.4% of the total
Little Nikita (1988), $1.7 millionThe Thing Called Love (1993), $1.0 millionDogfight (1991), $397,631

$3.2 millionfrom the other 3 films with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total

Awards

Three awards and honors from 1991 to 1992, one of them major.

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River Phoenix's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Venice Film Festival
1991Volpi Cup for Best ActorMy Own Private IdahoWon
Other honors
1992Independent Spirit Award for Best Male LeadMy Own Private IdahoWon
1991National Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActorMy Own Private IdahoWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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