River Phoenix remains a beloved actor for movie fans even nearly three decades after the actor’s untimely passing at the age of 23. Phoenix accomplished quite a lot in his young career, from big-time movies like Indiana Jones to smaller ventures like Stand by Me. Many viewers continue to check out his film credits to appreciate his talent.
IMDb is a good reflection on which of Phoenix’s movies are the best in terms of audience reception, as the average rating is based on thousands of voters. Phoenix’s filmography contains his work as a child star to his adult roles, with the scores showing which of Phoenix’s movies continue to stand the test of time.
I Love You To Death (1990) – 64 – Stream On iTunes
In this dark comedy, River Phoenix plays young man Devo Nod, who’s infatuated with Rosalie (Tracey Ullman). Rosalie discovers her husband, Joey (Kevin Kline), has been repeatedly unfaithful and enlists Devo’s help to try and kill him out of revenge. In a hilarious twist, Joey proves impossible to kill because of a number of freak coincidences.
Phoenix was known for his work in much more serious material prior to I Love You to Death, so his fans generally appreciate this film for putting a comedic spotlight on him. It received mixed reviews from critics, but fan reception has been more positive, with I Love You to Death good for its silly fun onscreen.
The Thing Called Love (1993) – 6.4 – Stream On Paramount+
River Phoenix was one of the actors in contention to star as Jack in Titanic before his passing, but The Thing Called Love became his final released film. The story is about Miranda (Samantha Mathis), who moves to New York to become a singer. She falls in love with Phoenix’s James, with the film then detailing their struggles to achieve fame and keep their relationship intact.
The Thing Called Love’s critical reviews were on the mixed end because it doesn’t feature as much about show business, but viewers appreciate the heartfelt story about young love. It also has a nostalgic value due to being Phoenix’s last credit prior to his passing, with the actor still in fine form in terms of performance.
Explorers (1985) – 6.4 – Stream On Starz
In what is one of the better kid-led movies worth a watch, Explorers stars Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix as a pair of genius friends who venture into space through a makeshift spacecraft. The boys’ interactions with aliens reveal the truth about the vastness of the universe, but they learn they need to head back home to be safe.
Explorers was the first movie for Phoenix and Hawke, both of whom went on to make it big in the industry. The film carries an innocent tone that makes it appealing to viewers of all ages, and Phoenix’s shy but intelligent character showcases the charisma he would forever be associated with.
The Mosquito Coast (1986) – 6.6 – Stream On iTunes
The Mosquito Coast is an adventure drama about Allie Fox (Harrison Ford), a deluded inventor who forces his family to venture into the jungles in South America as they subsequently attempt to survive the environment amidst Allie’s increasing erratic behavior. River Phoenix appears as Allie’s son Charlie, who starts to doubt his father’s sanity.
It’s an interesting film that carries a tense atmosphere since the family has no clue what Allie will make them do next. Phoenix shines as the troubled youth that wants to rebel against his father, with this aspect fully coming into play by the movie’s climax.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) – 7.0 – Stream On Hoopla
One of River Phoenix’s most well-known movies, My Own Private Idaho has him star as street hustler Mikey Waters, who embarks on a journey with best friend Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) to find his mother. The story chronicles Mikey’s struggles with his love for Scott and his severe abandonment issues.
There’s likely no better film to affirm the acting talent that River Phoenix possessed, as My Own Private Idaho rests firmly on his shoulders. His pairing with Keanu Reeves brings a chemistry-filled performance from both actors, as viewers are encouraged to root for them but also feel for the harsh conditions they live in as street hustlers.
Sneakers (1992) – 7.1 – Stream On iTunes
Sneakers is a thriller film that details the story of a group of specialist hackers, with Robert Redford’s Martin in the lead. River Phoenix as technician Carl, and is part of the ensemble cast. The main conflict in Sneakers comes from the team being framed for the murder of the inventor of a decoder that they stole under false pretenses.
The movie gave Phoenix the chance to star alongside the likes of Redford, Sidney Poitier, and Ben Kingsley, with the young actor showcasing great staying power onscreen alongside the Oscar-winning heavyweights. Sneakers’ relevance has increased in recent years where heist thrillers are far more common.
Dogfight (1991) – 7.4 – Stream On Kanopy
While it doesn’t usually show up in the best films involving the Phoenix brothers, Dogfight is rated well as part of River Phoenix’s solo efforts. Here, young Marine Eddie falls in love with Rose (Lili Taylor) on the night before he’s supposed to be deployed to Vietnam.
The first half of Dogfight establishes the characters’ newfound love, following their fast-moving relationship and why they become so enamored with each other. The second half is about the lead-up to their reunion, showing how they’ve changed over the years. Phoenix’s contrasting performances in both acts still holds up, as the actor details Eddie’s character development.
Running On Empty (1988) – 7.6 – Stream On The Criterion Channel
River Phoenix earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor with Running on Empty, which details the struggles of a talented teenager. His character, Danny, is on the run with his family because of his parents’ fugitive pasts, but he wants to pursue his own dreams in music.
Running on Empty is a coming-of-age drama that places Danny in a sympathetic light, as viewers can relate to his feelings of isolation and confusion over how he can take his talents to bigger lengths. Fans continue to praise the film’s theme, which enables it to land high up in Phoenix’s filmography.
Stand By Me (1986) – 8.1 – Stream On Netflix
River Phoenix established himself as one of the best child actors of all time with Stand by Me, a coming-of-age story centering around four young boys. It sees the characters embark on a hike to find the body of a missing boy, learning more about each other along the way to create a genuine bond.
The movie received huge praise for Rob Reiner’s direction and the writing of Stephen King, whose novel it’s based on. It’s also arguably Phoenix’s most well-known film to date, as he captured the attention of moviegoers and people in the film industry with his stand-out performance.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) – 8.3 – Stream On Paramount+
River Phoenix was largely known for independent films, so his appearance in the big-budget Indiana Jones franchise served as a new route in his career. Here, Phoenix appeared as young Indiana Jones in the film’s opening, which shows how the titular character developed his love for adventure and treasure hunting.
Despite only appearing in the first quarter of the movie, Phoenix’s portrayal remains fondly remembered as he mimicked Harrison Ford’s style and mannerisms. The film is considered the best out of the entire Indiana Jones series by many fans and its IMDb score shows just how well it has aged as well.
