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The River

The River

He might be able to hold back the river. But could he hold back the greed of man?

19846.32h 2m

Overview

Tom and Mae Garvey are a Tennessee farming couple battling violent floods to save their land. In addition to natural disasters, the Garveys fight to stop a selfish land developer and a local corporation from foreclosing on their farm. While Mae stays at home to care for their children and tend to the crops, Tom finds work as a scab at a steel mill to preserve his family's property.

Directed by Mark Rydell
Written by Robert Dillon, Julian Barry
Produced by Robert Cortes, Edward Lewis
Box OfficeBudget: $18.0MRevenue: $11.5M

Top Cast

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Tom Garvey

Sissy Spacek

Sissy Spacek

Mae Garvey

Scott Glenn

Scott Glenn

Joe Wade

Billy Green Bush

Billy Green Bush

Harve Stanley

Shane Bailey

Shane Bailey

Lewis Garvey

B

Becky Jo Lynch

Beth Garvey

Don Hood

Don Hood

Senator Neiswinder

James Tolkan

James Tolkan

Howard Simpson

B

Bob W. Douglas

Hal Richardson

Andy Stahl

Andy Stahl

Dave Birkin

Themes & Keywords

river

About The River

The River is a drama film released in 1984 exploring themes of river. Directed by Mark Rydell, it stars Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Scott Glenn. Tom and Mae Garvey are a Tennessee farming couple battling violent floods to save their land. In addition to natural disasters, the Garveys fight to stop a selfish land developer and a local corporation from foreclosing on their farm. While Mae stays at home to care for their children and tend to the crops, Tom finds work as a scab at a steel mill to preserve his family's property.

Movies Similar to The River

Discover titles like The River — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The River

If you enjoyed The River, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The River.

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