Released in 1986, Stand by Me is a classic coming-of-age film. The film follows four boys in 1959 who go on a hike to find the dead body of a missing boy. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell, Stand by Me is a movie that people all over the world come back to, time and again.
The film, based on the 1982 novella The Body by Stephen King, has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Upon release, it was nominated for two Golden Globe awards and one Academy Award.
If you are a fan of Stand by Me, then you may be interested in watching similar movies. This blog post has you covered. Here, we will highlight seven movie options if you are looking for something that is on par with Stand by Me.
1. Super 8
Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction thriller film, released in 2011. It is J. J. Abrams and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. The film is set in 1979 and follows a group of young teenagers who are filming their own movie when a train derails and releases a strange presence in their town.
Starring Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler, Super 8 has been commercially and critically successful. It won three awards at the 4th Annual Coming of Age Awards (including Best Newcomer for Courtney), putting it in the same category as Stand by Me.
2. The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is an iconic coming-of-age film that quite literally defined the 1980s. If you enjoyed Stand by Me, we think that you will love this film.
Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Michael C. Hall, Ally Sheedy, and Emilio Estevez lead a stunning young cast in a film about teenagers held in detention after school. These actors represent very different character types in school and the action that follows is both hilarious and heart-warming.
If you are looking for the quintessential 1980s film, this is probably it!
3. It
Back to Stephen King again with It, another of the writer’s coming-of-age stories. The 2017 film version of It stars a host of young actors who face their worst nightmare, a shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer to prey on young children. The children, over the course of a summer, must fight to overcome their own fears to battle Pennywise, the bloodthirsty clown.
This supernatural horror film was several years in the making (initial work began in 2009) but the final result was worth the long wait. The film has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was the recipient of three Bogey Awards. It was also nominated in the Best Screenplay category at the 2017 Bram Stoker Awards.
4. Dead Poets Society
It’s time to introduce the wonderful Robbin Williams to this list, don’t you think? Dead Poets Society is a 1989 drama film starring Williams as an English teacher at an elite boarding school who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry. It’s another movie that will make you laugh as well as cry.
The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Screenplay (Written Directly for the Screen). It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Dead Poets Society has Williams in his best form and also stars a young Ethan Hawke.
5. The Goonies
The Goonies was released in 1985, just a year before Stand by Me. This adventure comedy film is based on a story by Steven Spielberg.
It follows children living in the “Goon Docks” neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, who attempt to save their houses from foreclosure. In the process, they find a treasure map that takes them on an incredible adventure in seek of a long-lost fortune.
The Goonies has become a cult classic since its release and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.
6. The Sandlot
The Sandlot was released in 1993 and this family comedy is another must-watch if you are a fan of Stand by Me. This coming-of-age story tells the story of a group of young baseball players in the summer of 1962. The Sandlot is a wonderfully sweet and inspirational story that you’ll enjoy watching over and over again.
If you enjoy The Sandlot, then you may be interested in watching its direct-to-video sequel which was released in 2005. What’s more, another sequel was released in 2007 and a prequel was announced in 2018.
7. Now and Then
Now and Then is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film that stars an all-female lead cast. This 1995 film follows Rosie O’Donnell, Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, and Rita Wilson as they remember the summer of 1970 (using a framing device quite similar to that of Stand by Me).
The film has gone on to become a cult classic for its focus on female friendships and its depiction of girlhood. It’s a short film with a running time of just 100 minutes, but there is plenty to enjoy in that time.
You can check out what the Stand by Me cast look like today here.
Similar Movies to Stand by Me
If you like Stand by Me, then we’re confident that you will also enjoy watching these seven movie recommendations. These are all movies that are highly watchable over and over again. These similar movies are great for watching with friends or family during movie nights.
Like this blog post on movies to watch if you enjoyed Stand by Me? Be sure to check out our other informative articles on a wide range of interesting topics.
