‘James Dean has got nothing on that kid’: River Phoenix films – ranked!

As Stand By Me is re-released for its 40th anniversary, we look at the late actor’s most intense, enduring roles – from a goofball boffin to a narcoleptic hustler Issue-of-the-week TV movie about elder abuse, with Tuesday Weld as a harried mum taking out her frustrations on her own ageing mother. Phoenix slaps on the hair gel as the essentially decent son wh

The top 3

1. His Highest-Rated Film on Rotten Tomatoes: The coming-of-age drama 'Stand by Me' (1986), where Phoenix played Chris Chambers, holds an 89% 'Certified Fresh' score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of his most critically celebrated works.
2. His Sole Academy Award Nomination: River Phoenix received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Danny Pope in the 1988 Sidney Lumet drama 'Running on Empty'.
3. Cult Classic That Defined His Teen Idol Status: His role as the troubled but loyal Chris Chambers in Rob Reiner's 'Stand by Me' (1986) solidified his status as a teen idol and became a defining cult classic of its era.

Sources

• Guardian Culture

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