The River_
"He might be able to hold back the river. But could he hold back the greed of man?"
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.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
BINGE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The River earned $11.5M against a $18.0M budget.
Mark Rydell →
Year context
The River was released 42 years ago in 1984.
CAST (20)
Mel Gibson
Tom Garvey
Sissy Spacek
Mae Garvey
Scott Glenn
Joe Wade
Billy Green Bush
Harve Stanley
Shane Bailey
Lewis Garvey
BJ
Becky Jo Lynch
Beth Garvey
Don Hood
Senator Neiswinder
James Tolkan
Howard Simpson
BW
Bob W. Douglas
Hal Richardson
Andy Stahl
Dave Birkin
LS
Lisa Sloan
Judy Birkin
LD
Larry D. Ferrell
Rod Tessley
ST
Susie Toomey
Sally Tessley
KT
Kelly Toomey
Lisa Tessley
Frank Hoyt Taylor
Zemke
Amy Rydell
Betty Gaumer
Samuel Scott Osborne
Billy Gaumer
Charles Robinson
Truck
IG
Ivan Green
Smoot
DC
Desmond Couch
Wilderfoot
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$18.0M
Budget
$11.5M
Revenue
-36%
ROI
UNDERPERFORMED
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
122 min (2h 2m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.4/10 (134 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$18,000,000
Box Office
$11,500,000
Profit
$-6,500,000
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The River about?
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.
How long is The River?
The River has a runtime of 122 minutes (2h 2m).
Who directed The River?
The River was directed by Mark Rydell.
Who stars in The River?
The cast of The River includes Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Scott Glenn, Billy Green Bush, Shane Bailey.
How much did The River make at the box office?
The River earned $11,500,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $18,000,000.
What is the rating of The River?
The River has a rating of 6.4 out of 10 based on 134 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama
KEYWORDS (1)
river