My Own Private Idaho

Play trailer

2:39

My Own Private Idaho

R

1991

1h 42m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.

Read Critics Reviews

Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 19, 2025

A self-indulgent mess redeemed by moments of brilliance.

Go to Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Jun 2, 2014

A simultaneously heartbreaking and exhilarating road movie.

Go to Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Jun 2, 2014

Holding all these elements together is Van Sant's sensibility, such an elusive thing it instinctively squirms away from any attempt to pigeonhole it.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 17, 2026

1/4

My Own Private Idaho segues into a momentum-free (and periodically unwatchable) midsection overflowing with misguided, aggressively avant-garde attributes...

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 12, 2025

3/4

Van Sant made what in essence is a homosexual road movie that espouses the family values of a Disney feature and the pop art sensibilities of a Warhol piece -- with a liberal dose of Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

Go to Full Review

Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

May 28, 2025

Reeves uses a confident, playful swagger to cover his insecurity and internalized self-loathing, but it’s Phoenix who shines brightest as our soft-spoken, vulnerable hero.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Oaklee D

@ODie63 5 days ago

In no way a bad film, I wanted to love it but only ended up enjoying it.

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 8, 2026

My Own Private Idaho = a *4* star Movie...

See more

Leonie N

@Briseas Aug 19, 2026

I didn't see this film until 2026 and it is as relevant today as when it was made. What a masterpiece. The acting was superb. The filming masterful. The story poignant. The ending left me so sad. Parents really need to take responsibility for the children they bring into this world.

See more

Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Aug 9, 2026

Excellent performances by Phoenix and Reeves. An arthouse classic. It isn't particularly entertaining. Ending is ambiguous yet powerful. Overall, it is just okay. Somewhat overrated though.

See more

Bill E

@Billwill Aug 5, 2026

I do not like Shakespeare.

See more

Tim D

@RT70717942 Jul 21, 2026

Poetic ravages of the soul, and an imperfect, adulterated blues distortion. . . (And if you were irritated by that word salad, guess what? This ain't exactly Thursday night's fish sticks and mac'n'cheese, here, for sure, but it's my favorite film.)

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Gus Van Sant

Director

River Phoenix

Mike Waters

Keanu Reeves

Scott Favor

James Russo

Richard Waters

William Richert

Bob Pigeon

Rodney Harvey

Gary

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

53%

65%

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Watchlist

This Boy's Life

77%

80%

This Boy's Life

Watchlist

The Sum of Us

63%

80%

The Sum of Us

Watchlist

When Night Is Falling

56%

80%

When Night Is Falling

Watchlist

Priest

68%

83%

Priest

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

My Own Private Idaho: Trailer 1

2:39

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Laurie Parker
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Gus Van Sant
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1991, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.4M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Ultra-Stereo, Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings