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December 16, 2025
Stand by your boys
It may seem that everyone loves Stand by Me, the Stephen King short story that Rob Reiner adapted into a 1986 film classic. But over the years, the movie has had its share of critics.
TL;DR
- Walter Goodman of The New York Times criticized "Stand by Me" in 1986 as trite and overly reliant on obvious elements and male bonding.
- Later critiques from 2002 and 2017 described the film as "stories about white guys" and "outdated 80's misogyny" due to its lack of female characters.
- The article draws parallels between criticisms of the film's male camaraderie and contemporary societal skepticism towards all-male groups, citing examples like all-boys schools and Boy Scouts.
- The article suggests a contemporary issue of millennial men lacking male friendships, contrasting with the film's portrayal of strong male bonds.
- The film's closing line, "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve," is presented as a foretelling of this modern lack of male friendships.
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