In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor 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.
Directed by Gus Van Sant
individual
friendship
treasure
robbery
sibling relationship
rome, italy
parent child relationship
generations conflict
portland, oregon
hustler
cocaine
idaho
seattle, washington
male friendship
road trip
unrequited love
male prostitution
poverty
prostitution
incest
lgbt
lost mother
narcolepsy
father son relationship
gay theme
Rank
#15 in 1991·#1063 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
River Phoenix
Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves
Scott Favor
James Russo
Richard Waters
William Richert
Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey
Gary
Chiara Caselli
Carmella
Jessica Makinson
Denise
Flea
Budd
Grace Zabriskie
Alena
Tom Troupe
Jack Favor
Udo Kier
Hans
Mickey Cottrell
Daddy Carroll
Crew
Gus Van Sant
Director
Gus Van Sant
Screenplay
Eric Alan Edwards
Director of Photography
James L. Brooks
Thanks
Scott Patrick Green
Additional Still Photographer
David Minkowski
Second Assistant Director
Nick Wechsler
Thanks
Eric Alan Edwards
Additional Still Photographer
William Shakespeare
Theatre Play
Popular Reviews
2993 reviews
vi
9.0★ · 05/16/16
gotta kill myself so that this is the last movie i ever see
gotta kill myself so that this is the last movie i ever see
46
adriana meixueiro
8.0★ · 06/03/19
this movie called me a [slur], spat on my face and then told me to have a nice day
this movie called me a [slur], spat on my face and then told me to have a nice day
11
Scr4wnymf
happy easter bois
happy easter bois
1
angelica
9.0★ · 04/01/26
“i could love someone even if i wasn’t paid for it”
“i could love someone even if i wasn’t paid for it”
1
Brody Mccord
7.0★ · 02/25/26
My Own Private Idaho is a truly one of a kind film. There is not many others quite like it. Although it felt slow at times it brought such a compelling but gritty dreamscape experience. Loneliness. Search for belonging. Unrequited love. Two young hustlers whose souls are lost in search for a home. The funeral sequence is arguably the best part of this film. The back and forth shots of Keanu and River. Absolute art. Gus Van Sant grabs you and pulls you in right from the beginning with his addictive camera work. Fucking groundbreaking.
My Own Private Idaho is a truly one of a kind film. There is not many others quite like it. Although it felt slow at times it brought such a compelling but gritty dreamscape experience. Loneliness. Search for belonging. Unrequited love. Two young hustlers whose souls are lost in search for a home. The funeral sequence is arguably the best part of this film. The back and forth shots of Keanu and River. Absolute art. Gus Van Sant grabs you and pulls you in right from the beginning with his addictive camera work. Fucking groundbreaking.
