Stand by Me Stars Reunite—And They’re Coming to New Hampshire for a Special Night

Fire up the Ben E. King music—we’re heading back to the late 1950s to celebrate one of the greatest coming-of-age movies ever made.

In 1986, the movie Stand by Me was released. Based on a Stephen King novella titled The Body, it became an instant classic. It starred a wealth of young actors who became household names overnight, and every kid growing up wanted to be part of that iconic friend group.

The Film Stand by Me Will Have Special Screenings Coming Soon

Now, on the (nearly) 40th anniversary of the film’s release, the surviving members of that friend group are reuniting for special screenings of the movie.

One of those screenings will take place right here in Northern New England—at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, on December 4. The event will feature appearances from Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman, and Wil Wheaton.

O’Connell played the lovable oaf Vern—a character this author related to well. Feldman portrayed the troubled and abused Teddy, and Wheaton played the young Gordie, the film’s narrator (with narration by Richard Dreyfuss, who also portrayed the adult version of the character).

The trio will sadly be missing the fourth member of the famously fictitious friend group: River Phoenix. Phoenix, who memorably played Chris Chambers, passed away from an accidental overdose in 1993. He was just 23 years old.

Stand by Me Left a Lasting Impact for Countless Viewers

To generations of kids—myself included—Stand by Me was more than just a movie. It felt like watching something we were living. Sure, we weren’t out looking for a dead body, but that’s not what the story was really about. It was about friendship, adventure, memories, brotherhood, and love.

It was also one of the first films that ever sparked an emotional reaction in me—proof of just how powerful truly great art can be.

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So far, two dates have been announced for the reunion screenings: one in New Hampshire and one in New Jersey. You can find more info about tickets and the event here.

And maybe I’ll see you in Concord.

‍"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.”