Netflix Marks 30 Years of Montana’s Classic Movie Hit

For Montanans, it's all about hitting up the lake or river in the hot Summer sun. There is a very good chance we are going to see a large amount of boat trailers at all the local fishing access locations this weekend. It is safe to say that there is plenty of fun to be had on our area's lakes and rivers. On hot summer days water traffic gets so thick you feel you would need to put traffic lights up on the water, just to control the flow.

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Two Montana rivers were made famous back in 1994 when they became the filming locations for the blockbuster thriller "The River Wild." Netflix has released the movie for streaming to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this great Montana movie.

According to Wikipedia

In June 1993, Universal Studios began considering locations along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and the Kootenai River in Montana. They also began to seek permits from the forest service and permission from private landowners to film near the falls and nearby West Glacier.

Principal photography began on August 4, 1993. Many of the film's whitewater scenes were filmed on the Kootenai River.

For those who remember the synopsis of the movie. Meryl Streep is a former river guide on vacation with her family. They meet up with other whitewater rafters while on their trip. Kevin Bacon and John C Riley happen to be armed robbers who are using the river as their escape vehicle. Kevin Bacon holds the family hostage and forces Meryl Streep at gunpoint to get them down the river safely.

A few years back, Kevin Bacon shared a photo from the movie. In it, he commented about the fictional family, as a safety reminder for outdoor enthusiasts on Independence Day.