

The Straight Story
A true story that proves a little determination goes a very, very long way.
Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his estranged brother Lyle has suffered a severe stroke. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.
TMDB
7.7/10
1,898 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $10M
- Box office
- $6.4M
- Language
- English
- sibling relationship
- forgiveness
- wisconsin
- lawnmower
- iowa
- melancholy
- biography
- based on true story
- road trip
- family relationships
- family
- nostalgic
Top billed cast









Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Music
Produced in
United States of America, United Kingdom, France
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereTelluride Film Festival3 Sept 1999
- PremiereAustin Film Festival7 Oct 1999
- PremiereHollywood, California11 Oct 1999
- Theatrical (limited)G15 Oct 1999
- PhysicalGDVD7 Nov 2000
- PhysicalGVHS2 Dec 2000
- PremierePhiladelphia International Film Festival21 Oct 2014
- Digital / OTTGDisney+30 Apr 2020
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalU3 Dec 1999
- PhysicalUDVD22 May 2000
- PhysicalPG4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray9 Feb 2026
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalG20 Apr 2000
- PhysicalGImprint Films Blu-ray17 Sept 2021
CanadaCA
- TheatricalG3 Nov 1999
ArgentinaAR
- PremiereBuenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema7 Apr 2000
- TheatricalATP20 Apr 2000
AustriaAT
- Theatrical3 Dec 1999
BelgiumBE
- Theatrical24 Nov 1999
BrazilBR
- TheatricalL10 Mar 2000
- Theatrical (limited)14São Paulo, São Paulo, CineSesc (Retrospectiva Do Onírico ao Real – Uma Homenagem a David Lynch) (4K Restored Version)22 Feb 2025
ChileCL
- Theatrical4 Apr 2002
ChinaCN
- PremiereBeijing International Film Festival12 Apr 2017
- PremiereBeijing International Film Festival16 Apr 2026
CroatiaHR
- PremiereMotovun Film Festival3 Aug 2000
- Theatrical5 Oct 2000
CzechiaCZ
- PremiereFebio Film Festival24 Jan 2000
- Theatrical12+17 Feb 2000
- PhysicalDVD, FilmX31 Aug 2008
Frequently asked questions
The Straight Story was released on 15 October 1999.
Audience reviews
3- J9/10
John Chard
2/21/2016
I want to thank you for your kindness to a stranger. An absolute delight. From director David Lynch, The Straight Story finds the famous purveyor of the oblique on wonderfully mellow form. Story finds a superb Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, an old boy long in the tooth who sets off across America on his lawn mower to visit his estranged brother. You see, he doesn't have a driving licence, so lawn mower is t…
- R9/10
r96sk
10/11/2020
Beautifully made film. It's a difficult one to describe. <em>'The Straight Story'</em> features a very touching, true life, story about Alvin Straight. It's a very simple premise but one that the film brings to life wonderfully. There's a crap tonne of heart, alongside some brilliant cinematography and a top notch score. Richard Farnsworth plays the role of Alvin expertly, it's an outstanding performance from h…
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
1/6/2026
I’ve seen loads of road movies over the years, but never one that involved an elderly gent travelling from Iowa to the adjacent Wisconsin driving his lawnmower! “Alvin” (Richard Farnsworth) is a curmudgeonly seventy-something whose health and mobility are failing and who lives with his daughter “Rose” (Sissy Spacek) - a lady without her own problems to seek, too! When he learns that his estranged brother “Lyle” has h…
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