40 Years Later: ‘Stand By Me’ Stars To Reunite In Monmouth County

RED BANK, NJ — The stars of the classic film “Stand By Me” are set to reunite at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in December ahead of the film’s 40th anniversary.

On Friday, Dec. 5, stars Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell and Wil Wheaton will take the stage at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre for a live conversation about the movie and their experience filming it.

Attendees are invited to join The Basie for an evening honoring the film, with “Stand By Me” set to play on the big screen before the stars who lived the film have their long-awaited reunion and conversation.

“Join us for a deeply special evening honoring one of the most beloved films of a generation,” event organizers said. “Together, they’ll revisit the summer that changed everything — on set and on screen — sharing memories, laughter, and secrets behind a film that still brings people together after all these years.”

In addition to the conversation and reunion between Feldman, O’Connell and Wheaton, the evening will also include heartfelt reflections from the three on working with their friend and co-star, the late River Phoenix.

“Some stories don’t fade with time — they grow deeper,” event organizers said. “For 40 years, ‘Stand By Me’ has spoken to something timeless in all of us: the wonder and heartbreak of growing up, the bonds we form in childhood, and the way those moments stay with us long after the journey ends.”

“‘I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.’ This night is for anyone who knows exactly what that means,” the organizers continued.

Released in 1986, “Stand By Me” follows a writer recounting a childhood journey he took with his friends to find the body of a missing boy. Today, the film is celebrated as a coming-of-age tale with strong themes of friendship.

The reunion of the film’s stars at the Basie Center is one of three stops they’ll be making on a reunion tour, according to the 'Stand By Me Live' website.

Ticket options for the Red Bank event include Standard Admission, Snapshot VIP (includes a premium seat and a photo op), Keepsake VIP (includes a premium seat and a signed poster) and Premium VIP (includes a premium seat, photo op and a signed poster).

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, with showtime set for 7:30 p.m. at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre on the Basie Center Campus.

To learn more or purchase tickets, you can visit the Basie Center website.

The Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre is located on the Basie Center Campus at 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.