Wind River ( film ) - wikipedia Wind River ( film ) Wind River Theatrical release poster Directed by Taylor Sheridan Produced by Matthew George Basil Iwanyk Peter Berg Wayne L. Rogers Written by Taylor Sheridan Starring Jeremy Renner Elizabeth Olsen Music by Nick Cave Warren Ellis Cinematography Ben Richardson Edited by Gary D. Roach Production company Acacia Entertainment Savvy Media Holdings Thunder Road Pictures Film 44 Distributed by The Weinstein Company ( Theatrical ) Lionsgate ( Home media ) Release date January 21, 2017 ( 2017 - 01 - 21 ) ( Sundance ) August 4, 2017 ( 2017 - 08 - 04 ) ( United States ) Running time 111 minutes Country France United Kingdom United States Language English Budget $11 million Box office $40.4 million Wind River is a 2017 neo-Western murder mystery film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker and an FBI agent, respectively, who try to solve a murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal and Graham Greene also star. According to Sheridan, the opening `` inspired by true events '' card was a reference to the `` thousands of actual stories just like it '' involving sexual assault of women on reservations, his primary motivation for writing the film. Wind River premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the United States on August 4, 2017. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $40 million against an $11 million budget. While theatrically released by The Weinstein Company, in October 2017, following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations, the film 's distribution rights for home media were acquired by Lionsgate, with Weinstein 's credits and logo being omitted, which causes TWC to lose distribution rights. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Release 3.1 Box office 3.2 Critical response 3.3 Accolades 4 References 5 External links Plot During a winter season in Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent Cory Lambert discovers the frozen body of 18 - year - old Natalie Hanson, without shoes or proper winter attire, and with a blood - stained groin. Rookie FBI special agent Jane Banner arrives to determine whether a homicide has been committed. The next day, Jane learns from Natalie 's father that his daughter was dating a new boyfriend, but he does not know the man 's name or whereabouts. The autopsy returns findings of blunt trauma and sexual violence, and confirms Cory 's deduction that the girl had died from exposure, specifically pulmonary hemorrhage caused by rapid inhalation of sub-zero air. However, the medical examiner is unable to report that the victim 's death was a homicide, therefore preventing Jane from calling in an additional FBI investigative unit. Cory learns that Natalie 's boyfriend is named Matt and works security at a nearby oil drilling site. The next day another body is discovered -- this time male -- nude and heavily ravaged by scavenging wildlife. Jane is told that the male body has been identified as Matt Rayburn, a security guard from the drilling rig. Cory then tells Jane about the death of his daughter three years before, whose body was discovered in the snow, following a party at his house while he and his wife had been out of town. Jane, accompanied by the Tribal Police Chief, Ben, and additional officers, visit the drill site where they meet several of the security guards, who tell her they have n't seen Matt since he stormed off a few days ago following an argument with Natalie. When Jane tells the guards that she 's investigating Matt 's disappearance, they reveal their knowledge of the discovery of Natalie 's body, claiming they had learned of it by monitoring law enforcement radio channels. She points out that Natalie 's name was never mentioned over the radio. One of the visiting officers notices that the security guards have started to surround Jane and her team. The confrontation quickly escalates into an armed standoff as they argue over who has jurisdiction, which Jane finally defuses by asserting federal authority over the others. Jane insists that she wants to see where Matt has been bunking, and they resume their approach to the trailer. A flashback then shows Natalie cuddling with Matt in his trailer. Unexpectedly, his security colleagues barge into the trailer after a night of hard drinking. Pete, a particularly vulgar crew member, taunts them and tries to sexually assault Natalie, which provokes Matt to violence. The guards retaliate by beating Matt down while Pete rapes Natalie. When Matt attempts to fight back, the group beats him to death, giving Natalie the opportunity to escape. Back in present time, Cory has retraced the tracks up to Matt 's corpse and finds that it leads directly into the drilling camp just as Jane 's group of officers approach the drill crew 's sleeping quarters. Cory warns Ben by radio but Jane is hit by a shotgun blast fired through the door by Pete before she can get out of the way. A firefight ensues, in which Ben and the other officers are killed. As the surviving security guards prepare to execute Jane to cover up any loose ends, Cory kills all the remaining guards except for Pete, who flees on foot. Cory catches Pete and brings him to the top of a mountain. After forcing a confession from Pete, Cory offers him the same chance Natalie had, a barefoot escape toward a distant road in clothes not suitable for winter. Pete runs for his life but stumbles through the snow for only a few dozen yards before his lungs give out and he dies from the same pulmonary hemorrhage that killed Natalie. Cory visits Jane in the hospital and praises her toughness. He later visits Martin, finding him outside his house wearing his `` death face '' paint. Cory tells Martin that the case is closed and that the man responsible for Natalie 's death went out `` with a whimper. '' They sit together sharing the grief of their daughters ' deaths. A title card states that missing - persons statistics are kept for every demographic group -- save for Native American women, whose numbers remain unknown. Cast Jeremy Renner as Cory Lambert, U.S. Fish and Wildlife service agent. He finds the dead body of Natalie Hanson and is recruited by FBI special agent Jane Banner to solve the case. He uses the case as redemption for his daughter Emily, who was killed by the wildlife and died the same way Natalie was killed. Elizabeth Olsen as Jane Banner, FBI special agent. She recruits Cory as her tracker to solve the case. Graham Greene as Ben Shoyo, Tribal Police chief. He assists Jane and Cory to solve the possible murder of Natalie Hanson. Kelsey Asbille as Natalie Hanson, Martin and Annie 's daughter and Chip 's sister. She was best friends with Cory 's late daughter, Emily. Gil Birmingham as Martin Hanson, Annie 's husband and Chip and Natalie 's father. He is also Cory 's close friend. Martin Sensmeier as Chip Hanson, Martin and Annie 's son and Natalie 's brother. He is also a drug addict. Althea Sam as Annie Hanson, Martin 's wife and Chip and Natalie 's mother. Julia Jones as Wilma Lambert, Cory 's ex-wife and Casey 's mother. Teo Briones as Casey Lambert, Cory and Wilma 's son. Apesanahkwat as Dan Crowheart, Wilma 's father. Tantoo Cardinal as Alice Crowheart, Wilma 's mother. Jon Bernthal as Matt Rayburn, Natalie 's boyfriend. James Jordan as Pete Mickens, Matt 's co-worker. Hugh Dillon as Curtis, Matt 's superior. Matthew Del Negro as Dillon, Matt 's co-worker. Austin Grant as Carl Ian Bohen as Evan, police deputy. Eric Lange as Dr. Whitehurst, medical examiner. Tyler Laracca as Frank Walker, Chip 's friend and a drug dealer. Gerald Tokala Clifford as Sam Littlefeather, Chip 's friend and a drug dealer. Release The Weinstein Company acquired the distribution rights on May 13, 2016, during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. In January 2017, it was announced the company would no longer distribute the film. However, the distribution deal was later finalized. It had a limited release on August 4, 2017, before going wide on August 18. In October 2017, it was announced the film would be distributed on home media and streaming services through Lionsgate with the Weinstein Company name and logo omitted from the credits, trailer and packaging, following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal. As a result, The Weinstein Company finally stopped distributing the film. In addition, all money Weinstein would have made was donated to charity. Box office Wind River grossed $33.8 million in the United States and Canada and $6.6 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $40.4 million, against a production budget of $11 million. In the film 's limited opening weekend, it made $161,558 from four theaters ( a per - location average of $40,390, one of the best of 2017 ), finishing 29th at the box office. In its second week the film expanded to 45 theaters and grossed $622,567. The film expanded to 694 theaters on August 18 and grossed $3 million, finishing 10th at the box office. The following week the film was added to an additional 1,401 theaters ( for a total of 2,095 ) and made $4.6 million ( an increase of 54.6 % ), managing to finish 4th at the box office. The film was added to yet another 507 theaters and made $5.7 million the following weekend, and an estimated $7.2 million over the four - day Labor Day weekend, finishing in the 2nd spot at the U.S. box office consistently for the next 13 days. It was the 6th - highest grossing indie film of 2017. Critical response On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87 % based on 210 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6 / 10. The site 's critical consensus reads, `` Wind River lures viewers into a character - driven mystery with smart writing, a strong cast, and a skillfully rendered setting that delivers the bitter chill promised by its title. '' On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating `` generally very favorable reviews ''. Owen Gleiberman of Variety described Wind River as a `` humanistic crime drama, though this one has more skill than excitement ''. Chris Plante of The Verge described it as `` a thrilling, violent finale to the Hell or High Water and Sicario trilogy '' and `` Coen brothers noir meets the case of the week. '' Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers praised Sheridan 's direction and the cast, giving the film 3 / 4 stars. He wrote : `` ( It 's ) the set - up for what could have been a conventional whodunit -- thankfully, Sheridan is allergic to all things conventional. To him, the action is character, and he 's lucked out by finding actors who not only understand his approach but thrive on it. '' David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a B, writing : `` ( If ) Wind River shares Sheridan 's self - evident weaknesses, it also makes the most of his signature strengths. (... ) Wind River may not blow you away, but this bitter, visceral, and almost paradoxically intense thriller knows what it takes to survive. '' In a High Country News article titled `` Why do white writers keep making films about Indian Country ? '', native commentator Jason Asenap praises the film as `` a thinking - person 's thriller '' full of complex characters, and describes the film 's focus on missing Native American women as `` admirable. '' Accolades Award Date of ceremony Recipients Result Ref. Cannes Film Festival May 28, 2017 Prix Un Certain Regard Sheridan ! Taylor Sheridan Nominated Un Certain Regard for Best Director Sheridan ! Taylor Sheridan Won Caméra d'Or Sheridan ! Taylor Sheridan Nominated National Board of Review November 28, 2017 Top Ten Independent Film Won Satellite Awards February 11, 2018 Best Actor Jeremy Renner Nominated References Jump up ^ `` Wind River ( 2016 ) - BFI ''. British Film Institute. Retrieved 19 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Wind River ''. Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved January 4, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Wind River ( 2016 ) - BFI ''. British Film Institute. Retrieved 7 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Wind River ( 2017 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 19, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Wind River ( 2017 ) ''. The Numbers. Retrieved December 8, 2017. Jump up ^ Hornaday, Ann ( August 10, 2017 ). `` In ' Wind River, ' Jeremy Renner plays a game tracker solving a murder ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Movie Interviews : Investigating A Murder In ' Wind River ' ''. NPR. August 5, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Cannes : Weinstein Co. Nabs Jeremy Renner Drama ' Wind River ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. May 14, 2016. Jump up ^ Siegel, Tatiana ( January 9, 2017 ). `` Sundance : Weinstein Company to No Longer Distribute Jeremy Renner 's ' Wind River ' ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Thompson, Anne ( January 27, 2017 ). `` 2017 's Sundance Sales Are In Overdrive : Here 's Why, Plus See Our Full Deal Scorecard ''. Indiewire.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017. Jump up ^ Hipes, Patrick ( March 17, 2017 ). `` ' Mary Magdalene ', ' Current War ' & ' Wind River ' Get 2017 Release Dates From Weinstein ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved March 17, 2017. Jump up ^ Fleming Jr., Mike ( October 25, 2017 ). `` Weinstein Name Stripped From ' Wind River ' ; Tunica - Biloxi Tribe Financiers To Pay For Oscar Campaign ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved October 25, 2017. Jump up ^ Crucchiola, Jordan. `` Taylor Sheridan Got Weinstein Company Scrubbed From Wind River With an Ultimatum ''. Vulture. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Why ' Transformers ' Is Screaming For Reboot After $69 M Start ; ' Wonder Woman ' & ' Cars 3 ' Fight Over 2nd Place ''. Deadline.com. June 25, 2017. Jump up ^ D'Allesandro, Anthony ( August 13, 2017 ). `` New Line 's Dollhouse Of Dough : ' Annabelle : Creation ' Opening To $35 M ''. Deadline.com. Jump up ^ D'Allesandro, Anthony. `` ' Hitman 's Bodyguard ' Flexes Muscle With $21 M+ Opening During Sleepy Summer Weekend ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017. Jump up ^ D'Allesandro, Anthony ( August 27, 2017 ). `` Do n't Blame Hurricane Harvey & Showtime Fight For Weekend 's Lousy Box Office : Distribs Served Up Lackluster Titles ''. Deadline.com. Jump up ^ D'Allesandro, Anthony ( September 3, 2017 ). `` Labor Day Weekend The Worst Since 1998 As ' Hitman 's Bodyguard ' Holds No. 1 For 3rd Weekend With $12.9 M ''. Deadline.com. Jump up ^ Erbland, Kate. `` The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2017 ( A Running List ) -- IndieWire ''. IndieWire. Retrieved September 7, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Wind River ( 2017 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 20, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Wind River reviews ''. Metacritic. Retrieved September 15, 2017. Jump up ^ Gleiberman, Owen ( January 22, 2017 ). `` Sundance Film Review : ' Wind River ' ''. Variety. Jump up ^ `` Wind River is a thrilling, violent finale to the Hell or High Water and Sicario trilogy ''. The Verge. January 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Travers, Peter ( August 2, 2017 ). `` ' Wind River ' Review : Taut Thriller on Native Reservation Will Knock You for a Loop ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 19, 2017. Jump up ^ `` ' Wind River ' Review : Jeremy Renner Is An Ice - Cold Cowboy In Taylor Sheridan 's Solid Noir -- Sundance 2017 ''. IndieWire. January 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Asenap, Jason ( September 15, 2017 ). `` Why do white writers keep making films about Indian Country ? ''. High Country News. Jump up ^ Lodge, Guy ( 27 May 2017 ). `` ' A Man of Integrity, ' ' Wind River, ' ' Barbara ' Take Un Certain Regard Awards at Cannes ''. Variety. Retrieved 27 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2017 Award Winners ''. National Board of Review. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017. External links Wind River on IMDb Wind River at Rotten Tomatoes Wind River at Metacritic Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wind_River_(film)&oldid=826736541 '' Categories : 2017 films English - language films 2010s Western ( genre ) films American films American thriller films Directorial debut films Films about Native Americans Films set in Wyoming Films shot in Utah Neo-Western films Voltage Pictures films Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Português Русский Suomi Svenska ไทย Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 20 February 2018, at 19 : 00. 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Question: who is the movie wind river based on
Answer: the "thousands of actual stories just like it" involving sexual assault of women on reservations