

Surviving
“It's summer, they're rich and beautiful, filled with passion, and headed for… tragedy.”
Synopsis
Lonnie and Rick seem to be complete opposites, at first glance. A survivor of suicide, Lonnie is introverted and ill at ease around her parents, Lois and Harvey. Rick, meanwhile, is sunny and charismatic. But appearances can be deceiving, as their families learn when the teens begin a romance. Upset about Lonnie's influence on Rick, his parents forbid the pair to see each other -- with tragic consequences.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
"Surviving: A Family in Crisis" (1985) Trailer - Zach Galligan, Molly Ringwald, River Phoenix
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-10-17
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Zach Galligan
Rick Brogan
Molly Ringwald
Lonnie
Ellen Burstyn
Tina Brogan
Len Cariou
David Brogan
Marsha Mason
Lois
Paul Sorvino
Harvey
River Phoenix
Philip Brogan
Heather O'Rourke
Sarah Brogan
William Windom
Dr. Madsen
Marc Gilpin
Bobby
Paddi Edwards
Alma
Jane Simoneau
May
Joe Berryman
Sheriff
Camila Ashland
Mother
Lon Coggeshall
Jeb
Midge Woolsey
Helen
Norma Moore
Psychologist
Tobe Sexton
David
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 10, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Waris Hussein
- Screenplay & Story
- Joyce Eliason
- Original Score
- James Horner
- Original Title
- Surviving
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Waris Hussein
Joyce Eliason
James Horner
Alexander Gruszynski
Leslie Dennis Bracken, Kurt Bullinger
Hunt Lowry, Larry Sanitsky, Frank Konigsberg
Department Leadership Roster
Leslie Dennis Bracken
Editor
Hunt Lowry
Producer
Kurt Bullinger
Editor
Joyce Eliason
Writer
Alexander Gruszynski
Director of Photography
Roy Stannard
Production Design
Waris Hussein
Director
James Horner
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Surviving.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Surviving.
Classic movies
Simply the Best
Top films of all time.
Similar Titles to Surviving
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like Surviving
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About Surviving
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Surviving about?
Lonnie and Rick seem to be complete opposites, at first glance. A survivor of suicide, Lonnie is introverted and ill at ease around her parents, Lois and Harvey. Rick, meanwhile, is sunny and charismatic. But appearances can be deceiving, as their families learn when the teens begin a romance. Upset about Lonnie's influence on Rick, his parents forbid the pair to see each other -- with tragic consequences.
Who directed Surviving?
Surviving was directed by Waris Hussein.
Who stars in Surviving?
The principal cast of Surviving includes Zach Galligan, Molly Ringwald, Ellen Burstyn, Len Cariou, Marsha Mason.
When was Surviving released and how long is it?
Surviving was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 2h 23m.
Who composed the musical score for Surviving?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Surviving was composed by James Horner.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Surviving?
Surviving holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).



















