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Entertainment • Film

Wind River

Wind River is a 2017 American neo-Western crime film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Wind River is a 2017 American neo-Western crime film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, set on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen as investigators searching for answers after the body of a young woman is found. It premiered at Sundance and was released in August 2017, and is noted for its Indigenous representation and frontier setting, appealing to Canadian audiences.

Plot

The plot of Wind River centers on the investigation into the death of a young woman found on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. The case brings together Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker familiar with the area, and FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) as they work to solve the crime.

Production

Wind River was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, marking one of his early directorial efforts after his screenwriting success. The film was developed as a contemporary neo-Western crime story set in the American West.

Release

Wind River premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the United States on August 4, 2017. The film was distributed in the United States by The Weinstein Company.

Reception

Wind River received generally positive reviews from critics, who described it as a crime thriller with a strong sense of place. The film performed well commercially, grossing about $45 million worldwide against an $11 million budget.

Key facts

  • Wind River is a 2017 neo-Western crime film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan.
  • The film stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen as investigators on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
  • It premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was released in August 2017.
  • The film grossed about $45 million against an $11 million budget.
  • It received generally positive reviews.
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Canadian context

The film is relevant to Canadian readers as a well-known North American crime drama featuring Canadian audiences' interest in Indigenous representation, frontier settings, and contemporary western storytelling.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wind River?
Wind River is a 2017 neo-Western crime film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan.
Who stars in Wind River?
The film stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, with supporting performances by Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, and Graham Greene.
What is Wind River about?
It follows a tracker and an FBI agent investigating the death of a young woman on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
When was Wind River released?
It premiered at Sundance in 2017 and was released in the United States on August 4, 2017.
Was Wind River commercially successful?
Yes. It grossed about $45 million worldwide against an $11 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_River_(film)
    Supports: Basic identification, director, cast, setting, premiere, release date, and box office information.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5362988/
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, and character names.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wind_river_2017
    Supports: Plot summary, genre classification, and release information.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wind-river-2017
    Supports: Critical commentary on the film's style and sense of place.
  5. Deep Focus Review — https://www.deepfocusreview.com/reviews/wind-river/
    Supports: Context on Sheridan's directorial work and thematic focus.