The Thing Called Love

The Thing Called Love is a 1993 American romantic comedydrama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and written by Carol Heikkinen. Starring River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney, and Sandra Bullock, the film follows Miranda Presley (Mathis), an aspiring country musician who moves from New York City to Nashville and becomes embroiled in a love triangle between fellow musicians James Wright (Phoenix) and Kyle Davidson (Mulroney).

Principal photography began in Memphis, Nashville, and Santa Clarita on November 2, 1992, and concluded on February 6, 1993. The film was Phoenix's final complete screen performance before his death, as well as the final film released during his lifetime.

The Thing Called Love was theatrically released in the United States on August 27, 1993, to mixed reviews from critics and was a box office failure, grossing $1 million against its $14 million production budget.