The Deer Hunter

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The Deer Hunter

R,

1978,

3h 3m,

War/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

86%

129 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

129 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1968, Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken) and Steven (John Savage), lifelong friends from a working-class Pennsylvania steel town, prepare to ship out overseas following Steven's elaborate wedding and one final group hunting trip. In Vietnam, their dreams of military honor are quickly shattered by the inhumanities of war; even those who survive are haunted by the experience, as is Nick's hometown sweetheart, Linda (Meryl Streep).

Critics Consensus

Its greatness is blunted by its length and one-sided point of view, but the film's weaknesses are overpowered by Michael Cimino's sympathetic direction and a series of heartbreaking performances from Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Nov 29, 2022

... Perhaps a little cumbersome, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the film’s big, sentimental sweep.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Aug 30, 2022

So many of the elements are so good that it all adds up to a pity. Someone, or more than one -- writer or producers or director or editor or all -- fogged up about why this picture was being made and whether it was on the rails.

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Charles Champlin

Los Angeles Times

Aug 30, 2022

A film to be debated and argued over seriously because it is an earnest, serious and impressive work, despite the reservations it is necessary to have about it. In a thin and evasive year, The Deer Hunter joins a thin company that aspire to greatness.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 12, 2026

It is a flawed but important movie, both as a work of art and for what it has to tell us about ourselves.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Nov 22, 2023

There’s something elemental about the movie’s boys’ adventure machismo, a primal force that overpowers Cimino’s more cartoonish flourishes.

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Jun 8, 2023

Michael Cimino’s tale about the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts the Vietnam War had on a group of friends remains one of film's ultimate masterpieces. Very few movies have ever captured the unsparing aftermath of war quite as devastatingly.

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Kylo S

Apr 21, 2019

The Deer Hunter is racist trash, told from only one point of view: the americans. It blatantly glorifies the suffering of American soldiers and demonize Vietnamese in the most racist way possible. To make that worse, the movie is also surprisingly pretentious. Apparently, a group of friends join the army and somehow winded up in same Vietcong camp, and the rest is just Russian roulette over and over again. The performances is the only redeeming thing about the movie, but it can't stop the film from being what it is: worthless trash

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Han M

Mar 16, 2019

Deer hunters is nothing but an overstalized Hollywood version of Vietnam with tons of in your face annoying symbolism.

Leia S

Mar 10, 2019

The cast is my favorite I can't resist them

Rey W

Mar 8, 2019

Powerhouse performances,powerhouse directing,powerhouse storyline....I think you get the point.

Anakin W

Dec 26, 2018

The movie started with a super long wedding scene leaving me with questions pertaining to its inclusion. Even though the movie started slowly it picked up with some intense war and torture. It is fascinating that an entire movie can be made around a game. The acting was amazing, with Christopher Walken well deserving of best supporting actor.

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Kylo L

Dec 25, 2018

Will always be one of my favourites.

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Michael Cimino

Director

Robert De Niro

Michael Vronsky

Christopher Walken

Nick

John Savage

Steven

John Cazale

Stanley "Stosh"

Meryl Streep

Linda

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Synopsis

In 1968, Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken) and Steven (John Savage), lifelong friends from a working-class Pennsylvania steel town, prepare to ship out overseas following Steven's elaborate wedding and one final group hunting trip. In Vietnam, their dreams of military honor are quickly shattered by the inhumanities of war; even those who survive are haunted by the experience, as is Nick's hometown sweetheart, Linda (Meryl Streep).

Director: Michael Cimino
Producer: Michael Deeley, Barry Spikings
Screenwriter: Deric Washburn
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2016
Runtime: 3h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround

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