The Deer Hunter (1978)
One of the most important and powerful films of all time!
Three steelworkers enlist in the army and are sent to Vietnam, one leaving behind a rushed marriage, the others a shared love. What they encounter during the war changes their lives forever.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 8 December 1978 |
| Genre | Drama, War |
| Director | Michael Cimino |
| Starring | Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Cazale |
| Runtime | 183 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.6/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 86% · Metacritic 90/100 · IMDb 8.1/10 · TMDB users 8.0/10 |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $49 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is streaming on Netflix ($19.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $19.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 29 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent The Deer Hunter on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and FlixFling. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch The Deer Hunter in 11 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Andorra | Prime Video |
| Australia | Max $15.99 AUD |
| Belgium | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Italy | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Netherlands | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Portugal | Filmin |
| San Marino | Prime Video |
| South Korea | Wavve ₩10900, Watcha |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99, Filmin |
| Vatican City | Prime Video |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Michael Cimino directs 3 men from a steel mill into the Vietnam War. They come back changed. The film runs 183 minutes, which is a long time to sit with the weight of a war that did not end when the guns stopped. It is a drama that treats trauma as a physical thing, something you can feel in the bones. The tagline calls it one of the most important films of all time. That is a heavy claim for a movie that starts with a wedding and ends with a silence.
What the critics said
Critics generally adored The Deer Hunter, comparing it to The Godfather. Rotten Tomatoes holds an 86% approval rating as of January 2026, while Metacritic sits at 90 out of 100. Roger Ebert called it "one of the most emotionally shattering films ever made." Gene Siskel agreed it was a "big film" made on a grand scale. Not everyone was so impressed. Pauline Kael found it enraging, claiming it lacked moral intelligence.
How it did with audiences
The Deer Hunter cost $15 million to make and returned $50 million. It grossed $49 million in the United States and $49 million worldwide. On TMDB, users rate it 8 out of 10. IMDb scored it 8.1/10 in April 2026.
Awards
It took home 5 awards from 9 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor. Christopher Walken won for his work. The sound team also picked up a trophy. A strong showing, though the ceremony itself was a bit... crowded.
Where it left its mark
The film broke the old code of controlled, Second World War-style combat. David Thomson argued it introduced a raw dynamic to battle scenes, paving the way for later war movies. It was also the first Vietnam War picture to reach a wide audience and win Best Picture. Critics note its Russian roulette sequence sparked real-world imitations, with roughly 25 deaths reported as influenced by the scene. William Fichtner described leaving the theater with a date, both too stunned to speak for an hour.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Deer Hunter.
Sources
- The Deer Hunter on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q201674 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Deer Hunter” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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