The Hitcher (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1986, The Hitcher is an action, thriller and horror film directed by Robert Harmon, running about 98 minutes. “Never pick-up a stranger.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision.
Who’s in it. The Hitcher stars Rutger Hauer as John Ryder, C. Thomas Howell as Jim Halsey, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nash and Jeffrey DeMunn as Captain Esteridge, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Hitcher has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $5.8M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel and Cinemax Apple TV Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Hitcher page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Hitcher tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Hitcher (1986)?
- In US, The Hitcher is available to stream on YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel and Cinemax Apple TV Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Hitcher worth watching?
- The Hitcher holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Hitcher?
- The Hitcher stars Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn and Billy Green Bush.
- When was The Hitcher released?
- The Hitcher was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.