The Deer Hunter (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1978, The Deer Hunter is a drama and war film directed by Michael Cimino, running about 183 minutes. “One of the most important and powerful films of all time!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A group of working-class friends decide to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War and finds it to be hellish chaos -- not the noble venture they imagined. Before they left, Steven married his pregnant girlfriend -- and Michael and Nick were in love with the same woman. But all three are different men upon their return.
Who’s in it. The Deer Hunter stars Robert De Niro as Michael Vronsky, Christopher Walken as Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich, John Cazale as Stan and John Savage as Steven Pushkov, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Deer Hunter sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $49M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Deer Hunter page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Deer Hunter tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Deer Hunter (1978)?
- In US, The Deer Hunter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Deer Hunter worth watching?
- The Deer Hunter holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Deer Hunter?
- The Deer Hunter stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage and Meryl Streep.
- When was The Deer Hunter released?
- The Deer Hunter was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 183 minutes.