The Night of the Hunter (1955): cast, story & where to watch
1955 · Film · ★ 7.9
Released in 1955, The Night of the Hunter is a thriller, drama and crime film directed by Charles Laughton, running about 93 minutes. “The wedding night, the anticipation, the kiss, the knife, BUT ABOVE ALL...THE SUSPENSE!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In the Deep South, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
Who’s in it. The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum as Harry Powell, Shelley Winters as Willa Harper, Lillian Gish as Rachel Cooper and James Gleason as Birdie Steptoe, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, The Night of the Hunter has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Night of the Hunter page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Night of the Hunter tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Night of the Hunter (1955)?
- In US, The Night of the Hunter is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Night of the Hunter worth watching?
- The Night of the Hunter holds an audience score of 7.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Night of the Hunter?
- The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason and Evelyn Varden.
- When was The Night of the Hunter released?
- The Night of the Hunter was released in 1955, with a runtime of about 93 minutes.