The Deer Hunter

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The Deer Hunter

R

Released Dec 8, 1978

3h 3m

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

130 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).

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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

Times (UK)

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

Nov 29, 2022

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

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.

Aug 30, 2022

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Charles Champlin

Los Angeles Times

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.

Aug 30, 2022

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

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

Nov 22, 2023

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

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.

Jun 8, 2023

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Richard Corliss

New Times (magazine)

It grabs you by the lapel and says, "Call me masterpiece!"... These weaknesses are The Deer Hunter's greatest strength -- because, in a year of timid moviemaking, they trumpet the film's daring to fail at being great.

Sep 7, 2022

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Audience Member

Thought provoking but a bit too long. A unique take on the Vietnam war. Less about the actual fighting and more about the psyche of those who fought in it. Excellent acting all around. The pacing and strange snow capped mountains of PA (?) keep this movie from receiving a 5.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Russ G

Saw it on TV a number of years ago and thought it sucked infected donkey balls. Positively cannot stand Christopher Walken - the guy creeps me out. The only character he's fit to play is a zombie. Worst thing about this movie is that its alien-from-outer-space director was hailed as a genius and was given free reign to make Heaven's Gate which fittingly Stunk to High Heaven!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

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Kurt M

Masterpiece! An epic that shows the effects of war on individual soldiers better than any other movie I’ve seen. An epic journey that needed all three hours to develop and depict.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

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Justin S

A masterpiece. A film that truly portrays what friendship is all about. De Niro at his very best!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/27/24

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Ryan G

Skip it for your own sake. Even considering outdated 70s cinematography, there were a few things that made this horrendous to even get through. Every single scene in this movie could have been included in the final cut and it still been sub-2 hours. So much time spent doing absolutely nothing, especially in the wedding scene. Also, the deer in “The Deer Hunter” isn’t even a deer species found in North America. It’s a Red Deer, not a Whitetail, Blacktail, or Muley. That, combined with a copious amount of other missed details make me wonder how this is so highly rated.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

Shawn R

DeNiro's greatest movie.. recommend!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

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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 Cimino, Michael Deeley, Barry Spikings
Screenwriter: Michael Cimino, 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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