The Hitcher

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The Hitcher

R

1986

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer), who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh), pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.

Critics Consensus

Its journey is never quite as revelatory as it could be, but The Hitcher stands as a white-knuckle vision of horror, bolstered by Rutger Hauer's menacing performance.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

This set-up is intriguing, and you wish director Robert Harmon had made more of it.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Simon Abrams

House Next Door

That kind of nonstop self-seriousness should wear thin after a while but director Robert Harmon makes the screenplay's unabashed cruelty more potent than churlish.

Mar 29, 2011

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

A highly unimaginative slasher that keeps the tension going with a massacre about every 15 minutes.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

MaitlandOnMovies (Substack)

I first saw "The Hitcher" (1986) in a theater and it was a crowd-pleaser in the sense that it hit every note and played the squirm inducers with bell-like clarity. But it was also exquisitely anxiety-producing.

Dec 25, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As a straightforward thriller, The Hitcher is idiotic and illogical; as an allegorical piece about the power of Evil to wilt the foundation of Good, it becomes more interesting.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 9, 2024

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Although hardly the totemic terror it's made out to be by contemporary cult-classic enthusiasts, "The Hitcher" is best appreciated as an analog showreel of exceptional explosions and car stunts.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 30, 2024

Full Review

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Sean F

I love the acting, however, the main character at times feels dumb, I’m not going to spoil anything but GOD DAMM is he stupid! So many things he don’t need to do but did anyway!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/25

Full Review

chris h

Reviews on here are a travesty...this is a great psychopathic movie.Great cast,and the tone for later 80s is awesome. Some of these reviews on here are inconsistent and should have account reviews.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

Full Review

Count o

Rutger Hauer's performance makes the film, while C. Thomas Howell's is steady but at times a bit overboard in drama. Jennifer Jason Leigh's character is done well...as always. Tension lasts till the end. A definite 3.5 to 4 stars film. The reviewers who give it a 2 or less should not be taken into account. Watch the film!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

Brad S. R

Implausible and needlessly grotesque.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

babarizam D

amazing film. Kept the tension til the end and acting is great too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

Full Review

Mark H

I know the critics attacked this film but it is a cult classic. Rutger Hauer's performance is chilling. He oozes menace with every line. The whole point of a horror film is to inspire fear in the audience. This film delivers that in spades. The story isn't terrible. An argument can be made for the implausibility of all films. Yes there are moments where you question why the main character didn't do something else but fear doesn't lend itself to rational thought. Just get your popcorn and run with it. It's good escapist entertainment.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

Full Review

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Robert Harmon

Director

Rutger Hauer

John Ryder

C. Thomas Howell

Jim Halsey

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Nash

Jeffrey DeMunn

Captain Esteridge

John M. Jackson

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Synopsis

While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer), who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh), pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.

Director: Robert Harmon
Producer: David Bombyk, Kip Ohman
Screenwriter: Eric Red
Production Co: HBO Films, Silver Screen Partners IV
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround