The Hitcher

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The Hitcher

R

1986

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

75%

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

01/04/2018

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

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Simon Abrams

House Next Door

03/29/2011

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.

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Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

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

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Maitland McDonagh

MaitlandOnMovies (Substack)

12/25/2024

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

11/09/2024

2.5/4

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.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

10/30/2024

3/5

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.

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Niall H

Nov 18

Yes I have given this movie 4 stars as I really did like it and the acting from everybody is very good , always bear in mind it is 1986 and that’s 40 years now since the making. The only thing that really annoyed on multiple occasions throughout the movie was the very bad timing as events happened, ill just give one example, the Volkswagen Beetle which Rutger has got a lift in at the very beginning passes the young man Jim Halseys car and within an extremely short time has now murdered the driver of the Volkswagen cut off his arms and legs and head and walked at least a mile if not two back in the direction he’d just come from and gets picked up by Jim Halsey. There’s a few instances like this throughout the movie but I still enjoyed it.

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Matt S

Nov 5

Really interesting premise. Doesn’t answer all the questions but a real thrill ride. If you enjoyed the film Break down you’ll enjoy this. Action packed original horror movie. Haters going to hate but can’t see why.

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tucker s

@tucker83014 Oct 27

Apparently this film has become a cult classic. Not sure what kind of cult would consider this a classic, but it is a monumental waste of time, poorly written, and just all around magnificently stupid.

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Sean F

Sep 22

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!!

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chris h

Jul 31

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.

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Count o

Jul 17

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!

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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