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The Hitcher

Play trailer Poster for The Hitcher R 1986 1h 37m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
The Hitcher

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Teddy B Thrilling enough, 'The Hitcher' provides serviceable entertainment but doesn't go far beyond that... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hitcher

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Cast & Crew

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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

Sergeant Starr

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The Hitcher

The Hitcher (1986) The Hitcher (1986) The Hitcher (1986) The Hitcher (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

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