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The Deer Hunter

1978 3h 3m
Drama War
MOVIEVIBE Rating
8.0/10
4,377 reviews
Your Rating
The Deer Hunter

Three steelworkers enlist in the army and are sent to Vietnam, one leaving behind a rushed marriage, the others a shared love. What they encounter during the war changes their lives forever.

"One of the most important and powerful films of all time!"

Top Billed Cast

Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Michael Vronsky
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich
John Cazale
John Cazale
Stan
John Savage
John Savage
Steven Pushkov
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Linda
George Dzundza
George Dzundza
John
Rutanya Alda
Rutanya Alda
Angela
Pierre Segui
Pierre Segui
Julien

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

A Andres Gomez Verified TMDB Critic
2014-10-10

Slow pace movie which nicely depicts the life of worker class Russian inmigrants in USA and the impact that its young generation receives from Vietnam's war.

The actual shock cause being the crazy game of the Russian roulette only helps from the artistic point of view of the film but it is well blended into the actual story....

T talisencrw Verified TMDB Critic
2016-07-19

With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'. Though over three hours long, it's astonishing, paced so achingly right and I can see why he rightfully earned the 'carte blanche' that would unfortunately lead to his downfall (as well as an entire studio's) as soon as he made his next film. But to reach such heights and to have such ambition--as well as undeniable talent--is a victory in and of itself. Just armed with the main five actors alone, at the zenith of their craft, a fine script (really the f...

J JPV852 Verified TMDB Critic
2020-06-06

The Deer Hunter (1978) — Excellent character war drama that showcases some great performances, mainly De Niro and Walken. Directed by Michael Cimino, this 3-hour film takes its time developing these characters and shows the psychological side of the horrors of Vietnam, and war in general. Probably makes a good companion film with Apocalypse Now, released only seven months later (in the U.S.). **4.5/5**...

C CinemaSerf Verified TMDB Critic
2024-04-06

Did Michael Cimino ever make another movie? I wouldn't be surprised if not after this harrowing and intense look at the human psyche after it's exposure to the brutalities of war. The war was in Vietnam, and the protagonists here are those who survived - to varying degrees - to return home to what they hope will be some sort of normality. To some semblance of what they left behind. To some humanity. The three men all come from an Ohio sawmill town via some Eastern Europe antecedence, and they willingly enlist to fight for their country "Michael" (Robert De Niro), "Nicky" (Christopher Walken) a...