The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter (1978)

  • 92% of critics liked it
    (48 reviews)

  • 91% of users liked it
    (92,711 ratings)

One of several 1978 films dealing with the Vietnam War (including Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Coming Home), Michael Cimino's epic second feature The Deer Hunter was both renowned for its tough portrayal of the war's effect on American working class steel workers and notorious for its… More

R,
Directed By
Written By
Deric Washburn
Genres
Drama, Cult Movies
In Theaters
Dec 8, 1978 Wide
Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune

    Is it as good as its advance word and nine Academy Award nominations suggest? Yes.

  • , TIME Magazine

    This excruciatingly violent, three-hour Viet Nam saga demolishes the moral and ideological cliches of an era: it shoves the audience into hell and leaves it stranded without a map.

  • Charles Schreger, Variety

    The film is ambitious and it succeeds on a number of levels and it proves that Cimino is an important director who deserves to be watched carefully.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    A disgusting account of what the evil Vietnamese did to poor, innocent Americans stands at the center of this Oscar-laden weepie about macho buddies from a small industrial town.

  • , Time Out

    This is probably one of the few great films of the decade.

Read all 18 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Adam K


    Whilst its running length may annoy some, "The Deer Hunter" and Michael Cimino provides viewers with the most gut-wrenching and harrowing examination of the Vietnam War, and most importantly its affects on the lives of individuals. Set across many years, the film is split… More

  • Lucas M


    The Deer Hunter, could sometimes, present boring scenes, but the tension in this dramatic film, with a great Michael Cimino's direction, original story and unforgettable actings, make this war drama, one of the best movies about the Vietnam war.

  • Kase V


    Michael Cimino's Vietnam classic is a bit overlong and a bit under-stuffed, but no one can deny the power of this classic. The acting is generally good, but the true terror of the Russian Roulette scenes are vivid and shocking. Not merely a story about a war, but a story about… More

  • Jack H


    A sprawling epic of three hours, 'The Deer Hunter' is a striking, moving film. It focuses on a group of working class men who live in Clairton, Pennsylvania; which whilst is an industrial town, is a pretty and tranquil part of the world. However, this is strictly the… More

  • paul o


    Its running time versus its story are conflicting but in the end provides a strong portrayal of the Vietnam War.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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