The Deer Hunter (1978): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama directed by Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken. It runs 3 hours 2 minutes and earned $49.1 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. It won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 8 awards in all. Critics gave it 90 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 3h 2m (182 min)
- Director
- Michael Cimino
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $15M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Deer Hunter About?
The premise of The Deer Hunter without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A close group of steelworkers in Pennsylvania share a final hunting trip before some are drafted to fight in Vietnam. The experience foreshadows the intense challenges and traumas they will face in the war. Their friendships and bravery are pushed to their limits amidst the violence and hardship, exploring the profound impact of conflict on their lives and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
The Deer Hunter Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- russian roulette
- prisoner of war
- vietnam war
- wedding reception
- torture
- soldier
- public nudity
- vietnam
- hunting
- wedding
- deer
- double amputee
+38 more Show fewer
- u.s. army
- drunkenness
- dancing
- psychological torture
- shot in the head
- small town
- domestic violence
- gambling
- paraplegic
- friendship
- helicopter
- funeral
- 1960s
- epic
- death of friend
- homecoming soldier
- love triangle
- falling into a river
- russian orthodox church
- party
- pennsylvania
- rescue
- steel mill
- bar
- revolver
- rat
- polish american
- beer
- war crime
- green beret
- singing
- cemetery
- broken leg
- bowling
- flamethrower
- supermarket
- motel
- russian orthodox
The Deer Hunter Cast
Robert De Niro leads the cast, with Christopher Walken. Directed by Michael Cimino.
-
Director Michael Cimino
More from Michael Cimino
More films directed by Michael Cimino, best-rated first: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Heaven's Gate, Year of the Dragon and Desperate Hours.
The Deer Hunter Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Deer Hunter 90 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.1/10.
-
IMDb 8.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 90 Metascore
User score 8.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 80% User score
See on TMDB
The Deer Hunter Plot Summary
What happens in The Deer Hunter from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 1960s, in the Western Pennsylvania foundry town of Clairton, a tight-knit group of Russian-American steel workers are on the brink of significant life changes. Preparations are underway for a wedding and military service, which will take three of them away to Vietnam. The central figures include Michael (Robert De Niro](/actor/robert-de-niro)), Steven ([John Savage), Nick (Christopher Walken), and a few others.
As they enjoy weekends filled with deer hunting and camaraderie at their local bar, one of the group, Steven, marries Angela, who is pregnant and has not yet shared intimate moments with him, making the wedding a bittersweet farewell party for the enlisted men. The ceremony is a cacophony of joy and tradition, marked by dancing and drinking, but it also foreshadows the darker times ahead.
Full summary
The whole story of The Deer Hunter, scene by scene
The Deer Hunter Box Office & Budget
The Deer Hunter grossed $49.1 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, 3.3 times what it cost. $49 million came from the US and Canada and $95,051 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$49.1M
3.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $49M
- International
- $95.1K
- Budget
- $15M
The Deer Hunter Awards & Nominations
The Deer Hunter won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 8 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1979, with 5 wins from 9 nominations.
8 wins25 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1980 2 wins · 9 nominations- Won Best Cinematography
- Won Best Editing
- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Robert De Niro
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Christopher Walken
- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
-
Oscars 1979 5 wins · 9 nominations- Won Actor in a Supporting Role – Christopher Walken
- Won Best Picture
- Won Directing – Michael Cimino
- Won Film Editing
- Won Sound
-
DGA Awards 1979 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Feature Film – Michael Cimino
-
Golden Globes 1979 6 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Michael Cimino
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Robert De Niro
- Nominated Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) – Christopher Walken
The Deer Hunter Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.
- Featurette What Robert De Niro did for The Deer Hunter | BFI
- Featurette Meryl Streep on her character Linda in THE DEER HUNTER
How Well Do You Know The Deer Hunter?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What significant life event occurs for Steven before he departs for Vietnam?
The Deer Hunter Also Known As
38 alternative titles, including “The Man Who Came to Play” and “Vanatorul de Cerbi”.
- Also known as
-
- The Man Who Came to Play
- Vanatorul de Cerbi
- 사슴 사냥꾼
- Łowca Jeleni
- Kauriinmetsästäjä
- O Franco Atirador
- El cazador
- 獵鹿者
- Die durch die Hölle gehen
- A szarvasvadász
- Il cacciatore
- Voyage au bout de l’enfer
+26 more Show fewer
- Lovec jelenů
- Охотник на оленей
- O Caçador
- Avcı
- 猎鹿人
- צייד הצבאים
- Ο Ελαφοκυνηγός
- Vânătorul de cerbi
- 디어헌터
- Мисливець на оленів
- ディア・ハンター
- Hjortejegeren
- Ловецът на елени
- Voyage au bout de l'enfer
- Lovac na jelene
- El Francotirador
- Ловац на јелене
- Lovec na jelene
- Elnių medžiotojas
- 越戰獵鹿人
- Lovec jeleňov
- เดอะ เดียร์ ฮันเตอร์
- شکارچی گوزن, ირმებზე მონადირე
- El caçador
- Hirvekütt
- Kẻ Săn Hươu
Seen The Deer Hunter?
Movies Like The Deer Hunter
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hunter, The Hunting Party and Killing Season.
The Deer Hunter FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Deer Hunter, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Deer Hunter?
The Deer Hunter runs 3 hours 2 minutes (182 minutes).
When was The Deer Hunter released?
The Deer Hunter was released on December 8, 1978.
Who directed The Deer Hunter?
The Deer Hunter was directed by Michael Cimino.
More films by Michael Cimino Who is in the cast of The Deer Hunter?
The Deer Hunter stars Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken.
How much did The Deer Hunter make at the box office?
The Deer Hunter grossed $49.1 million worldwide ($49 million domestic, $95,051 international) on a budget of $15 million.
How is The Deer Hunter rated?
The Deer Hunter has 8.1/10 on IMDb, 90 on Metacritic and 80% on TMDB.
What awards did The Deer Hunter win?
The Deer Hunter won 8 awards from 25 nominations, including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA 1980.
Does The Deer Hunter have a post-credit scene?
No. The Deer Hunter has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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