The Deer Hunter (1978)
Kernel Score: 89% · 4,160 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, War
Released: 1978-12-08
Runtime: 183 minutes
Is The Deer Hunter worth watching?
Must-watch. Three steelworkers go to Vietnam and come back changed. It's long, slow in its first act and sometimes brutal, but the wedding, the war scenes and the aftermath leave a lasting mark.
Watch it if you
- want a serious war drama about its human cost
- like big, long American films from the 1970s
- care more about characters than battle scenes
Skip it if you
- need fast pacing
- can't handle harrowing, distressing scenes
Best for: Quiet, serious night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Deer Hunter
- Stream: Netflix
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
The Deer Hunter parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Deer Hunter is an R-rated Vietnam War drama with harrowing violence, PTSD, and a suicide.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Includes wartime combat and the infamous, disturbing Russian roulette scenes, per keywords and reviews.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Moderate — Keywords note 'drunkenness' among the steelworker characters.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Deer Hunter
If you liked The Deer Hunter, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Apocalypse Now (1979) — 91%: Vietnam seen as a descent into madness
- Full Metal Jacket (1987) — 90%: Vietnam film about what war does to young men
- Paths of Glory (1957) — 91%: Anti-war drama of institutional cruelty
- Born on the Fourth of July (1989) — 79%: Vietnam veteran struggling to live with what he saw
- Casualties of War (1989) — 81%: Vietnam moral crisis among ordinary soldiers
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) — 95%: War film that stays on its men rather than its maps
Director
Michael Cimino
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Michael Vronsky
- Christopher Walken as Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich
- John Cazale as Stan
- John Savage as Steven Pushkov
- Meryl Streep as Linda
- George Dzundza as John
- Rutanya Alda as Angela
- Pierre Segui as Julien
- Amy Wright as Bridesmaid
- Richard Kuss as Linda's Father
The Deer Hunter FAQ
Is The Deer Hunter worth watching?
Must-watch. Three steelworkers go to Vietnam and come back changed. It's long, slow in its first act and sometimes brutal, but the wedding, the war scenes and the aftermath leave a lasting mark.
Where can I watch The Deer Hunter?
In the US you can stream The Deer Hunter on Netflix and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Deer Hunter OK for kids?
The Deer Hunter is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Deer Hunter is an R-rated Vietnam War drama with harrowing violence, PTSD, and a suicide.
What movies are like The Deer Hunter?
If you liked The Deer Hunter, try Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Paths of Glory and Born on the Fourth of July.