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The Deer Hunter
1978 183 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★8.7
Drama, War
Director: Michael Cimino
Trailers
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Description
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.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$48.98M
Worldwide:
$49M
Starring
Robert De Niro
Actor
Christopher Walken
Actor
John Cazale
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Sound
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 1980
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 1980
— Best Actress
BAFTA 1980
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1980
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 1980
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Actor (Drama)
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1979
— Best Screenplay
BAFTA 1980
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 1979
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 1980
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1980
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 1980
— Best Screenplay
Key opinion
The Deer Hunter is widely regarded as a profound and harrowing exploration of the psychological toll of the Vietnam War on working-class soldiers. While praised for its powerful performances and emotional depth, it remains a divisive work, with some viewers finding its three-hour runtime and deliberate pacing exhausting or overly self-indulgent.
| Acting | Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken deliver career-best performances that anchor the film's emotional weight. | |
| Direction | The film is a masterfully directed, harrowing depiction of the irreversible moral and psychological decay caused by war. | |
| Pacing | The three-hour runtime rewards viewers who embrace its contemplative, character-driven tempo, though others find the pacing meandering and exhausting. | |
| Culture | The Russian-American cultural depictions are perceived by some as authentic, atmospheric detail, while others dismiss them as forced, superficial stereotypes or propaganda. |