RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Deer Hunter (1978)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
91 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:44

Fresh:40

Rotten:4

Average Rating:8.3/10

Consensus: Its greatness is blunted by its length and one-sided point of view, but the film's weaknesses are overpowered by Michael Cimino's sympathetic direction and a series of heartbreaking performances from Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken.

Runtime: 3 hrs 4 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: An epic three-hour tale of lives forever changed by the Vietnam War, THE DEER HUNTER follows the transformation of a tight group of friends from a working-class town, taking its place alongside... An epic three-hour tale of lives forever changed by the Vietnam War, THE DEER HUNTER follows the transformation of a tight group of friends from a working-class town, taking its place alongside such classics as ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT in telling a story of war and disillusionment. On the eve of going to war, Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), and Steven (John Savage) gather for Steven's wedding. Leaving Steven to his wedding night, Mike, Nick, and pals Axel (Chuck Aspergren), Stan (John Cazale), and John (George Dzundza) depart for the mountains and one last hunting trip. The hunting trip is a funny, poignant scene that firmly establishes the characters as they set off for Vietnam immediately after the trip. The scenes in Vietnam, especially the Russian roulette game, are among the most brutal war scenes on film. The characters' eventual return to the States is emotional and gut-wrenching. Michael Cimino's award-winning film is a powerful look at friendship and love in the midst of war. [More]

Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, John Savage

Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, George Dzundza, Chuck Aspegren, Shirley Stoler, Rutanya Alda

Director: Michael Cimino

Director: Michael Cimino
Screenwriter: Deric Washburn
Producer: Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley, Michael Cimino, John Peverall
Composer: Stanley Myers

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Sep 29, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

Blu-ray Disc Features:

  • Special Edition
  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • DTS HD Master Audio - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
  • Subtitles - Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
 
 
 
 

Reviews for The Deer Hunter

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
87/100

David Nusair

The friendship between the three central characters, as well as their shared association with the men from their small hometown, is truthful and realistic in a way that most guys will find impossible to resist.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 02:05 PM

AskMen.com

tomato

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.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Feb., 20 2009 03:56 AM

TIME Magazine

tomato
5/5

Kevin McCarthy

The first half and second half of the film couldn't be more different but that is the genius behind the film.

comment Comment | Aug., 03 2008 07:40 PM

BDK Reviews

tomato

Charles Schreger

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 20 2008 12:13 PM

Variety

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 02 2007 10:34 AM

ColeSmithey.com

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

Like an honorable soldier, Cazale gave everything he had for a cause in which he believed.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 08 2007 09:27 AM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
5/5

Anton Bitel

Gauging the shifting moods of the 1970s, this tale of life and love disrupted by war is as arresting as a bullet to the brain.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 13 2007 04:14 AM

Channel 4 Film

splat

Jonathan Rosenbaum

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.

Full Review Source: | comment 35 Comments | Dec., 13 2006 08:15 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato
3.5/4

Wesley Lovell

A visceral film that says volumes about the horrors of war and its impact on the lives of typically well adjusted people.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 13 2006 06:08 AM

Oscar Guy

tomato

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:15 AM

Time Out

tomato
4/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 02 2005 04:09 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

splat
1/5

John Esther

No review available.

comment 2 Comments | Nov., 22 2004 10:19 PM

Pasadena Weekly

tomato
4/4

Roger Ebert

It is a heartbreakingly effective fictional machine that evokes the agony of the Vietnam time.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2004 10:24 PM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
4/5

Robin Clifford

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 08 2004 10:44 AM

Reeling Reviews

tomato
4/5

Nell Minow

No review available.

comment Comment | Sep., 09 2004 08:25 PM

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

tomato
5/5

Colin Kennedy

A simultaneuosly touching and harrowing experience that puts the audience directly in the shoes of one man's experience of Vietnam.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 04 2004 08:17 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato
5/5

Daniel M. Kimmel

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 08 2004 08:45 AM

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

tomato
5/5

Randy Shulman

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 17 2004 06:25 AM

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

splat
3/5

Mark Athitakis

a hollow movie that only play-acted at meaning; the sucker was us.

Full Review Source: | comment 18 Comments | Apr., 04 2004 07:16 PM

Filmcritic.com

tomato
4/5

Jules Brenner

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 11 2003 02:06 PM

Cinema Signals

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Deer Hunter

June 22, 2007: AFI Announces Top 100 Movies of All Time ... Again
Ten years ago the AFI gave us a list of the Top 100 American Films Ever Made -- and when that was done they churned out 15 other lists every few years. And then last night they... More...

October 10, 2005: Uwe Boll Talks Dungeon Siege, Bloodrayne, and More.
Director Uwe Boll was kind enough to take time away from filming "Dungeon Siege" to answer a few questions about projects, past, present, and future for Skewed and... More...

June 16, 2005: De Niro and Streep Sign Up for "First Man"
Variety indicates that Robert De Niro ("Hide and Seek") and Meryl Streep ("Adaptation") will co-star in Disney's "First Man." Screenwriter Diane... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
66% 66% Public Enemies
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
75% 75% Julie & Julia
32% 32% Terminator Salvation

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
90% 90% District 9
86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
63% 63% Extract
06% 06% All About Steve
78% 78% It Might Get Loud

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

New clips from the detective reboot!

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

Watch the brand new trailer now!

Awards Tour

Awards Tour

Keep up with latest nominations and awards!

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

District 9 & 500 Days of Summer

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
11
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
32
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
309
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
218
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
145
  • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
99
  • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
89
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
43
  • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
43
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
36
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
18
  • Friday Harvest: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and more!
14
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
36
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Deer Hunter at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Deer Hunter at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
MSN's Year in Review
MSN's Year in Review External Link

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

Moviefone's Year End Poll
Moviefone's Year End Poll External Link

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Tarantino's Characters
Tarantino's Characters External Link

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

Top 10 Movies of 2009
Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Top 20 of the Decade
Top 20 of the Decade External Link

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.