The Hitcher (1986 film)

The Hitcher
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Harmon
Written byEric Red
Produced by
  • David Bombyk
  • Kip Ohman
Starring
CinematographyJohn Seale
Edited byFrank J. Urioste
Music byMark Isham
Production
companies
Distributed byTri-Star Pictures
Release date
  • February 21, 1986 (1986-02-21)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7.9 million
Box office$5.8 million

The Hitcher is a 1986 American horror thriller[2][3][4][5] film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red. It stars Rutger Hauer as the title character, a murderous hitchhiker who stalks a young motorist (C. Thomas Howell) across the highways of West Texas. Jeffrey DeMunn and Jennifer Jason Leigh appear in supporting roles.

Released in the United States on February 21, 1986, the film was originally met with tepid critical and commercial response, grossing $5.8 million on a $7.9 million budget. In later years, it has been reappraised as a cult classic. The film was followed by a 2003 sequel, The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting, which featured Howell reprising his role, and a 2007 remake.

  1. ^ "THE HITCHER (18)". British Board of Film Classification. February 27, 1986. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Hitcher movie review & film summary (1986) | Roger Ebert".
  3. ^ Alexander, Sean (June 6, 2024). "10 Amazing Horror Movies Recommended by Stephen King". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Squires, John (July 10, 2024). "'The Hitcher' – 4K Restoration of 1986 Horror Classic Finally Up for Pre-Order!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "AFI Catalog - The Hitcher". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.