The Hitcher poster

The Hitcher

The terror starts the moment he stops.

6.9(1,124)19861h 38m8

On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision.

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Status
Released
Budget
$6M
Box office
$5.8M
Language
English
Part of The Hitcher Collection · 2 films
  • cop-killer
  • sadism
  • gun
  • gas station
  • psychopath
  • falsely accused
  • mass murder
  • paranoia
  • highway
  • road trip
  • serial killer
  • man hunt

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Writers

Eric Red

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical (limited)RVictoria, Texas17 Jan 1986
    • TheatricalR21 Feb 1986
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical1816 May 1986
    • Physical15Added 4K UHD release date30 Sept 2024
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalR 18+10 Jul 1986
  • CanadaCA

    • Theatrical21 Feb 1986
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical1627 Nov 1986
  • ColombiaCO

    • Theatrical7 Jan 1987
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical1512 Sept 1986
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-1831 Oct 1986
  • FranceFR

    • Theatrical1225 Jun 1986
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical18West Germany27 Nov 1986
  • GreeceGR

    • PhysicalDVD3 Sept 2002
  • Hong KongHK

    • Theatrical4 Jun 1986

Frequently asked questions

The Hitcher was released on 17 January 1986.

Audience reviews

3
  • J

    JPV852

    12/6/2024

    7/10

    Solid enough suspense-thriller with great action and menacing performance from Rutger Hauer, a few moments in the story felt a bit clunky, mainly how Jennifer Jason Leigh's character gets involved, which I will say the 2007 remake at least improved upon. Just a highly entertaining flick. **3.5/5**

  • W

    Wuchak

    12/19/2025

    4/10

    **_Thrilling desert road flick ruined by an implausible villain_** This is an action-packed thriller with the milieu of the remote Southwest à la Eastwood’s “The Gauntlet” mixed with psychological horror, even slasher. So, it’s reminiscent in ways of “Duel,” “The Getaway” and "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry," but the enigmatic antagonist’s twistedness and powers add a goofy slasher vibe. The writer defended this on …

  • S

    specimenb

    8/10/2026

    8/10

    *The Hitcher* is a tense, brutal road thriller that turns a simple drive through the desert into a full-blown nightmare. I loved how lean and relentless it is: it wastes almost no time explaining itself, instead building dread through empty highways, eerie silences, and the sense that danger could appear anywhere. Rutger Hauer is phenomenal as John Ryder—calm, charismatic, and genuinely terrifying without ever nee…

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