Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Hitcher

  • 1986
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,679
357
Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell in The Hitcher (1986)
A young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
99+ Photos
Contemporary WesternPsychological ThrillerSurvivalMysteryThriller

A young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.A young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.A young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.

  • Director
    • Robert Harmon
  • Writer
    • Eric Red
  • Stars
    • Rutger Hauer
    • C. Thomas Howell
    • Jennifer Jason Leigh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    60K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,679
    357
    • Director
      • Robert Harmon
    • Writer
      • Eric Red
    • Stars
      • Rutger Hauer
      • C. Thomas Howell
      • Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • 353User reviews
    • 100Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Official Trailer

    Photos140

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 132
    View Poster

    Top Cast16

    Rutger Hauer
    Rutger Hauer
    • John Ryder
    C. Thomas Howell
    C. Thomas Howell
    • Jim Halsey
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Nash
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Captain Esteridge
    John M. Jackson
    John M. Jackson
    • Sergeant Starr
    • (as John Jackson)
    Billy Green Bush
    Billy Green Bush
    • Trooper Donner
    • (as Billy Greenbush)
    Jack Thibeau
    Jack Thibeau
    • Trooper Prestone
    Armin Shimerman
    Armin Shimerman
    • Interrogation Sergeant
    Gene Davis
    Gene Davis
    • Trooper Dodge
    • (as Eugene Davis)
    Jon Van Ness
    Jon Van Ness
    • Trooper Hapscomb
    Henry Darrow
    Henry Darrow
    • Trooper Hancock
    Tony Epper
    Tony Epper
    • Trooper Conners
    Tom Spratley
    Tom Spratley
    • Proprietor
    Colin Campbell
    • Construction Man
    Brittania
      Garth Shaw
      • Photographer
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Robert Harmon
      • Writer
        • Eric Red
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews353

      7.259.8K
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10

      Summary

      Reviewers say 'The Hitcher' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

      Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
      Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
      Sign in to see this summary and all user reviews
      See opinions from fans, or write your own review.
      Sign in to IMDb
      This extra step helps us keep IMDb's reviews a space for genuine, human voices.

      Remembering Rutger Hauer (1944-2019)

      Remembering Rutger Hauer (1944-2019)

      We celebrate the life and legacy of Rutger Hauer, the award-winning actor best known for Blade Runner and The Hitcher.
      Watch the video
      Editorial Image
      1:08

      More like this

      The Hitcher
      5.6
      The Hitcher
      The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
      4.3
      The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
      Blind Fury
      6.3
      Blind Fury
      Duel
      7.6
      Duel
      Near Dark
      6.9
      Near Dark
      Breakdown
      7.0
      Breakdown
      Fright Night
      7.1
      Fright Night
      Joy Ride
      6.6
      Joy Ride
      The Hidden
      7.0
      The Hidden
      Dead Calm
      6.8
      Dead Calm
      Re-Animator
      7.1
      Re-Animator
      The Fog
      6.8
      The Fog

      Related interests

      Ben Foster and Chris Pine in Hell or High Water (2016)
      Contemporary Western
      Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
      Psychological Thriller
      Society of the Snow (2023)
      Survival
      Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)
      Mystery
      Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
      Thriller

      Storyline

      Did you know

      • Trivia
        C. Thomas Howell admitted that he was actually afraid of Rutger Hauer on and off the set because of Hauer's general intensity.
      • Goofs
        The car that gets hit by the bus loses its bumper, but the bumper can be seen in a subsequent shot.
      • Quotes
        • John Ryder: Gas stations have cigarettes.
        • Jim Halsey: What about gas?
        • John Ryder: I don't need gas.
        • Jim Halsey: What do you want?
        • [John starts laughing]
        • Jim Halsey: What's so funny?
        • John Ryder: That's what the other guy said.
        • Jim Halsey: What other guy?
        • John Ryder: That guy back there, the one we just passed. The guy who picked me up before you did.
        • Jim Halsey: That was him in there?
        • John Ryder: Sure it was. He couldn't have walked very far.
        • Jim Halsey: Why's that?
        • John Ryder: Because I cut off his legs... and his arms... and his head... and I'm going to do the same to you.
      • Connections
        Edited into The Hitcher: 'How Do These Movies Get Made?' (2003)
      • Soundtracks
        Don't Stop Lovin' Me
        Performed by Mickey Jones
        Published by Mickey Jones Music (ASCAP)

      Top picks

      Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
      Sign in

      FAQ3

      • What are some interesting things about cars?
      • Why does Ryder place the coins on Halsey's eyes and under his tongue in the diner?
      • Would stringing Nash up between a semi-tractor & a trailer really tear her in half?

      Details

      • Release date
        • February 21, 1986 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Languages
        • English
        • French
      • Also known as
        • Hitcher, el asesino de la carretera
      • Filming locations
        • Roy's Motel and Cafe, Amboy, California, USA(Roy's diner)
      • Production companies
        • HBO Pictures
        • Silver Screen Partners
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      • Budget
        • $6,000,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $5,844,868
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $2,134,214
        • Feb 23, 1986
      • Gross worldwide
        • $5,846,014
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      • Runtime
        • 1h 37m(97 min)
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.39 : 1

      Contribute to this page

      Suggest an edit or add missing content
      • Learn more about contributing
      Edit page

      More to explore

      Recently viewed

      You have no recently viewed pages
      Get the IMDb app
      Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
      Follow IMDb on social
      Get the IMDb app
      For Android and iOS
      Get the IMDb app
      • Help
      • Site Index
      • IMDbPro
      • Box Office Mojo
      • License IMDb Data
      • Press Room
      • Advertising
      • Jobs
      • Conditions of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Your Ads Privacy Choices
      IMDb, an Amazon company

      © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.