The Night of the Hunter
“It’s a hard world for little things.”
Synopsis
In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Robert Mitchum On THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTEROfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-07-26
Top Cast
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Robert Mitchum
Preacher Harry Powell
Shelley Winters
Willa Harper
Lillian Gish
Rachel Cooper
Billy Chapin
John Harper
Sally Jane Bruce
Pearl Harper
James Gleason
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Evelyn Varden
Icey Spoon
Don Beddoe
Walt Spoon
Peter Graves
Ben Harper
James Griffith
District Attorney
Gloria Castillo
Ruby
Gloria Pall
Burlesque Dancer
Paul Bryar
Bart (uncredited)
Cheryl Callaway
Mary
Alexander Campbell
Judge
Michael Chapin
Ruby's Boyfriend
Roy Engel
Sheriff
Kay Lavelle
Miz Cunningham
Release History & Theatrical Window
Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival (Digitally Restored Version)
Festival / Special Debut
July 26, 1955
Wide Cinema Exhibition
July 14, 1992
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$795K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$7K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.01x
-$788K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Charles Laughton
- Screenplay & Story
- Charles Laughton, James Agee
- Original Score
- Walter Schumann
- Original Title
- The Night of the Hunter
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Budget
- $795K
- Worldwide Gross
- $7K
- Production Studios
- Paul Gregory Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton, James Agee, Davis Grubb
Walter Schumann
Stanley Cortez
Robert Golden
Paul Gregory
Department Leadership Roster
Charles Laughton
Screenplay
Stanley Cortez
Director of Photography
Charles Laughton
Director
James Agee
Screenplay
Walter Schumann
Original Music Composer
Paul Gregory
Producer
Robert Golden
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Suitable only for 12 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Night of the Hunter.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Night of the Hunter.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Night of the Hunter
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Night of the Hunter about?
In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
Who directed The Night of the Hunter?
The Night of the Hunter was directed by Charles Laughton.
Who stars in The Night of the Hunter?
The principal cast of The Night of the Hunter includes Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce.
When was The Night of the Hunter released and how long is it?
The Night of the Hunter was released in 1955 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Night of the Hunter?
The Night of the Hunter had a reported production budget of $795K and grossed $7K at the worldwide box office (0.01 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Night of the Hunter?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Night of the Hunter was composed by Walter Schumann.
Is The Night of the Hunter based on a book or true story?
The Night of the Hunter is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Davis Grubb".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Night of the Hunter?
The Night of the Hunter holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 12 (Suitable only for 12 years and over.).