The Hitcher
“The terror starts the moment he stops.”
Synopsis
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.
Part of the The Hitcher Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K UHD & Blu-ray TrailerOfficial
Type: Teaser • Published 2024-09-27
Top Cast
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Rutger Hauer
John Ryder
C. Thomas Howell
Jim Halsey
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Nash
Jeffrey DeMunn
Captain Esteridge
Billy Green Bush
Trooper Donner
John M. Jackson
Sergeant Starr
Henry Darrow
Trooper Hancock
Jon Van Ness
Trooper Hapscomb
Jack Thibeau
Trooper Prestone
Armin Shimerman
Interrogation Sergeant
Gene Davis
Trooper Dodge
Tony Epper
Trooper Conners
Tom Spratley
Proprietor
Colin Campbell
Construction Man
Release History & Theatrical Window
January 17, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 30, 2024
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.97x
-$155K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Harmon
- Screenplay & Story
- Eric Red
- Original Score
- Mark Isham
- Original Title
- The Hitcher
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $5.8M
- Production Studios
- Feldman/Meeker Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Harmon
Eric Red
Mark Isham
John Seale, Charles Minsky
Frank J. Urioste
David Bombyk, Kip Ohman, Edward S. Feldman, Charles R. Meeker
Department Leadership Roster
Mark Isham
Original Music Composer
John Seale
Director of Photography
Robert Harmon
Director
Frank J. Urioste
Editor
David Bombyk
Producer
Kip Ohman
Producer
Dennis Gassner
Production Design
Eddy Donno
Stunt Coordinator
Eric Red
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Hitcher.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hitcher
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Hitcher about?
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.
Who directed The Hitcher?
The Hitcher was directed by Robert Harmon.
Who stars in The Hitcher?
The principal cast of The Hitcher includes Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn, Billy Green Bush.
When was The Hitcher released and how long is it?
The Hitcher was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Hitcher?
The Hitcher had a reported production budget of $6M and grossed $5.8M at the worldwide box office (0.97 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Hitcher?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Hitcher was composed by Mark Isham.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Hitcher?
The Hitcher holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).