The Hitcher
“The terror starts the moment he stops.”
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.
Where to watch The Hitcher in United States
YouTube TV
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Cinemax Apple TV ChannelClick a service to open The Hitcher there. Availability last verified on June 23, 2026.
Where is The Hitcher streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel | — |
| United Kingdom | Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Crave, Crave Amazon Channel | — |
| Australia | Foxtel Now, Shudder, Plex, Brollie | Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Shadowz Amazon Channel | Amazon Video |
| Spain | Amazon Prime Video, Filmin, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Amazon Video |
About The Hitcher
The Hitcher is a 1986 English-language horror, action and thriller film directed by Robert Harmon. The cast is led by Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh. It has a runtime of 1h 38m. Viewers rate it 7.0/10 across 1100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel.
The Hitcher was produced by Feldman/Meeker Productions and made in United States of America. It was released on January 17, 1986, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $6 million, it went on to gross $6 million worldwide.
- Director
- Robert Harmon
- Writers
- Eric Red
- Release date
- January 17, 1986
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $6 million
- Box office
- $6 million
- Production
- Feldman/Meeker Productions
The Hitcher cast & crew
The Hitcher was directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red.
The cast features Rutger Hauer as John Ryder, C. Thomas Howell as Jim Halsey, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nash, Jeffrey DeMunn as Captain Esteridge, Billy Green Bush as Trooper Donner, and John M. Jackson as Sergeant Starr.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Mark Isham, cinematography is by John Seale, and it was produced by David Bombyk and Kip Ohman.
Is The Hitcher worth watching?
The Hitcher holds an audience score of 7.0/10 from 1,060 ratings, a solidly received horror films.
At 1h 38m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy horror, action, and thriller, The Hitcher is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Hitcher
In United States, you can stream The Hitcher on YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel, and Cinemax Apple TV Channel. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of The Hitcher
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
More from the The Hitcher Collection
The Hitcher — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Hitcher in United States?
The Hitcher is streaming on YouTube TV, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel in United States.
▸Is The Hitcher on YouTube TV?
Yes — The Hitcher is currently available on YouTube TV in United States.
▸What language is The Hitcher in?
The Hitcher is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Hitcher?
The Hitcher runs 1 hours 38 minutes (98 minutes).
▸What is The Hitcher rated?
The Hitcher is rated R. It holds a 7.0/10 audience score from 1,060 ratings.
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