Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- wry
- gritty
- classic action night
- steve mcqueen retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a weak, formulaic final vehicle for Steve McQueen, despite its accessible action premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ralph Thorson tracks several bail jumpers through distinct routine and dangerous searches rather than one continuous pursuit.
Thorson's repeated confrontations with injured or dead lawbreakers lead him to question what he has done with his life.
Thorson works as a bounty hunter, independently tracking fugitives outside a conventional police-procedural structure.
Steve McQueen plays an experienced bounty hunter whose own life is repeatedly placed in danger.
Films like The Hunter, and why
Midnight Run
shared bounty-hunter protagonist, procedural manhunts, grounded action, and an aging professional questioning his life
Bullitt
shared ex-lawman protagonist, pursuit-driven thriller structure, gunplay, and a tense but occasionally comic tone
The Gauntlet
shared 1970s-style crime action, morally complicated enforcement work, and an older action star carrying a character-centered thriller
The French Connection
shared manhunt mechanics, professional pursuer protagonist, and a blend of suspense with hard-edged action
Movie Details
- Director
- Buzz Kulik
- Release Date
- 1980-08-01
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (163)
Cast
- Steve McQueen
- Eli Wallach
- Kathryn Harrold
- LeVar Burton
- Ben Johnson
- Richard Venture
- Tracey Walter
- Thomas Rosales Jr.
- Teddy Wilson
- Bill Hart
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hunter about?
- An aging Los Angeles bounty hunter confronts escalating danger and the moral exhaustion behind his seemingly routine fugitive searches.
- What is The Hunter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hunter as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Hunter violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Hunter as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Hunter?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a weak, formulaic final vehicle for Steve McQueen, despite its accessible action premise.
- Which films are like The Hunter?
- Films with a similar feel include Midnight Run, Bullitt, The Gauntlet, and The French Connection.
- How long is The Hunter?
- The Hunter runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hunter?
- In United States, The Hunter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
