Where to Watch The Night of the Hunter (1955) in the US

What it's about

It's the Great Depression. In the process of robbing a bank of $10,000, Ben Harper kills two people. Before he is captured, he is able to convince his adolescent son John and his daughter Pearl not to tell anyone, including their mother Willa, where he hid the money, namely in Pearl's favorite toy, a doll that she carries everywhere with her. Ben, who is captured, tried and convicted, is sentenced to death. But before he is executed, Ben is in the state penitentiary with a cell mate, a man by the name of Harry Powell, a self-professed man of the cloth, who is really a con man and murderer, swindling lonely women, primarily rich widows, of their money before he kills them. Harry does whatever he can, unsuccessfully, to find out the location of the $10,000 from Ben. After Ben's execution, Harry decides that Willa will be his next mark, figuring that someone in the family knows where the money is hidden. Despite vowing not to remarry, Willa ends up being easy prey for Harry's outward evangelicalism; she is a pious woman who feels she needs to atone for her sins which led to Ben doing what he did, especially as Harry presents himself as the preacher who worked at the prison and provided salvation to Ben before his death. Harry quickly figures out that John and Pearl know where the money is. Conversely, John doesn't trust Harry, John who first tries not to show to Harry that he indeed does know where the money is, and then second constantly reminds a more-trusting Pearl of their promise to their now-deceased father. With Willa devoted to her new husband, John and Pearl need some other adult assistance in evading Harry's veiled threats, an adult who not only can see the honesty and goodness in children but who can also see a true wolf in sheep's clothing like Harry.

Cast and crew

Director

Charles Laughton

Writer

Davis Grubb, James Agee, Charles Laughton

Starring

Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish

Details

Release date

Jul 27, 1955

Language

English

Country

United States

Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination total

Where to Watch The Night of the Hunter (1955) in the US — common questions

Where to watch The Night of the Hunter in the United States?

The Night of the Hunter is available with a subscription, free with ads, free with a participating library card, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on fuboTV (HD), MGM+ (HD), MUBI (HD), and Philo (HD). Watch the movie free with ads on Tubi TV and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Spectrum On Demand.

Can I stream The Night of the Hunter or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on fuboTV (HD), MGM+ (HD), MUBI (HD), and Philo (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Spectrum On Demand.

Can I watch The Night of the Hunter for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Tubi TV and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD).