Robert De Niro’s War Masterpiece Faces a Dire Fate This October

Robert De Niro is known for his many breathtaking performances, often under the directorial eye of the great Martin Scorsese. Including mesmeric turns in the likes of The Godfather: Part II, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and much more, De Niro's many great performances have long been heralded for their genius. However, due to the sheer number of iconic performances in his back catalog, some perhaps don't get enough representation, especially his gripping portrayal of Staff Sergeant Mikhail Vronsky in Michael Cimino's war epic, The Deer Hunter.

If you are one of those yet to catch this utterly immersive De Niro performance, alongside a just-as-brilliant turn from Christopher Walken, you haven't got long, as the film is soon to be removed from the world's biggest streaming site. As of October 1, The Deer Hunter will join a huge slate of titles losing their place on Netflix in the U.S. This includes fellow critical darlings like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon's The Departed and Danny and Michael Philippou's horror gem, Talk to Me, as well as the likes of Seth MacFarlane'sA Million Ways to Die in the West and the second and third Rush Hour movies. Here's a look at The Deer Hunter's synopsis:

"In 1968, Michael (De Niro), Nick (Walken) and Steven (John Savage), lifelong friends from a working-class Pennsylvania steel town, prepare to ship out overseas following Steven's elaborate wedding and one final group hunting trip. In Vietnam, their dreams of military honor are quickly shattered by the inhumanities of war; even those who survive are haunted by the experience, as is Nick's hometown sweetheart, Linda (Meryl Streep)."

What Is Robert De Niro's Next Role?

It's been nearly 50 years since The Deer Hunter, and De Niro is still going strong. At the age of 82, the Hollywood veteran shows no signs of slowing down, with his newest confirmed project seeing him return to one of his fan-favorite 21st-century characters. Slated for release on November 25, 2026, De Niro is joining Ben Stiller and Ariana Grande in the upcoming Meet the Parents sequel. It's been 15 years since we last spent time with the Focker family, and this time the movie will focus on the now-adult son of Stiller and Teri Polo’s characters, who is engaged to Grande's character. For more updates on the upcoming sequel, make sure to stay tuned to Collider.

The Deer Hunter is scheduled to leave Netflix this October.

The Deer Hunter

Release Date

February 23, 1979

Runtime

184 Minutes

Director

Michael Cimino

Writers

Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker