Replicating the war on a soundstage just wouldn’t be the same. Shooting the film on location in Thailand helps to bring about the authenticity. You have one of the biggest screen stars of the mid to late 1970s and he’s able to bring on Meryl Streep and then some.

Of course, De Niro signed on late in the process and only after Jaws star Roy Scheider due to creative differences. Without the casting of De Niro, we can only wonder what would have happened with Meryl Streep’s career. During the ten year anniversary of the top films, the film would take honors once again. The film would also be honored by the American Film Institiute in their initial list of the top 100 films of all time. Meryl Streep would also take home her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In addition to taking home Best Picture, the film won another four Academy Awards, including Best Director (Michael Cimino), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Christopher Walken), Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. The Deer Hunter, the Oscar-winning Best Picture of 1978, is now available on 4K Ultra HD with a new collector’s edition from Shout! Factory.

The deer hunter cast