IMDb >
Blue Thunder (1983)
Watch It
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
at Crackle

BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBlue Thunder (1983) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 4 NEW) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 May 1983 (USA) moreTagline:
He's Out There...Plot:
The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Blue Thunder - Blu-ray Review (From Monsters and Critics. 17 August 2009, 7:51 AM, PDT)
New On DVD This Week
(From The Flickcast. 11 August 2009, 1:15 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
An under-rated gem.. more (48 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Roy Scheider | ... | Officer Frank Murphy | |
| Warren Oates | ... | Capt. Jack Braddock | |
| Candy Clark | ... | Kate | |
| Daniel Stern | ... | Officer Richard Lymangood | |
| Paul Roebling | ... | Icelan | |
| David Sheiner | ... | Fletcher | |
| Joe Santos | ... | Montoya | |
| Malcolm McDowell | ... | Col. F.E. Cochrane | |
| Ed Bernard | ... | Sgt. Short | |
| Jason Bernard | ... | Mayor | |
| Mario Machado | ... | Himself | |
| James Murtaugh | ... | Alf Hewitt | |
| Pat McNamara | ... | Matusek | |
| Jack Murdock | ... | Kress | |
| Clifford A. Pellow | ... | Allen (as Clifford Pellow) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
109 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 moreCertification:
Argentina:Atp | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #26781) | West Germany:12 | Iceland:LFun Stuff
Trivia:
The helicopter used to portray Blue Thunder was a French-made Gazelle helicopter with bolt-on parts to change its appearance. Most notably the chin cannon assembly was too heavy, necessitating a weight attached to the tail to keep the nose from dipping forward in flight. moreGoofs:
Continuity: During the demonstration flight, in-cockpit shots show a bare-handed pilot operating the controls, switching back to a gloved actor on landing. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (48 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Blue Thunder (1983) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Tightrope | Magnum Force | The Spider Returns | GoldenEye | Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |





I first saw Blue Thunder as a kid at the time of its release and enjoyed it purely as a slice of action/adventure typical of its time. I could name many films from the early 80s of a similar ilk, but this one stuck in my mind as a real favourite and it was only when I re-watched it recently that I understood why.
Unlike other films in the genre, Blue Thunder always strikes me as having been thought about and crafted in a very careful way. In fact I didn't remember there being as little action as there is. Instead we are given far more character development than we might be accustomed to, thereby enhancing the final aerial drama because we do care about the people involved.
Roy Scheider(who I must confess is my favourite actor of his era) gives a standout performance. His portrayal of Murphy with its wry humour & very human lapses shares more than a little with a certain Chief Brody, but the use of an aging rebel with little cause as the main character in a technological thriller is still refreshing now.
Malcolm McDowell gives the sort of OTT villainous performance that only he can (why has no-one ever cast him as a Bond villain?) and special mention must go to Warren Oates as Scheider's long-suffering boss.
The helicopter looks awesome with cool gadgets aplenty but it isn't the star here, Scheider is. Move over Top Gun, Airwolf, Wings of the Apache, et al; this is the number 1 fly-boy in town.