IMDb > Blue Thunder (1983)
Blue Thunder
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Blue Thunder (1983) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 4)
Blue Thunder (1983) -- Roy Scheider and Malcolm McDowell star in this thriller set in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics. Scheider plays a Helicopter Pilot who flies "Blue Thunder" a sophisticated hi-tech helicopter used for security. Criminal mastermind, McDowell will stop at nothing to destroy the helicopter.
Blue Thunder (1983) -- The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.
Blue Thunder (1983) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   5,624 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Dan O'Bannon (written by) &
Don Jakoby (written by)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Blue Thunder on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 May 1983 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
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 synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(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:
Top Gun hold your hat! 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)
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Blue Thunder the Movie (UK) (video box title)
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Runtime:
109 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [John Badham]He's in the video room, the furthest of the three from camera. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the demonstration flight, in-cockpit shots show a bare-handed pilot operating the controls, switching back to a gloved actor on landing. more
Quotes:
Jack Braddock: [after Lymangood interrupts him chewing out Murphy] You're supposed to be stupid, son. Don't abuse the privilege. more
Movie Connections:
References Taxi Driver (1976) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
Top Gun hold your hat!, 17 February 2006
10/10
Author: richardsphotography1 from United States

Clearly, Blue Thunder's introduction shows the state of the art in computer technology at the time. Looked like a Wang computer at work.

I saw this movie for the first time at a drive-in. Those were the days!! .. before DVD's and when VHS recorders were manually tuned. Guess you might say that this was the end of an era and the beginning of video.

My girl and her two boys will remember this movie as long as they live. The movie that played right after this at the drive-in was Xtro. Remember when you could have the entire family see two full length movies for under $10.00? Now, popcorn alone costs $10.00 for one medium bucket.

I have the original Blue Thunder VHS tape in my library, played it last night. My favorite part of the movie is when a heat seeking-missile is launched into a B-B-Que chicken factory and chickens come raining down on the street and cars. The suspense that built up to this point made it funny however tragic for the factory workers.

25 years prior to this movie there was Whirly Birds in black and white on TV. It is interesting to see the advance in aeronautical technology from the early Korean War birds to stealth flight in choppers. I seriously doubt that any helicopter today can achieve or survive inverted flight as was depicted in the final scenes of Blue Thunder. As unbelievable as it seemed, it was exciting to watch.

We still have increased concerns of the privacy of citizens and terrorist activity. In the days of Blue Thunder it was only fantasy to think of wire tapping without a warrant .... today? This reader comment could be intercepted before it makes your review.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (48 total)

Message Boards

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The dumbest film I've see in a long while... Anscules
Funny Quotes from Blue Thunder Zach126
They changed the soundtrack. pbandj4evr
Lots of questions jdryyz
Blue Thunder Blu-Ray Professor_Abronsius
A Celebration of Roy Scheider with Blue Thunder? EHnews
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