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Rolling Thunder

Play trailer Poster for Rolling Thunder R 1977 1h 39m Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A Vietnam veteran who returns home after years in a POW camp, Maj. Charles Rane (William Devane) is treated as a hero, but his family proves to be distant. When thugs invade his home to steal silver coins that Rane received for his service, they mangle his hand and leave him, his wife and son for dead. Rane survives and becomes obsessed with getting revenge. Aided by his loyal friend Johnny Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones), Rane, now wielding a hook for a hand, sets out on his mission of vengeance.
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Rolling Thunder

Critics Reviews

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Gary Arnold Washington Post Flynn's crisp, laconic direction and evocative use of Southern Texas locations transorm Rolling Thunder, now at area theaters, into a more distinctive exploitation movie than it deserves to be. Dec 21, 2015 Full Review Nick Pinkerton Village Voice Performances are made crystalline through a sixth sense for camera placement and curt cutting from director John Flynn, whose 2007 passing was little noted, though his no-BS way of laying down a story is a rare commodity in any era. Aug 1, 2012 Full Review Variety Staff Variety In sum, it neither rolls nor thunders. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Devane holds your attention and convinces you of his strong intensity during every opportunity within "Rolling Thunder." Rated: 3/5 Jul 28, 2025 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The movie is just as much a character study as it is a revenge thriller. Its themes are straightforward but insightful, plowing deep into the post-Vietnam alienation felt by many veterans. At the same time, there’s no denying its exploitation inspiration. Rated: 3.5/5 Feb 12, 2025 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Basically an inferior version of Death Wish, with a thudding simplicity that makes the Charles Bronson hit look as complex as All the President’s Men by comparison. Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 23, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Iain M A profoundly unsettling film. The pulpy, B-movie exterior masks a truly bleak meditation on violence, the USA and masculinity. The performances and direction are crisp, unfussy and memorable. The washed out cinematography gives a real sense of entropy. If a cool director "discovers" this, it will be suddenly thought of as a masterpiece Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/25 Full Review Sen S The violence- so shocking back then- seems pulpy now. But the film is just as dark and believable at its core as ever. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Jonathan O Rolling Thunder is an explosion violent revenge thriller ever with really great cast and good writing from the same writer who did Taxi Driver. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Matt F One of my favorite revenge movies. I saw it at an early age and was suprised to see James Best as a villain but he was really good as one as well as Luke Askew. Probably one of Tommy Lee Jones earliest movies. William Devane's character reliving the torture as a POW just added the fuel for the blowout ending. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/28/24 Full Review Mark W The ever dependable William Devane alone make this worth watching. 70s revenge thriller set against the backdrop of the fallout from the Vietnam war. Not action packed throughout but boy when it comes it packs a bloody punch. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/30/24 Full Review Jelisije J A slow standard revenge movie of a veteran returning home who cannot adjust to society and witnesses his family murder he then seeks revenge....well he also has a hook for a hand so its quite interesting watch. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Rolling Thunder

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Cast & Crew

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John Flynn

Director

William Devane

Major Charles Rane

Tommy Lee Jones

Johnny Vohden

Linda Haynes

Linda Forchet

James Best

Texan

Dabney Coleman

Maxwell

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Rolling Thunder

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Movie Info

Synopsis A Vietnam veteran who returns home after years in a POW camp, Maj. Charles Rane (William Devane) is treated as a hero, but his family proves to be distant. When thugs invade his home to steal silver coins that Rane received for his service, they mangle his hand and leave him, his wife and son for dead. Rane survives and becomes obsessed with getting revenge. Aided by his loyal friend Johnny Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones), Rane, now wielding a hook for a hand, sets out on his mission of vengeance.
Director
John Flynn
Producer
Norman T. Herman
Screenwriter
Paul Schrader, Heywood Gould
Production Co
Lawrence Gordon Productions, TBC Filmproduktion, American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 39m
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