Blue Thunder

R

Released May 13, 1983

1h 49m

Action

Drama

List

78%

23 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Frank Murphy is a courageous and honorable Los Angeles police officer who is chosen to test run Blue Thunder, a high-tech experimental attack helicopter. While flying Blue Thunder, Murphy and his partner discover that the government intends to use the helicopter for corrupt crowd control and surveillance.

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Steve D

Only of note if you love flying machines.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

Full Review

John A

A fairly interesting contemporary urban warfare kind of premise that is severely boosted by Scheider and his supporting actors.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Carlos T

Minha opinião: Este é o filme que deu origem ao seriado Trovão Azul, aqui tendo o piloto ninguém mais que Roy Scheider (Tubarão) no seriado o piloto foi James Farentino e também Bubba Smith (Locademia de Policia), lembro desta época que assistia. Por isso assistir a este filme foi voltar no tempo e relembrar este seriado que marcou época. Que no mesmo ano também lançaram Águia de Aço 1984, ai nesse gênero de maquinas também tivemos Super Máquina 1982 e Moto Lazer 1985, todos seriados de sucesso. Lembrando que Águia de Aço tivemos o eterno Ernest Borgnine. Neste filme temos uma nova aeronave denominada de Trovão Azul a ser testada. Mas existe um rival Roy que é Malcolm que já eram rivais desde a guerra do Vietnan. Malcolm tenta sabotar Roy, mas ele não morre. E Malcolm tem uma trama por detrás que descoberto por Roy porem eles tentam elimina-lo. E surge todo uma ação no final que até caça F-16 faz um embate com o Trovão. E no final Malcolm persegue Roy com outro elecoptero com grande poder de fogo. Quem vencerá? Te pago um pilulito. Roteiro e enredo legal Vale apena assistir? Sim para quem curte este estilo, nostalgia. Nota: 7

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

Tiago D

Ainda hoje blue thunder diverte. cenas de ação bem construidas, M.MC sempre um ótimo vilão. Algumas coias no roteiro envelheceram, o politicamente correto pode se assustar, mas da para entender o porque ele virou um sucesso dos anos 80!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hardware, weaponry, and surveillance systems Many of this is still used today in the police force But what happens after a helicopter is secretly being used equipped with all of it? The late Roy Scheider and Daniel Stern are about to find out Frank Murphy is a police officer helicopter pilot and he works with Richard Lymangood Both of them prefer the air patrol rather than breaking down doors and dealing with gun fire Frank is also a Vietnam war veteran suffering PTSD Since he's stationed in Los Angeles obviously there are people who don't like cops let alone helicopters flying around disturbing citizens and peeking in on their business For a while Frank is grounded but he's given a second chance to fly again The Blue Thunder aircraft is the next step in military-style combat complete with thermal infrared scanners, unidirectional microphones, cameras, built-in mobile telephone, computer and modem along with a U-Matic video cassette recorder Even a helmet that follows directions with the gattling gun But corrupt crowd control and surveillance are the last thing Murphy was counting on after he stumbles on top secret information the government plans to use The more questions he asks the more dangerous it becomes Sad to say it doesn't take until an hour and 10 minutes for things to kick off Frank going on the run to expose the crooks clearly is the more exciting part The last half leads to a giant car chase and the Blue Thunder itself which I have to admit are amazing The aerial battles are impressively filmed with a majority of this being real aircraft Scheider makes for a cool action star if this narrative is somewhat erratic and there's gaps in logic Sad that Stern isn't in it more But it's worth it to get to the final act cause that's when it's the most tense being non-stop thanks to director John Badham

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/23

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

What may appear to be a standard police conspiracy thriller on it's surface, Blue Thunder offers up a wealth of great performances and excellent chemistry from the likes Roy Scheider and Malcolm McDowell; a fantastic score from frequent John Badham collaborator Arthur B. Rubinstein, awesome direction and some seriously death defying stunt work and helicopter flying all through the streets of LA putting even the most seasoned GTA player to shame.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

Full Review

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John Badham

Director

Roy Scheider

Officer Frank Murphy

Malcolm McDowell

Col. F.E. Cochrane

Candy Clark

Kate

Warren Oates

Capt. Jack Braddock

Daniel Stern

Officer Richard Lymangood

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...in terms of kinetic urban action in the air, it's quite literally a perfect vehicle for Roy Scheider...

Rated: 4/5

Feb 21, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

There are plenty of conflicts brewing under the surface of military testing, but it takes too long to unearth the most stirring of the bunch.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 31, 2020

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a somewhat erratic thriller that improves steadily as it progresses...

Rated: 3/4

Apr 26, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This police thriller is an incoherent mess, playing out as a government conspiracy themed techno-thriller obsessed over technology.

Rated: C+

Jun 24, 2018

Full Review

Rob Vaux

Mania.com

The battle in Blue Thunder is less between Scheider's edgy police pilot Frank Murphy and his ultimate nemesis (Malcom McDowell), as it is between Murphy and the high-tech beast he's asked to pilot.

Rated: B

May 14, 2013

Full Review

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

As a cop-action flick this isn't bad, but it fits the mold so thoroughly that it feels more familiar than it should.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 2, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Frank Murphy is a courageous and honorable Los Angeles police officer who is chosen to test run Blue Thunder, a high-tech experimental attack helicopter. While flying Blue Thunder, Murphy and his partner discover that the government intends to use the helicopter for corrupt crowd control and surveillance.

Director: John Badham
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rastar Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 13, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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