Thunder Road

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Thunder Road

PG

Released May 10, 1958

1h 32m

Adventure

Drama

Action

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Popcornmeter

75%

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12 Reviews

63%

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1,000+ Ratings

Unrepentant Tennessee moonshine runner Luke Doolin (Robert Mitchum) makes dangerous high-speed deliveries for his liquor-producing father, Vernon (Trevor Bardette), but won't let his younger brother Robin (James Mitchum) join the family business. Under pressure from both out-of-town gangster Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon), who wants a piece of the local action, and Treasury agent Barrett (Gene Barry), who wants to destroy the moonshine business, Luke fights for his fast-fading way of life.

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Southern drive-in staple Thunder Road is basically The Robert Mitchum Show.

May 1, 2006

Full Review

Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

A fun example of how cool and influential a film can be without being particularly good.

Feb 23, 2024

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Robert Mitchum starred in, produced and wrote the story for this cult hit about a stampeding moonshine driver, and even got a hit song out of it.

Rated: 4/5

May 29, 2023

Full Review

John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Bruce Springsteen borrowed its title and Burt Reynolds appropriated its anti-'revenooer' appeal, but just shy of its 60th anniversary, 'Thunder Road' remains very much the property of its actor-as-auteur leading man, Robert Mitchum.

Rated: 3/4

May 15, 2015

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

The world of moonshine transporters is keyed to Mitchum's fatalist-hobo wryness

Sep 25, 2009

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The ultimate road movie.

Rated: A

Jun 20, 2006

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Bud B

Mitchem wrote it to make himself cool I guess. But he was over age 40 at that time but playing a much younger guy. If he had been in the Korean War as written, he must have been he'd have been too old for the military war. The ending was lame too. He is electrocuted in the crash but returns to the teenage girl and she walks off with his ghost. The movie led you to believe he wasn't in to her but instead the older bar singer, which was who he left 40k with.. What an ego.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

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nick s

This was a rather grim movie with few moments of levity or charm, but it was quite well put together.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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Audience Member

Great film! A must for Robert Mitchum fans, & anyone who enjoys old cars and a good story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Shows Ashville,NC as it was in 1958.Historical on moonshining.To me,the movie was very interesting.Reminds me of Junior Johnson and how Nascar got started!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

Robert Mitchell in his moonshine movie. Springsteen got his song title from this song.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Good movie. Great cars. I would have been on the side of the whiskey runners. Sad end... why did Mitchum write it that way?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Arthur Ripley

Director

Robert Mitchum

Lucas Doolin

Gene Barry

Troy Barrett

Jacques Aubuchon

Carl Kogan

Keely Smith

Francie Wymore

James Mitchum

Robin Doolin

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Synopsis

Unrepentant Tennessee moonshine runner Luke Doolin (Robert Mitchum) makes dangerous high-speed deliveries for his liquor-producing father, Vernon (Trevor Bardette), but won't let his younger brother Robin (James Mitchum) join the family business. Under pressure from both out-of-town gangster Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon), who wants a piece of the local action, and Treasury agent Barrett (Gene Barry), who wants to destroy the moonshine business, Luke fights for his fast-fading way of life.

Director: Arthur Ripley
Producer: Robert Mitchum
Screenwriter: Robert Mitchum, James Atlee Phillips, Walter Wise
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: D.R.M. Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1958, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $146.0K
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono

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