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Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

Play trailer Poster for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot R Released May 23, 1974 1h 54m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
While stealing a car, free-spirited drifter Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) crosses paths with legendary thief Thunderbolt (Clint Eastwood) in the midst of his own escape. Thunderbolt's old partners in crime, Red (George Kennedy) and Eddie (Geoffrey Lewis), believe he double-crossed them after they robbed a Montana bank vault several years ago. After Thunderbolt successfully pleads his innocence and is let off the hook, Lightfoot rallies them together as a group to rob the very same bank again.
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Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

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Critics Consensus

This likable buddy/road picture deftly mixes action and comedy, and features excellent work from stars Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges and first-time director Michael Cimino.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Thunderbolt and Lightfoot remains a major achievement for Eastwood, Bridges, and Cimino. It deserves to be more than a cult curiosity. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 27, 2024 Full Review Joe Clay Times (UK) This light-hearted yet poignant buddy movie is very much in the style of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)... Mar 21, 2023 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker ...a criminals-on-the-road movie that shifts toward a dazzlingly elaborate and painfully realistic heist tale. Apr 14, 2020 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …a great tough-guy movie that drips with learned experience and hard-earned pathos… Rated: 5/5 Apr 23, 2023 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand It’s the directorial debut of Michael Cimino, who also wrote the script, and his directs the film as a mix of character piece and lighthearted crime story with dark shadows around the edges. Dec 3, 2022 Full Review David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor Thunderbolt sorely lacks the kind of movie-movie star-power that might have made it memorable despite its excesses of vulgarity and glibness. Oct 8, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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X O It's OK. Dated. Not really worth it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review Ravenswood R Enjoyable film with plenty of suspense and action, a little comedy, and also some serious and dark themes. Violence is used to illustrate the human will to succeed even when the chances become futile. The performances are outstanding all around. The script may not be the tightest or most controlled, but the lines are on pitch and perfectly delivered in an astounding ensemble cast of brilliant actors giving peak performances. George Kennedy is fantastic along with Geoffrey Lewis, and both lead performances have been widely praised for good reason. Very interesting camera shots throughout. Good movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/31/23 Full Review ed m Pretty good flick. Great cast. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/08/23 Full Review Dan E I've seen this movie many times since I was a kid. Some movies that were often times shown on TV or by my parents or grandparents I thought were great and some I didn't. This is a movie of tremendous adventure. Every single one of the characters is flawed, similar to reality. Honestly, this movie reminds me of another Clint Eastwood movie, filmed some years before- the good the bad and the ugly. The movie is similar, but in a different time period. I highly recommend you give this "sleeper" a try. I would put this Eastwood movie as number 3 for him. He's made many good movies, but I would put this towards the top. It's fantastic. This one is under-rated. Bridges is young and plays his role as a naive young man perfectly. Supporting cast is made up of actors you've seen placed as character actors in television roles, and other movies. They are absolutely outstanding and well placed in a movie that unfolds in perfect timing amongst the mountains of Montana. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/29/23 Full Review Roger W One of the best movies ever made. All star cast and just has what it takes to keep you reeling in your seat for the semi bad guys. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Flechettes A path followed by Characters who just happen to be at the right place at the wrong time and the wrong place the right time leads them down the road of dreaming about easy money and good times. Mind boggling events are always around the bend leading them to their goal, but human flaws puts the hex on and tragedy becomes the outcome for some of the people who decide to get on this path of being at the right place at the wrong time and the wrong place the right time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis While stealing a car, free-spirited drifter Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) crosses paths with legendary thief Thunderbolt (Clint Eastwood) in the midst of his own escape. Thunderbolt's old partners in crime, Red (George Kennedy) and Eddie (Geoffrey Lewis), believe he double-crossed them after they robbed a Montana bank vault several years ago. After Thunderbolt successfully pleads his innocence and is let off the hook, Lightfoot rallies them together as a group to rob the very same bank again.
Director
Michael Cimino
Producer
Robert Daley
Screenwriter
Michael Cimino
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Malpaso Company
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 23, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 54m
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