Thunderheart

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Thunderheart

R

1992

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When a series of murders stuns a small Native American reservation, the FBI sends in agent Ray Levoi to investigate. While Ray is relatively inexperienced, he is one quarter Sioux and the FBI hopes that will make it easier for them to gather information from the locals. While the reservation police officer views the agent as an outsider, the tribal elder believes him to be the reincarnated spirit of Thunderheart, a Native American hero.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Stylishly balancing thrills, mysticism and political outrage, Apted's produced his most absorbing movie since Coal Miner's Daughter.

Feb 9, 2018

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

What's most absorbing about Thunderheart is its sense of place and time

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

[Graham Greene's] easygoing personality certainly matches well with [Val] Kilmer’s Ray’s by-the-book mannerism, where the latter brings the ideal stoicism into his role.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 2, 2025

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

It was easy to take a film like "Thunderheart" for granted in its era when a smart, exciting, well-cast and politically charged thriller seemed to open every other week. Today, it feels practically revelatory — a Michael Apted gem that holds up very well.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 22, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The setting isn’t just window dressing but instead becomes the nucleus of a man’s journey of self-discovery.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 9, 2024

Full Review

Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

[A] straight-ahead murder mystery.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 10, 2020

Full Review

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Jerod S

Val Kilmer is part indian (somehow) and is searching out murders on the rez. Kinda cheesy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

Full Review

Michael H.

A very good murder mystery film set on an Indian reservation. A great cast and story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 59 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Val Kilmer as Ray Levoi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $20,100,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

Full Review

Ernie K

As someone who used to do exactly this job I had to excuse the actual reality flow of investigation, but that was easy to do; the entertainment value and depth of performances was intriguing and enticing. Kilmer and Greene are wonderful, and the supporting players add a sense of the helplessness and suspicion that actually does permeate the reservations. It's a good effort and a film that I enjoyed very much.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Hugh L

A for effort, A- for execution. An a Native person born and raised on " the rez", I was impressed with the sensitivity of the production. The director worked on a documentary Incident At Ogalala, about the incidents at the Wounded Knee event, and was affected enough by the story to work in this film. It was refreshing that "stereotypes " were kept to a minimum, native characters were played by native actors and it was filmed in the actual locations where the original events occurred. The production value was excellent, and the acting is outstanding. John Trudel, a spokesman for AIM, was a welcome addition to the cast. The film is not perfect, but still impressed me enough for the 5 star review. The badger should have gotten a credit too.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Mike S

In todays world of me now movement its a wake up call to every american that needs to take a deep look inside themselfs to find out who they really are n what there actual believes are!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

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Michael Apted

Director

Val Kilmer

Ray Levoi

Graham Greene

Walter Crow Horse

Sam Shepard

Frank Coutelle

Sheila Tousey

Maggie Eagle Bear

Chief Ted Thin Elk

Grandpa Sam Reaches

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Val Kilmer and Graham Greene's Last Stand

4:13

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Crazy Desert Car Chase

4:53

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Val Kilmer Cracks the Case

1:16

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Who IS Thunderheart?

2:23

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Did Val Kilmer Have a Vision?

1:24

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Cops Don't Care About Native Americans

3:29

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Residential Schools vs. Indigenous Heritage

2:31

Thunderheart: Official Clip - They Shot a Kid! (Can Val Kilmer Save Him?)

2:58

Thunderheart: Official Clip - The Violence Faced By Activists

0:57

Thunderheart: Official Clip - Graham Greene Writes Val Kilmer a Ticket

1:18

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Synopsis

When a series of murders stuns a small Native American reservation, the FBI sends in agent Ray Levoi to investigate. While Ray is relatively inexperienced, he is one quarter Sioux and the FBI hopes that will make it easier for them to gather information from the locals. While the reservation police officer views the agent as an outsider, the tribal elder believes him to be the reincarnated spirit of Thunderheart, a Native American hero.

Director: Michael Apted
Producer: Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, John Fusco
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Tribeca Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.1M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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