The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 4 nominations total
Clifford A. Pellow
- Allen
- (as Clifford Pellow)
- Director
- Writers
- Dan O'Bannon
- Don Jakoby
- Dean Riesner(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne reason Roy Scheider made this film was so that he would be unavailable to get cast as Chief Brody in Jaws 3-D (1983), though he also admitted in an interview that the "Jaws" producers knew better than to ask him to play Brody again.
- GoofsCochrane sabotages Murphy's Bell jet ranger by removing the cotter pin and loosening the nut on the throttle-control linkage bolt so it can slip out. Aviation bolts are always installed head-end up as a safety precaution to keep the bolt in place should the nut come off.
- Quotes
[Icelan and Braddock are discussing Murphy]
Icelan: He checks his sanity with a wrist watch!
Jack Braddock: What do you check yours with, a dipstick?
- Crazy creditsThere are no opening credits after the title is shown.
- Alternate versionsWhen "Blue Thunder" was first released on video in Sweden, the scene where Kate drives to the the TV station with the videotape, involved a crazy stunt when she drives into a narrow alley and meets a police car that comes the other way. To avoid a disaster, Kate flips her car on its side, hits its roof on a wall and flips back again. In later video versions, the stunt is gone. We only see the car when it enters the alley and then we see her driving on the freeway with a strange damage on the roof.
- SoundtracksTheme From Blue Thunder (Murphy's Law)
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur B. Rubinstein
Performed by Arthur B. Rubinstein, Cynthia Morrow, Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli (as the Beepers)
Produced by Evan Pace
Associate Produced by Reno Romano
Featured review
Catch you later.
Blue Thunder is the name given to a new specially modified helicopter, designed for use in major police incidents such as riots, it's basically a tank with rotors and an intricate computer. Los Angeles police pilot Frank Murphy is selected to be the pilot in the city for it, but Frank has major issues with the test pilot of Blue Thunder, a guy he served in Vietnam with. As things progress Frank and his young understudy Richard Lymangood begin to find that all is not what it seems. Conspiracies, corruption and even murder are all linked to Blue Thunder, both men realise that their lives are in serious danger.
This is a very tidy thriller, the sort of film that asks you to pay attention to everything that is being said. It's very well written, acted professionally, and contains a wonderful last 20 minutes of aerial thrills. Roy Scheider, Malcolm McDowell, Daniel Stern, Warren Oates and the lovely Candy Clark all earn their pay cheques and John Badham is unfussy in his direction. It's not a film that you are likely to revisit more than once, but its smart plot and solid thriller heart more than make this an enjoyable piece. 6/10
This is a very tidy thriller, the sort of film that asks you to pay attention to everything that is being said. It's very well written, acted professionally, and contains a wonderful last 20 minutes of aerial thrills. Roy Scheider, Malcolm McDowell, Daniel Stern, Warren Oates and the lovely Candy Clark all earn their pay cheques and John Badham is unfussy in his direction. It's not a film that you are likely to revisit more than once, but its smart plot and solid thriller heart more than make this an enjoyable piece. 6/10
helpful•60
- hitchcockthelegend
- Sep 30, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Plavi grom
- Filming locations
- City of Los Angeles Piper Technical Center - 555 Ramirez Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(Police helipad - Command Center)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $22,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $42,313,354
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,258,149
- May 15, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $42,313,354
- Runtime1 hour 49 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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