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Blue Thunder

Blue Thunder

Drama · Action · Thriller · 1983

Los Angeles, California. Officer Murphy, a veteran Metropolitan Police helicopter pilot suffering from severe trauma due to his harsh experiences during the Vietnam War, and Lymangood, his resourceful new partner, are tasked with testing an advanced and heavily armed experimental chopper known as Blue Thunder.

Movie details

Blue Thunder

“He's out there…”

1983 Drama · Action · Thriller 1h 50m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Los Angeles, California. Officer Murphy, a veteran Metropolitan Police helicopter pilot suffering from severe trauma due to his harsh experiences during the Vietnam War, and Lymangood, his resourceful new partner, are tasked with testing an advanced and heavily armed experimental chopper known as Blue Thunder.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Blue Thunder?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Badham

Written by

Dan O'Bannon · Don Jakoby

Roy Scheider

Roy Scheider

Murphy

Warren Oates

Warren Oates

Braddock

Candy Clark

Candy Clark

Kate

Daniel Stern

Daniel Stern

Lymangood

Paul Roebling

Paul Roebling

Icelan

David Sheiner

David Sheiner

Fletcher

Joe Santos

Joe Santos

Montoya

Court is in session

Put Blue Thunder on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.