Overview
A wild ride of friendship and chaos unfolds as two unlikely partners embark on a road trip to reclaim lost treasure.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- rambunctious
- witty
- volatile
- classic crime night
- road movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film colorful, entertaining, and well acted, especially praising Jeff Bridges, while noting uneven pacing and tonal inconsistency.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot develop an older-younger brother bond while pursuing a dangerous robbery with former partners.
The film shifts between rambunctious comedy, road adventure, shootouts, cruelty, and unexpectedly touching drama.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot flee across northern Montana, moving through backwater communities, open roads, and isolated locations.
The gang reunites to locate money hidden behind a school chalkboard after the original robbery's proceeds cannot be found.
Films like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and why
Midnight Run
shares a buddy dynamic, outlaw road-movie energy, and crime-comedy tone
The Hot Rock
shares a character-driven heist structure, volatile criminal partnerships, and darkly comic action
The Last Detail
shares a road-trip framework, outlaw camaraderie, and a blend of comedy with melancholy
The Killing
shares an eccentric ensemble, escalating heist complications, and sardonic crime-film humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Cimino
- Release Date
- 1974-05-23
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (674)
Cast
- Clint Eastwood
- Jeff Bridges
- George Kennedy
- Geoffrey Lewis
- Catherine Bach
- Gary Busey
- Roy Jenson
- Burton Gilliam
- Claudia Lennear
- Bill McKinney
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Thunderbolt and Lightfoot about?
- An aging outlaw and his irrepressible young companion revive a buried bank-heist scheme while outrunning the violent men they once betrayed.
- What is Thunderbolt and Lightfoot like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Thunderbolt and Lightfoot violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot as brutal.
- What did critics think of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot?
- Critics broadly found the film colorful, entertaining, and well acted, especially praising Jeff Bridges, while noting uneven pacing and tonal inconsistency.
- Which films are like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot?
- Films with a similar feel include Midnight Run, The Hot Rock, The Last Detail, and The Killing.
- How long is Thunderbolt and Lightfoot?
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Thunderbolt and Lightfoot?
- In United States, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
