Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Distant Thunder

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
734
YOUR RATING
Distant Thunder (1988)
  • Drama
John Lithgow stars and Ralph Macchio co-stars as his son. Their uneasy reunion accidentally sparks war-haunted violence, and they share a harrowing fight for survival that will either destro... Read allJohn Lithgow stars and Ralph Macchio co-stars as his son. Their uneasy reunion accidentally sparks war-haunted violence, and they share a harrowing fight for survival that will either destroy them or unify them forever.John Lithgow stars and Ralph Macchio co-stars as his son. Their uneasy reunion accidentally sparks war-haunted violence, and they share a harrowing fight for survival that will either destroy them or unify them forever.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
734
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rick Rosenthal
  • Writers
    • Robert Stitzel(story)
    • Deedee Wehle(story)
  • Stars
    • John Lithgow
    • Ralph Macchio
    • Kerrie Keane
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rick Rosenthal
  • Writers
    • Robert Stitzel(story)
    • Deedee Wehle(story)
  • Stars
    • John Lithgow
    • Ralph Macchio
    • Kerrie Keane
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos28

    John Lithgow and Ralph Macchio in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow and Kerrie Keane in Distant Thunder (1988)
    Ralph Macchio in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow, Ralph Macchio, and Kerrie Keane in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow and Ralph Macchio in Distant Thunder (1988)
    Kerrie Keane in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow and Kerrie Keane in Distant Thunder (1988)
    Ralph Macchio in Distant Thunder (1988)
    Rick Rosenthal in Distant Thunder (1988)
    John Lithgow and Jamey Sheridan in Distant Thunder (1988)
    Reb Brown in Distant Thunder (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Mark Lambertas Mark Lambert
    Ralph Macchio
    Ralph Macchio
    • Jack Lambertas Jack Lambert
    Kerrie Keane
    Kerrie Keane
    • Charas Char
    Reb Brown
    Reb Brown
    • Harvey Nitzas Harvey Nitz
    Janet Margolin
    Janet Margolin
    • Barbara Lambertas Barbara Lambert
    Denis Arndt
    Denis Arndt
    • Larryas Larry
    Jamey Sheridan
    Jamey Sheridan
    • Mossas Moss
    Tom Bower
    Tom Bower
    • Louisas Louis
    John Kelly
    • Andyas Andy
    Michael Currie
    Michael Currie
    • Coach Swabeyas Coach Swabey
    Hilary Strang
    • Janeas Jane
    Robyn Stevan
    Robyn Stevan
    • Hollyas Holly
    David Longworth
    David Longworth
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Gordon Currie
    Gordon Currie
    • Billy Watsonas Billy Watson
    Walter Marsh
    Walter Marsh
    • Principalas Principal
    Allan Lysell
    • Buddyas Buddy
    Kate Robbins
    • Waitressas Waitress
    David Glyn-Jones
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • Director
      • Rick Rosenthal
    • Writers
      • Robert Stitzel(story) (screenplay)
      • Deedee Wehle(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Uncommon Valor
    6.3
    Uncommon Valor
    Crossroads
    7.1
    Crossroads
    The Three Wishes of Billy Grier
    6.7
    The Three Wishes of Billy Grier
    Superdeep
    4.9
    Superdeep
    The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story
    5.5
    The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story
    Vertical Limit
    5.9
    Vertical Limit
    The Parallax View
    7.1
    The Parallax View
    Too Much Sun
    4.1
    Too Much Sun
    Hard Target
    6.2
    Hard Target
    Out Cold
    5.5
    Out Cold
    The Hitcher
    7.2
    The Hitcher
    Cobra
    5.8
    Cobra

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Lithgow's character (Mark Lambert) was a Navy SEAL during his service in Vietnam.
    • Goofs
      The 1966 Pontiac used in the film is not a real GTO. The taillights are single pod lenses making this either a Tempest or LeMans - a real GTO has segmented taillights which spans the rear header panel with a 12 inch blank center section. Also, a real GTO has the grille emblem in the driver side grille opening (same with the final 2004-06 generation) - the emblem is on the passenger side grille (the final muscle-era GTO produced for the 1974 model year has a vinyl graphic GTO logo placed on the passenger-side header panel).
    • Quotes

      Jack Lambert: My father wants to see me. He sure took his sweet ass-time about it.

    • Soundtracks
      Bad Moon Rising
      Written by John Fogerty (as John C. Fogerty)
      Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
      Courtesy of Fantasy, Inc.

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Well done.
    Distant Thunder is an overlooked but impressive film. John Lithgow gives an oscar worthy performance and the cinematographty gives the film a haunting atmosphere. This film, along with John Frakenhimer's Black Sunday, is an excellent look at Vietnam vets that has, unfourtaneatley, been overlooked.
    helpful•3
    0
    • tommyson
    • Jun 9, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 11, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ecos de guerra
    • Filming locations
      • British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $156,188
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $82,186
      • Nov 13, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $156,188
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Distant Thunder (1988)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Distant Thunder (1988) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.