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Black Thunder

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
3.7/10
596
YOUR RATING
Black Thunder (1998)
A top secret stealth fighter is stolen. Only Navy Test Pilot Vince Connors can recover the plane and bring it back in one piece. Battling terrorists, and flying with deadly nerve gas, he has to evade his mentor, now the enemy's top pilot.
Play trailer1:24
1 Video
16 Photos
ActionDramaThriller

A top secret stealth fighter is stolen. Only Navy Test Pilot Vince Connors can recover the plane and bring it back in one piece. Battling terrorists, and flying with deadly nerve gas, he has... Read allA top secret stealth fighter is stolen. Only Navy Test Pilot Vince Connors can recover the plane and bring it back in one piece. Battling terrorists, and flying with deadly nerve gas, he has to evade his mentor, now the enemy's top pilot.A top secret stealth fighter is stolen. Only Navy Test Pilot Vince Connors can recover the plane and bring it back in one piece. Battling terrorists, and flying with deadly nerve gas, he has to evade his mentor, now the enemy's top pilot.

  • Director
    • Rick Jacobson
  • Writer
    • William C. Martell
  • Stars
    • Michael Dudikoff
    • Richard Norton
    • Michael Cavanaugh
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    3.7/10
    596
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rick Jacobson
    • Writer
      • William C. Martell
    • Stars
      • Michael Dudikoff
      • Richard Norton
      • Michael Cavanaugh
    • 10User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:24
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos16

    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Robert Madrid in Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)
    Black Thunder (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Dudikoff
    Michael Dudikoff
    • Vince Conners
    Richard Norton
    Richard Norton
    • Rather
    Michael Cavanaugh
    Michael Cavanaugh
    • Barnes
    Nancy Valen
    Nancy Valen
    • Mela
    Gary Hudson
    Gary Hudson
    • Jannick
    Robert Miranda
    Robert Miranda
    • Rojar
    Robert Madrid
    Robert Madrid
    • Stone
    Frederic Forrest
    Frederic Forrest
    • Admiral Pendleton
    John Furey
    John Furey
    • Moore
    John Lafayette
    John Lafayette
    • Demuth
    Sonny Surowiec
    Sonny Surowiec
    • Elias
    Marcus Aurelius
    • Hinkle
    Landon Hall
    Landon Hall
    • Eileen
    Catherine Bell
    Catherine Bell
    • Lisa
    Dean Scofield
    Dean Scofield
    • Captain Jones
    Marc Vahanian
    Marc Vahanian
    • Radio Operator
    John Patrick White
    • Winston
    • Director
      • Rick Jacobson
    • Writer
      • William C. Martell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nancy Valen (Mela) used body double Susan More for her nude scene.
    • Goofs
      When "Blue One" gets into trouble on his way back from the test, he calls in "Flame out! We just lost both our engines". We've previously established that the test aircraft were F16s, so the "we" in this case would be just him, as the F16 is single-seat, plus, it has just the one engine.
    • Connections
      Edited from Iron Eagle (1986)

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    1/10
    worst air-action movie ever
    Most air-action movies are riddled with errors. Very often the aircraft required (ultra-modern, soviet) are unavailable. Of course using other aircraft makes sense (Using a F-100 as stand-in for a Mig-21 in `Skyjacked' for instance). Alternatives are to use models (as was very well done in `Firefox') or use computer graphics. So, F-16s are shown as US fighter jets. Nothing unusual. To depict the `Nova Stealth' a IAI Kfir is used although the intro shows a Mirage 2000. The angular lines of the Kfir do not make a realistic modern fighter. Ok, the choice is limited. Using the F-16 again as the `B-3' bomber (without any external stores) is confusing. It gets even more confusing as the villain pursues our hero using again a F-16 (supposed to be Libyan). The airfield from which the villain started has a line-up of Kfirs. Why the Libyans have several of this modern stealth `Nova' aircraft is not explained. There is supposed to be a single prototype of this aircraft! Maybe the viewer will not recognize the similarity? Ok, using a SR-71 to pursuit a fighter aircraft is ridiculous, but landing this aircraft in the Libyan dessert (not shown) is probably more science fiction than the supposed stealth technology. The `Nova' is completely invisible, except the infrared for some minute.

    The acting is really deplorable. The action (non aircraft) is worse than done in the `A-Team' television series.

    The aircraft action probably consists entirely of existing footage, making this a very cheap movie to make. Some footage (as the low-pass of the Kfir/Nova) is shown at least three times!

    This move is definitely a must-see for aircraft buffs. If only, to have a good laugh.
    helpful•3
    4
    • bert-83
    • Dec 20, 2000

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 31, 1998 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Trueno negro
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Royal Oaks Entertainment Inc.
      • Concorde-New Horizons
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR

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