I first saw this movie over 30 years ago and it is still a great movie to watch today.

This review is an excerpt from my book “Killer B’s: The 237 Best Movies On Video You’ve (Probably) Never Seen,” which is available as an ebook on iBooks. If you enjoy this review, there are 236 more like it in the book (plus a whole lot more). Check it out! Blue Thunder: Tired of the same old car chases? Try a chopper chase instead. Tired of the same old car crashes? Try a couple of copter crashes (which have become almost a cliché in action movies since “Blue Thunder.” I recall seeing a gag pie chart entitled “What Helicopters Do In Movies,” for example, in which the entire pie is colored blue, and the Key reveals that blue equals “crash.”) Badham knows how to direct action (once he finally cuts to the chase), and here we get plenty: Copters vs. copters; copters vs. cars; F-16’s with heat-seeking missiles vs. Blue Thunder (and Frank’s wits); and—just in case you aren’t tired of car chases—a doozy of a chase that begins in a drive-in. There are in fact a lot of chases and a lot of destruction (but very little blood); some macho fun; adventure, suspense and wowing aerial action; and another wonderful performance from Scheider. All this, and you’ll find out what JAFO means! What more could a guy ask?

Only real movie people will know what JAFO stands for. Catch ya later!

Loved it the first time I saw it back in they day and buying it on iTunes and watching on my big screen/Bose system even better! loved this movie for a reason and it hasn't changed. My wife has never seen this movie and she instantly enjoyed it! Ah, Blue Thunder!

I didnt even know this was on here. this movie was one of my Favs back then. to see it again was fun. A little strange since the times have changed but fun.

I remember watching this movie as a kid. I wanted that cool Casio watch that Roy Scheider used with the digital stop watch. The scene where he slaloms that awesome Turbo Trans Am through the garage cones is the best!

Seriously, if this movie hadn't aired a year before Airwolf, I would have thought it was a ripoff... Now I have to see this movie to see how Airwolf rates in comparison.

This movie is original and full of great action sequences. Roy Scheider plays an unpredictable character to perfection. This movie is a great saturday night rental.

Not only a classic, but this is cult. One of the most brilliant movies of its time and still better than some new ones of today. Total movie experience throughout and Roy; we miss you.

A taut relentless action thriller about a top-secret anti-terrorist helicopter, as i remember was one of my favorite films from 1983, it had a cool effective performance by the late great Roy Scheider and brilliantly sinister by Malcolm Mcdowell. the film also has extraordinary oscar nominated cinematography. A real winner.