Distant Thunder
“A hero of war. A casualty of peace, With only one hope for survival...his son.”
Synopsis
A troubled Vietnam war vet deserts his wife and child shortly after he returns from the war. He returns after 10 years, where he's been living like an animal in the forest. He finds himself unprepared for the changes that he will have to cope with, and when the vet tries to contact his son, he realizes that he has caused more damage than he had imagined.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Distant Thunder (1988) - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2010-01-16
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Ralph Macchio
Jack Lambert
John Lithgow
Mark Lambert
Kerrie Keane
Char
Reb Brown
Harvey Nitz
Janet Margolin
Barbara Lambert
Tom Bower
Louis
Jamey Sheridan
Moss
Denis Arndt
Larry
Michael Currie
Coach Swabey
Robyn Stevan
Holly
Denalda Williams
Jeanette
John Kelly
Andy
Hilary Strang
Jane
David Longworth
Sheriff
Walter Marsh
Principal
Allan Lysell
Buddy
Kate Robbins
Waitress
David Glyn-Jones
Waiter
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 11, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$8M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$156K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.02x
-$7.8M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rick Rosenthal
- Screenplay & Story
- Deedee Wehle, Robert Stitzel
- Original Score
- Maurice Jarre
- Original Title
- Distant Thunder
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Production Budget
- $8M
- Worldwide Gross
- $156K
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rick Rosenthal
Deedee Wehle, Robert Stitzel
Maurice Jarre
Ralf D. Bode, Curtis Petersen
Dennis Virkler
Richard L. O'Connor, Robert Schaffel
Department Leadership Roster
Rick Rosenthal
Director
Maurice Jarre
Original Music Composer
Robert Stitzel
Writer
Tish Monaghan
Costume Design
Dennis Virkler
Editor
Robert Schaffel
Producer
Ralf D. Bode
Director of Photography
William Mesa
Visual Effects Supervisor
Chuck Waters
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Distant Thunder.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Distant Thunder.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
list4
Movies
Ush Kino
1980
Watchlist
Similar Titles to Distant Thunder
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.6
6.2
7.0
7.6
6.8
8.1
7.3
7.2
7.5
6.3
6.7
6.1
5.1
5.7
7.6
6.8
5.4
6.4
6.9
More Like Distant Thunder
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Distant Thunder
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Distant Thunder about?
A troubled Vietnam war vet deserts his wife and child shortly after he returns from the war. He returns after 10 years, where he's been living like an animal in the forest. He finds himself unprepared for the changes that he will have to cope with, and when the vet tries to contact his son, he realizes that he has caused more damage than he had imagined.
Who directed Distant Thunder?
Distant Thunder was directed by Rick Rosenthal.
Who stars in Distant Thunder?
The principal cast of Distant Thunder includes Ralph Macchio, John Lithgow, Kerrie Keane, Reb Brown, Janet Margolin.
When was Distant Thunder released and how long is it?
Distant Thunder was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.
What was the box office and production budget of Distant Thunder?
Distant Thunder had a reported production budget of $8M and grossed $156K at the worldwide box office (0.02 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Distant Thunder?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Distant Thunder was composed by Maurice Jarre.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Distant Thunder?
Distant Thunder holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).