Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

Right now you can watch Thunderbolt and Lightfoot in Australia on Foxtel Now and MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on Hoopla and Fawesome — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 647 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Clint Eastwood leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. With the help of an irreverent young sidekick, a bank robber gets his old gang back together to organise a daring new heist. Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1974. What keeps Thunderbolt and Lightfoot from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Clint Eastwood is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.