Thunderbirds (1952): cast, story & where to watch
1952 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1952, Thunderbirds is a drama, adventure, war and romance film directed by John H. Auer, running about 81 minutes. “They had nothing to lose but their lives...and they knew it!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. An Oklahoma National Guard unit, comprised mainly of Native Americans, is called up for duty at the start of World War II.
Who’s in it. Thunderbirds stars John Derek as Lt. Gil Hackett, John Drew Barrymore as Pvt. Tom McCreery, Mona Freeman as Lt. Ellen Henderson and Gene Evans as Sgt. Mike Braggart, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, Thunderbirds has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Thunderbirds page.
If you liked it. Fans of Thunderbirds tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Thunderbirds (1952)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Thunderbirds change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Thunderbirds worth watching?
- Thunderbirds holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, adventure, war and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Thunderbirds?
- Thunderbirds stars John Derek, John Drew Barrymore, Mona Freeman, Gene Evans and Eileen Christy.
- When was Thunderbirds released?
- Thunderbirds was released in 1952, with a runtime of about 81 minutes.