Distant Thunder is a 1988 American drama film directed by Rick Rosenthal and starring John Lithgow and Ralph Macchio.

[1] The film tells the story of a troubled ex-Navy SEAL and Vietnam War veteran Mark Lambert (John Lithgow), who, upon returning home from the war, alienates his wife and child by deserting them and moving away into the remote wilderness of Washington state.

After 10 years of living off the land and suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, Mark decides to rejoin civilized society and finds his now teenage son Jack (Ralph Macchio), who is living in Illinois.

As an estranged father and recluse, Mark quickly finds himself unprepared for the changes that he must face.

"[3] The movie was a box-office flop with a total revenue of barely $150,000 for a $8 million budget.