Operation Thunderbolt (film)

Operation Thunderbolt
United States theatrical release poster
Directed byMenahem Golan
Written by
  • Ken Globus
  • Menahem Golan
  • Clarke Reynolds
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAdam Greenberg
Edited byDov Hoenig
Music byDov Seltzer
Release date
  • March 17, 1977 (1977-03-17) (Israel)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryIsrael
Languages
  • Hebrew
  • English
  • Arabic
  • German
  • French
  • Spanish

Operation Thunderbolt, known in Israel as Mivtsa Yonatan (מבצע יונתן‎, literally "Operation Jonathan"), also called Entebbe: Operation Thunderbolt in the US, is a 1977 Israeli film directed and co-written by Menahem Golan and starring Klaus Kinski, Yehoram Gaon and Sybil Danning. The film is based on an actual event – the hijacking of a flight by terrorists and the freeing of Israeli hostages on July 4, 1976. The operation was known as (Operation Entebbe, military code name: "Operation Thunderbolt") at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Operation Thunderbolt follows the events following the flight's takeoff until the hostages' return to Israel. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.