The movie is based on the true story of Claire “Thunder” and the late Mike “Lightning” Sardina, a married couple who performed together in a Neil Diamond tribute band called “Lightning & Thunder.” Their lives were first shown in a 2008 documentary of the same name, before being adapted into the December 2025 film directed by Craig Brewer.
In a recent interview with Daily Mail, Mike’s son, Michael Sardina Jr., said the movie damages his father’s legacy and paints an untrue picture of his life.
“People say it’s a beautiful and touching film, but it’s all lies,” Michael Jr. said. “It takes away from all the hard work my father put in his entire life.”
Mike Sardina died in 2006, two years before the original documentary was released. He and Claire were married for 12 years and performed together for nearly 17 years. When they married in 1994, Michael Jr. and his sister Angelina became step-siblings to Claire’s children, Rachel and Dayna.
Claire has publicly supported the film. She attended its Milwaukee premiere on Dec. 2 with her daughter Rachel, appearing alongside Jackman and Brewer. The following day, she joined Jackman onstage for a performance of “Sweet Caroline” in Milwaukee. She was also present at the New York premiere on Dec. 11 with Hudson, Rachel, and Dayna.
Michael Jr. claims he and his sister were paid as consultants on the film but says he was later excluded from the story. According to the Daily Mail, text messages between Angelina and producer John Fox confirm payment details. Angelina’s contract reportedly allowed her character to be fictionalized in the movie. She is portrayed by King Princess.
Michael Jr. does not appear as a character in the film and did not take part in the 2008 documentary either. Still, he says he feels erased.
“They don’t even mention my existence,” he said. “I’m his only son, and I was a major part of his life. No one reached out to hear my side.”
Angelina also shared mixed feelings about the movie. “The love between my dad and Claire was real,” she told the Daily Mail. “It’s a beautiful story, but that’s not how things really happened. That’s what hurts.”
Michael Jr. says his biggest issue is that the film avoids showing the struggles and tensions he says were part of his father’s home life.
“They destroyed the one thing my father worked his whole life to leave behind — his legacy,” he said. “I want the true story told with honesty, dignity, and respect.”
The filmmakers have not publicly responded to the claims.
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