The Cannonball Run

1981
PG
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,070

251

Adrienne Barbeau, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. in The Cannonball Run (1981)

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of 'The Cannonball Run,' we're looking back at Hal Needham's star-studded bonanza, including Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Roger Moore, and Jackie Chan.

Play clip1:22

Watch The Cannonball Run | Anniversary Mashup

4 Videos

80 Photos

Car Action Motorsport Road Trip Slapstick Action Comedy Sport

A wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country road race. However, the eccentric entrants will do anything to win the road race, including low-down, ... Read allA wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country road race. However, the eccentric entrants will do anything to win the road race, including low-down, dirty tricks.A wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country road race. However, the eccentric entrants will do anything to win the road race, including low-down, dirty tricks.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,070

251

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations

Videos4

Trailer 3:16

Trailer

Clip 1:22

The Cannonball Run | Anniversary Mashup

Clip 1:22

The Cannonball Run | Anniversary Mashup

Clip 4:37

How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes

Clip 3:13

25 Years After 'Pulp Fiction', Tarantino Delivers a 'Hollywood' Masterwork

Photos80

+ 73

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This movie was originally planned as an action movie starring Steve McQueen. After McQueen's death, the lead went to Burt Reynolds, and the movie became a comedy.

Goofs
Even though the beginning of the race makes a blatant point of explaining that racers are scored by time, not order of arrival at the finish line, the ending seems to suggest the contrary. Since time is the main factor, any racer who started after the Lamborghini team should still have been able to check-in and beat them. Instead, everyone fights over being the first one to clock in, and the instant she checks in, everyone else simply gives up.

Quotes
Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing: I'm Nikolas Van Helsing, professor of proctology and other related tendencies. A graduate of the University of Rangoon and assorted night classes at the Knoxville, Tennessee School of Faith Healing.
J.J. McClure: You may be a little overqualified for this job.

Crazy credits
Outtakes are shown during the credits.

Alternate versions
For some reason, the video version dubs over some of the language heard in the big screen and pay channel versions. For example, when Bert Convy asks Peter Fonda what he wants, Fonda answers "Your ass" in the original, but is heard to say "You're asking me?" on the video version.

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: Stripes/Eyes of a Stranger/The Cannonball Run/Superman II (1981)

Soundtracks
Cannonball
Written by Ray Stevens (as R. Stevens)
Performed by Ray Stevens

User reviews159

Review

Featured review

9/10

a fun filled race across the US

The Cannonball Run has been vilified by many critics over the years but I love this movie and have been watching it ever since I was little. This movie is what happens when a bunch of movie stars who just happen to be close friends in real life decide to make a movie just for fun. The plot is simple enough, race from one end of the country to the other for a million dollars and avoid the law on the way. The cast is jammed with big names and just about everyone in the movie that has a speaking part is a star of some stature. This movie is simply great fun and has a lot in common with the rest of director Hal Needham's films,i.e. Smokey and the Bandit. I can't really say that this film is full of great acting because the entire cast horses around through the whole movie. Jackie Chan makes his first appearance in a American movie with this film and both Hal Needham and writer Brock Yates have cameos. Don't expect a lot in the way of plot or acting or effects or anything like that and just enjoy the ride. The outtakes at the end of this and Cannonball Run II are hilarious and it makes it more fun for me anyway to know that this movie was just like a big meeting of old friends. Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. are great as Blake and Fenderbaum respectively. Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise anchor this film (they're the main characters)and the give and take between these two make them one of the best comedy teams I have ever seen. Bottom Line: Buy this flick, drag it out every once in a while, and have fun watching it with family or friends. A truly fun movie to watch.