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

8/10

Wildly entertaining comedy

"The Cannonball Run" is a wild and crazy ride of a comedy about an illegal cross-country auto race. This movie was the third time star Burt Reynolds teamed up with director Hal Needham. Before "Cannonball Run" they made the first two "Smokey and the Bandit" pictures, and afterwards they made "Stroker Ace" and "Cannonball Run II". "The Cannonball Run" and the original "Smokey and the Bandit" are my favorites. Made back when Reynolds was hitting box office gold, "The Cannonball Run" auto race begins in Connecticut and features the goofy all-star cast passing each other up until they get to their final destination, California. In addition to Burt Reynolds, the movie also stars Dom DeLuise as Reynolds partner, Roger Moore pretending to be himself, Farrah Fawcett as the woman Reynolds and DeLuise pick up at the beginning of the race, and two late great entertainers: Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. as two phony priests driving a red Ferrari. All are involved in the race, and its a wild ride all the way to the finish. Adrienne Barbeau, Jackie Chan, Jamie Farr, Mel Tillis, and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw also star. Great fun.

*** (out of four)