Smokey and the Bandit, the classic action-comedy road film released in 1977. It stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Reed, and was directed by Hal Needham in his directorial debut.
The film follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed), two truck-driving bootleggers attempting to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. While Snowman drives the truck carrying the beer, Bandit drives a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am to distract law enforcement and keep the attention off Snowman. Along the way, they are pursued by Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason), leading to a high-speed chase filled with humor and action.
The movie was a box office success, grossing $127 million against a $4.3 million budget, making it the second-highest-grossing domestic film of 1977. It also sparked a franchise, leading to sequels and a lasting cultural impact, including popularizing CB radio slang and the Pontiac Trans Am.
