Contents
- How many Smokey and the Bandit movies are there?
- The history of the Smokey and the Bandit franchise
- The cast of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The cars of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The stunts of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The locations of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The music of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The legacy of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The fans of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
- The future of the Smokey and the Bandit franchise
There are a total of four Smokey and the Bandit movies. The first movie was released in 1977 and the most recent movie was released in 1983.
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How many Smokey and the Bandit movies are there?
The Smokey and the Bandit movies are a series of action comedy films starring Burt Reynolds as Bo “Bandit” Darville, a truck driver and outlaw. The films were popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and there are a total of three movies in the series.
The history of the Smokey and the Bandit franchise
The Smokey and the Bandit franchise began in 1977 with the release of the original film, which was a runaway box office success. This was followed by two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). After a hiatus of over two decades, a fourth instalment, Smokey and the Bandit Returns, was released in 2006.
The original film tells the story of Bo “Bandit” Darville (played by Burt Reynolds), a charismatic trucker who makes a bet with his friend Cledus Snow (Jerry Reed) that he can transport a illegally-procured shipment of beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours. To do this, he enlists the help of Sally Field as his getaway driver. Along the way, they are pursued by Sheriff Buford T. Justice ( Jackie Gleason), an overzealous lawman determined to put an end to their shenanigans.
The sequels see Bandit and Snow getting up to more hijinks, often involving tricking Justice or outwitting other rival truckers. In Smokey and the Bandit II, they are hired by a country music star to transport live big cats across state lines, while in Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, they attempt to smuggle stolen diamonds out of Las Vegas.
Despite being over 30 years old, the original film remains hugely popular, with its iconic car chase scene often cited as one of the best ever filmed. If you’re a fan of those classic ‘70s action movies, then the Smokey and the Bandit series is definitely worth checking out.
The cast of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit franchise includes four movies. The first movie, Smokey and the Bandit, was released in 1977. The second movie, Smokey and the Bandit II, was released in 1980. The third movie, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, was released in 1983. The fourth and final movie in the franchise, Smokey and the Bandit: The Ultimate Chase, was released in 1994.
The cars of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit movies are a series of American action comedy films starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, and directed by Hal Needham. The films were popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and are notable for featuring some of the most iconic cars of that era.
The first film, released in 1977, features a black 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by Reynolds’ character, Bo “Bandit” Darville. The second film, released in 1980, features a red 1981 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by Bandit’s partner-in-crime Cledus Snow (Reed). The third and final film, released in 1983, features a white 1983 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by Bandit’s son Little Enos (Paul Williams).
All three films are available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The stunts of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit movies are a series of three American action-comedy films released between 1977 and 1983. The films were originally directed by Hal Needham, and starred Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Ned Beatty. All three films were distributed by Universal Studios.
The first Smokey and the Bandit film became the second highest-grossing film of 1977 in the United States behind Star Wars. Despite its commercial success, the film was heavily criticized for its depiction of law enforcement officers. The second film was released in 1980, and again was a box office success, albeit not as much as its predecessor. The third and final film was released in 1983.
All three films center around the antics of “The Bandit” (Reynolds), a former truck driver who now makes a living running illegal contraband across state lines, assisted by his friend and partner-in-crime Cledus Snow (Gleason). In each film, The Bandit is pursued by Smokey (Field), a dogged police officer determined to put an end to his illegal activities. Along the way, The Bandit and Cledus are joined by various characters played by Williams, Beatty, McCormick, and Reed.
Despite their mixed critical reception, the movies are notable for their stunts and car chases; many of which were performed by Reynolds himself. Many of the car chases were filmed without permits on busy highways, causing traffic disruptions that often led to confrontations with frustrated motorists caught in the ensuing gridlock. Because of this approach to filmmaking, several people were injured during the production of all three films; one stuntman was killed during filming of the second movie.
The locations of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
There are three Smokey and the Bandit movies. The first movie was released in 1977 and was set in Atlanta, Georgia. The second movie was released in 1980 and was set in Texas. The third movie was released in 1983 and was set in Louisiana.
The music of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit movies are a series of American comedy films starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. The first film, released in 1977, was the second-highest grossing film of that year. The franchise revolves around Bandit (Reynolds), a truck driver who smuggles beer from Texarkana to Georgia. He is helped by his friend Frog (Jerry Reed), Smokey (Jackie Gleason), and love interest Carrie (Field).
The movies are known for their car chases, comic relief, and country music soundtrack. Some of the songs featured in the movies include “East Bound and Down” by Jerry Reed, “I’m a Honky Tonk Man” by Johnny Horton, and “Let it Ring” by Merle Haggard.
The legacy of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit franchise began in 1977 with the release of the first movie. Starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, the movie was a big hit, grossing over $200 million at the box office.
A sequel, Smokey and the Bandit II, was released in 1980. The third movie, Smokey and the Bandit III, came out in 1983.
While the movies were popular with audiences, they were not well-received by critics. However, they have maintained a cult following over the years.
The fans of the Smokey and the Bandit movies
The Smokey and the Bandit movies are some of the most iconic car chase films ever made. They follow the adventures of Bandit (Burt Reynolds), a trucker who hauls bootleg liquor from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia, and Smokey (Jackie Gleason), the sheriff who is tasked with stopping him. The first movie was released in 1977 and was a huge box office success,spawning two sequels.
The first movie was released in 1977, the second in 1980, and the third in 1983.
The future of the Smokey and the Bandit franchise
The future of the Smokey and the Bandit franchise is currently unknown. After the release of Smokey and the Bandit II in 1980, plans for a third movie were put on hold due to financial problems at Universal Studios. The project was eventually shelved indefinitely.