Watch The Cannonball Run

The Cannonball Run is a classic comedy movie from 1981, directed by legendary stuntman Hal Needham. The movie is a wild, hilarious and action-packed romp that follows a group of eccentric racers as they compete in an illegal cross-country race known as the Cannonball Run. The star-studded cast includes Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise and a slew of other iconic actors.

The movie takes place in a world where the Cannonball Run is the ultimate test of a driver's skills, a race that spans over 3,000 miles of open roads, mountains, and deserts. The rules of the race are simple: the first team to drive from New York to California wins the grand prize of $1 million. But the race is not without its dangers, as the racers must navigate through a web of law enforcement officers and other obstacles along the way.

Burt Reynolds stars as the legendary driver J.J. McClure, who enters the race with his buddy Victor (played by Dom DeLuise) driving a souped-up ambulance nicknamed the "M*A*S*H unit." Roger Moore plays the suave and sophisticated British driver Seymour Goldfarb Jr. who pretends to be Roger Moore himself, complete with a fake mustache, to avoid getting caught by the police.

Farrah Fawcett plays a rich heiress who hires J.J. and Victor to drive her across the country in a high-speed Lamborghini. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, including a pair of Japanese drivers in a souped-up Subaru, a mafia kingpin driving a Rolls-Royce, and a motorcycle gang led by Terry Bradshaw.

The movie is filled with over-the-top car chases, insane stunts, and side-splitting humor. The racers will do anything to win, including dressing up as priests, faking accidents, and even flying helicopters to get ahead of the competition. The Cannonball Run also features a number of celebrity cameos, including Jamie Farr, Mel Tillis, Jackie Chan, and Dean Martin.

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie involves a group of beautiful women in a red Ferrari, who challenge the racers to a high-speed chase on a desert highway. The resulting chase is both thrilling and hilarious, as the two teams engage in a game of cat and mouse while blasting classic rock songs on their car radios.

The Cannonball Run was a huge commercial success upon its release, grossing over $70 million at the box office. The movie was praised for its fast-paced action, slapstick humor, and memorable characters. Critics at the time were divided on its merits, with some calling it a mindless piece of summer entertainment while others praised its unabashed silliness.

In retrospect, The Cannonball Run has become a beloved cult classic, known for its memorable characters, fast cars, and iconic soundtrack. The movie spawned two sequels, Cannonball Run II and Speed Zone, but neither were able to capture the magic of the original. Despite its flaws, The Cannonball Run remains a must-see movie for fans of high-speed chases, Hollywood glamour, and pure, unadulterated fun.