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Smokey and the Bandit

Smokey and the Bandit

Action · Adventure · Comedy · 1977

A race car driver tries to transport an illegal beer shipment from Texas to Atlanta in under 28 hours, picking up a reluctant bride-to-be on the way.

Movie details

Smokey and the Bandit

“"What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!"”

1977 Action · Adventure · Comedy 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

A race car driver tries to transport an illegal beer shipment from Texas to Atlanta in under 28 hours, picking up a reluctant bride-to-be on the way.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Smokey and the Bandit?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Hal Needham

Written by

James Lee Barrett · Charles Shyer · Alan Mandell · Robert L. Levy

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

Bandit

Sally Field

Sally Field

Carrie

Jerry Reed

Jerry Reed

Cledus

Mike Henry

Mike Henry

Junior

Paul Williams

Paul Williams

Little Enos

Pat McCormick

Pat McCormick

Big Enos

Jackie Gleason

Jackie Gleason

Buford T. Justice

Court is in session

Put Smokey and the Bandit on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.