The Cannonball Run
“You'll root for them all...but you'll never guess who wins.”
Synopsis
A cross-country road race is based on an actual event, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, organized by Brock Yates to protest the 55 mph speed limit then in effect in the U.S. The Cannonball was named for Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, who in the roaring 20's rode his motorcycle across the country. Many of the characters are based on ruses developed by real Cannonball racers over the several years that the event was run.
Part of the Cannonball Run Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-05-19
Top Cast
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Burt Reynolds
J.J. McClure
Roger Moore
Seymour
Farrah Fawcett
Pamela
Dom DeLuise
Victor
Dean Martin
Jamie Blake
Sammy Davis Jr.
Fenderbaum
Jack Elam
Doctor
Adrienne Barbeau
Marcie
Terry Bradshaw
Terry
Jackie Chan
Subaru Driver #1
Bert Convy
Brad
Jamie Farr
Sheik
Peter Fonda
Chief Biker
George Furth
A.F. Foyt
Michael Hui Koon-Man
Subaru Driver #2
Bianca Jagger
Sheik's Sister
Molly Picon
Mom Goldfarb
Jimmy Snyder
"The Greek"
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 19, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 25, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$18M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$72.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.01x
+$54.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Hal Needham
- Screenplay & Story
- Brock Yates
- Original Score
- Al Capps
- Original Title
- The Cannonball Run
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Hong Kong
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, English
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Production Budget
- $18M
- Worldwide Gross
- $72.2M
- Production Studios
- Orange Sky Golden Harvest, Albert S. Ruddy Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Hal Needham
Brock Yates
Al Capps
Michael C. Butler
Donn Cambern, William D. Gordean
Albert S. Ruddy, Raymond Chow
Department Leadership Roster
Brock Yates
Screenplay
Michael C. Butler
Director of Photography
Donn Cambern
Editor
William D. Gordean
Editor
Hal Needham
Director
Albert S. Ruddy
Producer
Al Capps
Original Music Composer
Bobby Bass
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Cannonball Run.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Cannonball Run.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cannonball Run
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Cannonball Run about?
A cross-country road race is based on an actual event, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, organized by Brock Yates to protest the 55 mph speed limit then in effect in the U.S. The Cannonball was named for Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, who in the roaring 20's rode his motorcycle across the country. Many of the characters are based on ruses developed by real Cannonball racers over the several years that the event was run.
Who directed The Cannonball Run?
The Cannonball Run was directed by Hal Needham.
Who stars in The Cannonball Run?
The principal cast of The Cannonball Run includes Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin.
When was The Cannonball Run released and how long is it?
The Cannonball Run was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 35m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Cannonball Run?
The Cannonball Run had a reported production budget of $18M and grossed $72.2M at the worldwide box office (4.01 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Cannonball Run?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Cannonball Run was composed by Al Capps.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Cannonball Run?
The Cannonball Run holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).