The Sugarland Express
“A girl with a great following. Every cop in the state was after her. Everybody else was behind her.”
Synopsis
Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-03-16
Top Cast
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Goldie Hawn
Lou Jean Poplin
William Atherton
Clovis Poplin
Ben Johnson
Captain Tanner
Michael Sacks
Slide
Gregory Walcott
Mashburn
Steve Kanaly
Jessup
Louise Latham
Mrs. Looby
Harrison Zanuck
Baby Langston
A.L. Camp
Mr. Nocker
Jessie Lee Fulton
Mrs. Nocker
Dean Smith
Russ Berry
Ted Grossman
Dietz
Bill Thurman
Hunter
Ken Hudgins
Standby #1
Buster Daniels
Drunk
James N. Harrell
Mark Fenno
Frank Steggall
Logan Waters
Roger Ernest
Hot Jock #1
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
June 15, 2024
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 17, 2004
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.27x
+$9.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Screenplay & Story
- Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins
- Original Score
- John Williams
- Original Title
- The Sugarland Express
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Budget
- $3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $12.8M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures, The Zanuck/Brown Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steven Spielberg
Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins, Steven Spielberg
John Williams
Vilmos Zsigmond
Edward M. Abroms, Verna Fields
Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown
Department Leadership Roster
Steven Spielberg
Director
Vilmos Zsigmond
Director of Photography
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Richard D. Zanuck
Producer
David Brown
Producer
Hal Barwood
Screenplay
Matthew Robbins
Screenplay
Edward M. Abroms
Editor
Verna Fields
Editor
Carey Loftin
Stunt Coordinator
Robert Ellsworth
Costume Design
James Gilmore
Costume Design
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
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
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 Sugarland Express.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Sugarland Express.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sugarland Express
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Sugarland Express about?
Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.
Who directed The Sugarland Express?
The Sugarland Express was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Who stars in The Sugarland Express?
The principal cast of The Sugarland Express includes Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, Gregory Walcott.
When was The Sugarland Express released and how long is it?
The Sugarland Express was released in 1974 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Sugarland Express?
The Sugarland Express had a reported production budget of $3M and grossed $12.8M at the worldwide box office (4.27 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Sugarland Express?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Sugarland Express was composed by John Williams.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Sugarland Express?
The Sugarland Express holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).