Semi-fictionalized for Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and a cast of hundreds, the 1981 pic and its sequels captured the fun if not the competition at the heart of the Run.

The madcap cross-country race comedy that was The Cannonball Run was an instant blockbuster upon its release in 1981. The budget was hefty, north of $16,000,000, but acquiring an all-star cast ...

The original Cannonball Run was a box-office powerhouse, finishing sixth in 1981 behind classics such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, Arthur and Stripes.