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Smokey and the Bandit II
1980 101 min United States of America PG 18+
★5.3
Action, Comedy
Director: Hal Needham
Trailers
Description
The Bandit goes on another cross-country run, transporting an elephant from Florida to Texas. And, once again, Sheriff Buford T. Justice is on his tail.
Budget:
$17M
US Gross:
$66.13M
Worldwide:
$66.1M
Starring
Burt Reynolds
Actor
Jackie Gleason
Actor
Jerry Reed
Actor
Awards
1 win & 5 nominations total
Key opinion
Smokey and the Bandit II is widely regarded as a hollow follow-up that fails to capture the chaotic charm and chemistry of the original film. While the returning cast attempts to replicate the successful formula, the thin script and repetitive humor render the sequel a pale imitation that sacrifices character depth for cartoonish excess.
| Screenplay | The script suffers from a lack of substance, stripping the lead characters of the charisma and spark that defined their original portrayals. | |
| Humor | The humor feels derivative and overplayed, relying on recycled gags from the first film that largely fail to land. | |
| Originality | The narrative structure feels like a cynical, purely commercial attempt to repeat the 1977 cult formula without its signature reckless energy. | |
| Direction | The reliance on cartoonish, over-the-top character beats creates an uneven tone that diverges significantly from the grounded charm of the predecessor. | |
| Acting | Critics are divided on the performances: some appreciate the reliable comfort of the returning ensemble, while others feel the actors are constrained by uninspired writing and bizarre character shifts. |