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.
A motley group of eccentric drivers participates in an infamous, illegal cross-country road race. The participants, ranging from a disgraced doctor to a pair of degenerate gamblers, will stop at nothing to win, employing outrageous schemes and disguises to outsmart law enforcement and each other. The film follows their chaotic and hilarious journey from the East Coast to the West Coast, filled with improbable stunts and comedic encounters.
The Cannonball Run was a commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing independent films of its time. However, critical reception was largely negative, with many reviewers finding its humor juvenile and its plot nonsensical, though some acknowledged its entertainment value as a lighthearted, star-studded romp.
Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's star power and its ability to provide a fun, escapist experience with plenty of laughs. However, many agree that the plot is thin and the humor can be hit-or-miss, with some finding it dated.
The film is based on the actual Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an unsanctioned automobile race across the United States, which was started by Brock Yates in 1971.
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