In the summer of 1980, two things were hotter than an asphalt road in July: the Smokey and the Bandit sequel and the pressure to match the original’s magic. Smokey and the Bandit II rolled into theaters with bigger stunts, wilder chases, and an elephant-sized twist—literally. Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Reed returned, but could they capture lightning in a bottle a second time?

Buckle up as we take a joyride through the history of Smokey and the Bandit II, a film that aimed to be louder, faster, and crazier—just not necessarily better.

From Coors to an Elephant: Upping the Ante

The first Smokey and the Bandit was a simple, high-octane beer run. The sequel? It took a hard left turn into the outrageous. Instead of hauling illegal Coors across state lines, Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and his team are now tasked with transporting a live elephant named Charlotte from Miami to Texas. Why? Because Big Enos (Pat McCormick) and Little Enos (Paul Williams) need Charlotte delivered in time for the GOP National Convention.

Yes, you read that right.

Bigger Budget, Bigger Stunts, Bigger Expectations

With the original film being a smash hit, the sequel had a bigger budget (around $17 million, nearly triple the original’s $6.3 million) and a grander scale. This meant more stunts, more car wrecks, and more outrageous chase sequences.

One of the wildest set pieces? The bridge jump over a river where Bandit and his legendary black Trans Am soar through the air. The stunt was done for real, but it didn’t come without casualties—of the vehicular kind. The film reportedly destroyed more than 60 Trans Ams and over 40 police cars during filming. Pontiac, which had provided the Firebird Trans Am for the original film, refused to give the production free cars this time, forcing Universal to buy them outright.

And of course, Jackie Gleason’s Sheriff Buford T. Justice was back with even more creative insults and expletives, chasing Bandit with unrelenting determination. This time, though, he wasn’t alone—Buford’s twin brothers, Reginald and Gaylord Justice (both played by Gleason), were along for the ride, adding an extra layer of comedic chaos.

The Elephant in the Room (Literally)

As mentioned, the film’s biggest gimmick was Charlotte, the pregnant elephant Bandit had to transport.

The real elephant was named Cora, and she wasn’t the easiest co-star to work with. Reports from the set claim she was challenging to direct, and Reynolds later admitted the elephant stepped on his foot more than once. Sally Field, meanwhile, had to do multiple takes with the elephant because Cora had a habit of stealing the scene—sometimes literally, by swiping food from the cast and crew.

The idea of making Bandit a reluctant elephant chauffeur was meant to raise the stakes, but many fans of the original felt it slowed the film down. Instead of a simple, fast-paced beer run, the sequel added a circus-like element that some critics found unnecessary.

The Return of the Dream Team

Despite the film’s over-the-top premise, Smokey and the Bandit II still had its core strength: its cast.

• Burt Reynolds was once again at the wheel as Bo “Bandit” Darville, though this time he played the character with a bit more world-weariness. The movie hinted at Bandit’s decline—he starts the film depressed, drinking too much, and out of shape. Of course, he gets his groove back by the end.
• Sally Field returned as Carrie, aka “Frog,” but she wasn’t thrilled about it. She and Reynolds were in the middle of a real-life breakup during filming, making their on-screen chemistry more complicated.
• Jackie Gleason chewed even more scenery (and cigars) as he played Buford T. Justice and his two twin brothers. He reportedly ad-libbed much of his dialogue, which helped keep the insults fresh.
• Jerry Reed as Snowman once again delivered the best lines and the best tunes. His song “Texas Bound and Flyin'” became a hit, though it never reached the heights of “East Bound and Down.”
• And then there was Dom DeLuise, who played an eccentric Italian doctor trying to care for Charlotte the elephant. His performance? A mix of slapstick and confusion, as if he wandered onto the wrong movie set and just rolled with it. His Italian accent was completely improvised—he just started doing it on set, and Hal Needham let it stick

A Box Office Smash… But a Critical Pileup

Despite mixed reviews, Smokey and the Bandit II was a financial success. It grossed over $66 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1980. It wasn’t as massive as the original, but it still proved that audiences were eager to see Bandit back on the road.

Critics, however, were far less forgiving. Many felt the sequel lacked the effortless charm of the first film. The pacing was slower, the plot more ridiculous, and the chemistry between Reynolds and Field didn’t have the same spark—likely due to their off-screen breakup. Even Reynolds himself later admitted that making the film was more of an obligation than a passion project.

Roger Ebert called the movie “so bad, it’s almost cruel to give it a bad review”, while The New York Times described it as “a comedy on cruise control.”

Why It’s Still Worth Watching

Here’s the thing—Smokey and the Bandit II isn’t a masterpiece. It’s not even in the same zip code as the original. But it’s still a fun ride for the right kind of audience.

If you love classic car chases, ’70s and ’80s Southern-fried humor, and watching Burt Reynolds do his thing, there’s fun to be had. Plus, Jackie Gleason alone makes the film worth revisiting. His insults, from “Tick turd” to “You scum-sucking roadwhore,” are legendary.

And let’s not forget the elephant. The fact that someone in Hollywood thought, “You know what would make this even better? A pregnant elephant.” deserves recognition—if only for its sheer audacity.

While Smokey and the Bandit II didn’t become the cultural juggernaut its predecessor was, it still cemented Bandit’s place in cinematic history. The Trans Am remained an icon, the theme song still had people tapping their boots, and Jackie Gleason proved that no lawman could ever quite catch the Bandit.

Oh, but franchise didn’t end here….

The third film, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, was ah … something …. one that didn’t even feature Burt Reynolds beyond a brief cameo. But that’s another story for another day.

For now, Smokey and the Bandit II remains a relic of a time when all you needed for a hit film was a fast car, a wisecracking trucker, and an elephant with attitude.

So, if you ever find yourself on a long stretch of open highway with nothing but time and a need for nostalgia, give it another watch.