All 7 ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ Movies in Order
Smokey and the Bandit was a series of action-comedy films that were popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The movie starred Burt Reynolds as Bo “Bandit” Darville, a legendary truck driver and bootlegger. Along the way, he is pursued by the determined Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. The movie was a huge success and became one of the highest-grossing films of 1977, spawning two sequels in 1980 and 1983. With that said, let’s take a look at all 7 Smokey and the Bandit movies.
The Smokey and the Bandit movies were known for their high-speed car chases, comedic performances, and memorable one-liners. The films were a cultural phenomenon, with audiences enamored by the characters of Bandit and his sidekick Cledus. The movies also featured several notable guest stars, including Sally Field, Dom DeLuise, and Paul Williams. They remain beloved by fans of the era and continue to be referenced in popular culture today. If you are interested in this franchise, you should stick with us and keep reading for more!
How many Smokey and the Bandit movies are there?
There are seven Smokey and the Bandit movies. The first Smokey and the Bandit movie was released in 1977, followed by two sequels in 1980 and 1983. After the three original movies were released a couple of years later, in 1994, another four spin-off movies were released. The spin-off movies weren’t as well received as the original movies.
Smokey and the Bandit movies in order (at a glance)
We will look at all the Smokey and the Bandit movies and how the movie order looks at a glance. This will help you if you are looking for a simple guide on where to start watching the movie series.
- Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
- Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)
- Bandit Goes Country (1994)
- Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994)
- Beauty and the Bandit (1994)
- Bandit’s Silver Angel (1994)
Now that we have laid out the initial order in which you can watch the Smokey and the Bandit movies, let’s dive in further and take a look at how the movies are connected.
Are Smokey and the Bandit movies connected? Do you need to watch them in a specific order?
All Smokey and the Bandit movies are connected and follow similar story outlines. The first movie introduced the main characters, Bandit and his partner Snowman who took on a challenge to transport beer across state lines while being pursued by Sheriff Buford T. Justice. The second movie sees the main characters return once again to transport an elephant across the state lines, with the Sheriff Justice pursuing them once again. The third movie, while following a similar story, introduced a new villain.
The movies are enjoyable even if you decide to watch them standalone but to understand the references and the absurdity of the movies; it’s best to watch them in release date order as this is the proper chronological timeline of events.
What is the best way to watch Smokey and the Bandit movies?
The best way to watch the Smokey and the Bandit movies is by following the movie release dates. The first three movies were between 1977 and 1983. After that, we have the four spin-off movies that all came out in the same year.
Smokey and the Bandit movies in order (By release date)
1. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
In the first Smokey and the Bandit movie, we follow Bo Darville, who takes on a challenge to transport 400 cases of Coors beer across state lines in just 28 hours. Along the way, he is pursued by the determined Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason, while teaming up with his partner Cledus “Snowman” Snow, played by Jerry Reed.
2. Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
Smokey and the Bandit II follows our main protagonist Bo Darville as he takes on another challenge, the transportation of an elephant across the country, while also dealing with his old nemesis Sheriff Buford T. Justice. Bandit and his team encounter a variety of obstacles and meet new characters, all while trying to complete their mission on time.
3. Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)
In the final installment in the original Smokey and the Bandit film series, Bo faces a new set of challenges, taking on another dangerous transportation job. He teamed up with a group of amateur truck drivers to transport a live shark to a theme park. Meanwhile, a new villain appears; this time, he is played by Burt Reynolds himself.
4. Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994)
The movie Bandit: Bandit Bandit is the first spin-off of the original Smokey and the Bandit trilogy that we are going to recommend you watch. Bandit, who is now played by Brian Bloom, is released from prison and reunites with his old friend and partner-in-crime, Cledus Snow, to take on a corrupt sheriff and clear his name.
5. Beauty and the Bandit (1994)
Beauty and the Bandit is the second spin-off of the original Smokey and the Bandit trilogy. The movie features Bandit’s new partner, a beautiful country singer named Dusty Trails, played by Kathy Ireland. Together, they take on a gang of thieves who have stolen a valuable computer chip.
6. Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (1994)
The Bandit Goes Country spin-off continues to follow the adventures of Bandit. In this movie, Bandit meets another beautiful country singer named Jessie, played by Alyssa Milano, and they team up to outrun their rivals and cross the finish line first.
7. Bandit’s Silver Angel (1994)
The Bandit’s Silver Angel spin-off follows our protagonist, Bandit, who is once again transporting cargo that only he can deliver. A group of criminals tries to intervene during his transport, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the cargo. Bandit must use his skills and wits to outsmart them and complete his mission.
Where to watch Smokey and the Bandit movies?
The first and second Smokey and the Bandit movies are available on Apple TV, and the third Smokey and the Bandit movie is available on the Freevee streaming service. The availability of spin-off movies is where the story gets a bit complicated.
The two spin-off movies, Bandit: Bandit Bandit and Bandit: Bandit Goes Country, are available only as DVD copies on Amazon. The other two movies, Beauty and the Bandit and Bandit’s Silver Angel, are not yet available on any streaming service or as DVD copies. You could probably find certain collector websites where the DVD copy would be available, but those copies are not always in English.
Will there be more Smokey and the Bandit movies?
There is no news yet regarding a new Smokey and the Bandit movie project, but by the end of 2020, it was announced that there is a TV series in the works. There hasn’t been any recent news about the project, but there is still hope that it will have time to shine. Some of the potential producers of this series include names like Seth MacFarlane and Danny McBride.
