#11: Smokey and the Bandit Was a Huge Success

In 1977, Reynolds starred in Smokey and the Bandit, a high-octane action comedy that became a cultural phenomenon. Playing Bo “Bandit” Darville, a charming outlaw hired to smuggle 400 cases of Coors beer across state lines, Reynolds fully embraced his fun-loving, rebellious persona.

The film was a massive box office success, becoming the second highest-grossing movie of 1977, behind only Star Wars. It also skyrocketed the popularity of the Pontiac Trans Am, which became an instant collector’s item.