Convoy (1978)

50% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(8,767 ratings)

The CB (citizen's band) radio fad had nearly run its course when this feel-good action film was made by director Sam Peckinpah. In the story, based on C.W. McCall's song "Convoy", a group of struggling truckers (who stay in touch by CB) run into a situation which ignites their indignation. They… More The CB (citizen's band) radio fad had nearly run its course when this feel-good action film was made by director Sam Peckinpah. In the story, based on C.W. McCall's song "Convoy", a group of struggling truckers (who stay in touch by CB) run into a situation which ignites their indignation. They arrange to form a truck convoy under the leadership of the man whose CB nickname is "Rubber Duck" (Kris Kristofferson). He is the most aggrieved of the bunch, having been harassed beyond the point of endurance by Lyle Wallace (Ernest Borgnine) a blackmailing traffic cop who pursues him ever more frantically through several states after he fails to submit to the phony speed trap he had set up. As news of the truck convoy spreads, unexpected allies join the line, and the now-gigantic illegal protest becomes the subject of national news reports. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Sam Peckinpah
Written By: B. W. L. Norton
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jun 28, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Jul 1, 2003

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
A bad joke that backfires on the director.
Richard T. Jameson, Parallax View
Convoy continues Peckinpah's voyage into "nihilist poetry," in the phrase of Pauline Kael...
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Unmotivated story riddled with confusion and disarray. Production staff does the job with little imagination.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Like "The Getaway," only it sucks.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Peckinpah's classic Trucker movie is still good. Makes you want to get a CB, name yourself after a children?s toy and drive a truck.
Stephen M

Bloody awful! The only Peckinpah movie I would never watch again. If you're going to base a movie on a song, at least pick a decent fucking song!!! Makes <i>Smokey and the Bandit</i> look like <i>Citizen Kane</i>.
Dean M

Truckers, led by Kris Kristofferson, go on a tri-state protest over police brutality, high gas prices, and other complaints. An uneven script and just fair acting mar this picture.
Lafe F

Great Truck-Driving movie from the 70's with a great theme song. Without the song, it would be a very bad movie. The movie didn't have enough of the song at each plot development. It gets bogged down near the end with politics. The characters are fun but not very memorable;… More
Great Truck-Driving movie from the 70's with a great theme song. Without the song, it would be a very bad movie. The movie didn't have enough of the song at each plot development. It gets bogged down near the end with politics. The characters are fun but not very memorable; I didn't quite support their cause. This movie would appeal to the guys-who-love-movies crowd. The end sequence on the bridge with the police blockade was suspenseful.
Lee K

Kris Kristofferson is classed in my personal faves as dudes too cool to be on this planet! Everr role this guy has played in that i have had the pleasure to watch was done with such a cool tour de force as much like his music the man is craftsman one way or another! Many peoplew… More
Kris Kristofferson is classed in my personal faves as dudes too cool to be on this planet! Everr role this guy has played in that i have had the pleasure to watch was done with such a cool tour de force as much like his music the man is craftsman one way or another! Many peoplew during this movie's actual run in the theatre critically bashed it saying b movie status and this and that and most expecially blasted Kristofferson's performance as only being able to show one emotion...hey if i was allowed one emotion and that emotion was cool, what can i say i'd run with it. He has led a comfortable life minus the drugs and booze and hardships affiliated with his musical career, what i mean is financially wise, so whose to complain? This movie along with Smokey And The Bandit, is 1 of the best trucker films around! I know cb's have since been replaced with cell phones and pagers however why not bring em back? I loved the 70's song that this film was based on by CW Mccall as well and always , when the mood strikes me and i put this flick on,it always ends up with me watching either karaoke or home made video versions of the song on you tube. Nostalgic is the feeling i am looking for. Cb handle The Duck is Kris Kristofferson's charector in this's handle. He is notorious on the cb, nowadays it would be the web, for having various altercations in one form or another with the law, When one of his merry band of truckers gets in a fight with some of the local law enforcers including sheriff Dirty Lyle who has been gunning for The Duck since his name was incarnated, this leads with a pack of truckers racing to get over stateline, where they feel Lyle wont be able to touch them, along the way however through the cb chat world a convoy of trucks begins to follow Duck and his merry men! If you are either a fan of Kristtoferson's music, his movies or eve trucking in general i'd definatly say give this a chance and dont listen to the critics!