“The Dukes of Hazzard” is a comedy action film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and released in 2005. The movie is based on the popular television series of the same name that aired from 1979 to 1985.
The film follows the Duke cousins, Bo (played by Seann William Scott) and Luke (played by Johnny Knoxville), as they team up with their cousin Daisy (played by Jessica Simpson) to save their family farm from being destroyed by corrupt county commissioner Boss Hogg (played by Burt Reynolds). Along the way, they engage in a series of high-speed car chases and stunts, using their famous orange 1969 Dodge Charger known as the General Lee.
Despite a star-studded cast and a popular TV show as its source material, “The Dukes of Hazzard” received negative reviews from critics. The film’s humor and portrayal of its female characters were particularly criticized, with many reviewers calling the film sexist and offensive. The film was also a disappointment at the box office, grossing just over $111 million worldwide against a reported budget of $53 million.
Cast
The main cast of “The Dukes of Hazzard” includes:
- Johnny Knoxville as Luke Duke
- Seann William Scott as Bo Duke
- Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke
- Burt Reynolds as Boss Hogg
- Willie Nelson as Uncle Jesse Duke
- M.C. Gainey as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
- David Koechner as Cooter Davenport
- James Roday Rodriguez as Billy Prickett
- Jack Polick as Deputy Cletus Hogg
- Lynda Carter as Pauline
- Michael Weston as Deputy Enos Strate
- Nikki Griffin as Katie-Lynn Johnson
Several other actors also had minor roles or cameos in the film, including Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, and Jay Chandrasekhar from the comedy group Broken Lizard, who also directed the film.
Production
“The Dukes of Hazzard” was directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and produced by Bill Gerber and Bruce Berman. The film was written by John O’Brien and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Village Roadshow Pictures.
Principal photography for the film took place in Louisiana in 2004, with many of the car chases and stunts being filmed on location in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The famous orange 1969 Dodge Charger known as the General Lee was recreated for the film using several different vehicles, including a fiberglass replica and a 1969 Charger used for close-up shots.
The film’s budget was reported to be around $53 million. Despite the negative critical reception, the film did perform well at the box office, grossing over $111 million worldwide.
Reviews
“The Dukes of Hazzard” received negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 14% approval rating based on 144 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “A dumb, goofy, and vacuous adaptation of a TV show whose original was already pretty dumb, goofy, and vacuous.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 34 out of 100, indicating “generally unfavorable reviews.”
The film’s portrayal of its female characters, particularly Jessica Simpson’s Daisy Duke, was heavily criticized by reviewers, with many accusing the film of being sexist and exploitative. The film’s attempts at humor were also widely panned, with many reviewers calling the film juvenile and unfunny.
Despite the negative reviews, the film did have some defenders, with some critics praising the film’s high-energy car chases and stunts.
Overall, “The Dukes of Hazzard” was a critical disappointment, but it did manage to perform well at the box office.
Where are they now?
Here is what some of the main cast members of “The Dukes of Hazzard” have been up to since the movie’s release:
- Johnny Knoxville has continued his career in film and television, appearing in movies such as “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” “Skiptrace,” and “Above Suspicion.” He has also continued to work as a producer and writer on various projects.
- Seann William Scott has continued to act in films and TV shows, including “Role Models,” “Goon,” and “Lethal Weapon.” He has also done voice acting work for animated projects such as “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “BoJack Horseman.”
- Jessica Simpson has continued to work in the entertainment industry, releasing several albums and hosting the reality TV show “Fashion Star.” She has also launched several successful fashion and beauty brands.
- Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018. Before his death, he continued to act in films and TV shows, including “Archer” and “The Last Movie Star.”
- Willie Nelson has continued his music career and has released several albums since “The Dukes of Hazzard” was released. He has also continued to be involved in various social and political causes, including advocating for the legalization of marijuana.
Overall, the cast of “The Dukes of Hazzard” has continued to work in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about “The Dukes of Hazzard”:
- The film’s famous General Lee car was fitted with a special suspension system that allowed it to perform many of the film’s high-speed stunts, including jumps and drifts.
- The original actors who played Bo and Luke Duke in the TV series, John Schneider and Tom Wopat, both turned down offers to appear in the film. Schneider reportedly declined due to the film’s sexual content, while Wopat was unhappy with the script.
- Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville reportedly did many of their own stunts in the film, including a scene where they jump over a moving train in the General Lee.
- Burt Reynolds, who played Boss Hogg in the film, had previously been offered the role of Bo Duke in the original TV series, but had turned it down.
- Willie Nelson, who played Uncle Jesse in the film, was a personal friend of Waylon Jennings, who performed the theme song for the original TV series. Jennings also made a cameo appearance in the film.
- Jessica Simpson, who played Daisy Duke in the film, was reportedly paid $4 million for her role. She also released a hit single, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” to promote the film.
- During the film’s production, a member of the crew was killed in a car accident while filming a stunt. The accident led to increased safety measures on film sets.
Box office
“The Dukes of Hazzard” was a moderate box office success, grossing over $111 million worldwide against a reported budget of $53 million.
In the United States, the film grossed $80.3 million, making it the 28th-highest-grossing film of 2005. It opened at number one at the box office during its opening weekend, grossing over $30 million.
Internationally, the film grossed $31 million. It performed particularly well in the United Kingdom, where it grossed over $10 million, and in Australia, where it grossed over $5 million.
While “The Dukes of Hazzard” may not have been a critical success, it did manage to perform well at the box office, making a profit for its producers.
