John Travolta’s films rated …

by

John Travolta’s films rated …

Okay, so John Travolta actually started as a director with ‘Propeller One Way Night Coach,’ which was based on his own book. But I’m a movie buff, and I really wanted to dive into his work as an actor. Over 50 years, he’s built up a really interesting filmography – some truly great movies that even earned him Oscar nods, and… well, let’s just say some others should be forgotten forever (and yes, I’m definitely thinking of ‘Battlefield Earth’!). But we’re focusing on the good stuff here, counting down to what I think are his absolute best performances. So, here’s my ranking of John Travolta’s films…

 

  1. Saturday Night Fever (1977)

While the Sex Pistols were causing a sensation in the UK with their rebellious music and notorious performances, the US was captivated by disco, perfectly embodied by the release of Saturday Night Fever. John Travolta had already shown promise in the film Carrie, but Saturday Night Fever truly launched him to stardom. From the iconic opening shot of his feet walking down the street to his energetic dance moves in a white suit, the film presented a very different vibe than the rave scene that would emerge twelve years later. The film’s success, despite its restrictive rating, was boosted by a defining and iconic soundtrack from the Bee Gees, earning $237 million worldwide and landing Travolta an Oscar nomination (though he lost to Richard Dreyfuss). With Saturday Night Fever, Travolta became a true star.

 

  1. Get Shorty (1995)

By the time John Travolta made Get Shorty, his career was on the rise again. The film is considered one of the best adaptations of an Elmore Leonard novel, alongside Out of Sight and Jackie Brown. In it, Travolta plays Chilli Palmer, a mob loan shark who goes to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers the movie industry is just as shady as the criminal world he’s used to. Unlike typical movie gangsters, Chilli is charming and relies more on talking his way through situations, though he’s perfectly capable of violence when needed. It’s a standout performance from Travolta, and he’s supported by a fantastic cast including Danny DeVito as a self-absorbed actor and Gene Hackman as a sleazy producer. The film also features memorable performances from Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini, David Paymer, and Rene Russo. Get Shorty‘s success led to a sequel, Be Cool, which saw Chilli enter the music industry. While enjoyable, Be Cool didn’t quite live up to the original.

 

  1. Grease (1978)

I still remember being blown away when John Travolta went from being a disco king in Saturday Night Fever to starring in Grease! It was a bit of a surprise to hear him sing, but he’d already proven he could nail the role of Danny – I’ve seen clips online of him absolutely killing those high notes in the stage version (“those sum-mer ni-I –I-IIIIIIIIIIGHTS!!!!”). He just was that leather-jacketed, 50s bad boy, completely smitten with Sandy, who was such a breakout role for the wonderful Olivia Newton-John. They had amazing chemistry, and the soundtrack was incredible – songs like ‘Summer Loving’ and ‘Greased Lightning’ turned it into a massive hit. It’s crazy to think it made $396 million on a budget of just $6 million – a true cinematic classic!

 

  1. Face / Off (1997)

Let’s move on to another John Travolta film, this time a full-on action movie. It paired him with renowned director John Woo, fresh off his move to Hollywood after making a name for himself in Hong Kong. Their collaboration, ‘Face Off,’ remains a standout action film from the 90s. The plot is wild: Travolta plays a cop, Nicolas Cage is the villain, and they undergo facial transplant surgery. It’s incredibly entertaining to watch both actors mimic each other’s mannerisms, alongside Woo’s signature over-the-top action sequences and explosive set pieces. While a huge hit with audiences, ‘Face Off’ marked the end of a particularly successful period for both the director and Travolta. After this film, Travolta’s career became inconsistent, with more misses than hits. Similarly, for Woo, despite directing ‘Mission Impossible II’ (often considered the weakest in the series), he eventually returned to making films in Hong Kong.

 

  1. Blow Out (1981)

Director Brian DePalma and John Travolta previously collaborated on ‘Carrie’ and later teamed up for the suspenseful thriller ‘Blow Out,’ which was loosely inspired by the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident involving Ted Kennedy. The tragedy resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, and Kennedy’s subsequent involvement and the resulting investigation severely damaged his reputation and fueled numerous conspiracy theories. In the film, Travolta plays Jack, a sound recordist who accidentally captures audio of a car accident – but quickly realizes it was actually a murder. This puts him in danger. ‘Blow Out’ showcases DePalma’s signature style, with visually striking scenes, split screens, long camera movements, and slow motion, all paying homage to Hitchcock. It’s a fantastic film, featuring a strong performance from Travolta, alongside Nancy Allen (who was married to DePalma at the time) and John Lithgow, who frequently played villains in DePalma’s other movies. Often underappreciated, ‘Blow Out’ is a film worth discovering, and it concludes with a powerful and emotionally resonant ending.

 

  1. Carrie (1976)

While it’s a small role for John Travolta – one of only two supporting parts – Carrie was the film that first brought him to the attention of movie audiences. Before this, he’d mostly appeared in TV shows, and he surprisingly played against type as the school bully who torments the main character and ultimately provokes Carrie’s explosive reaction. This film marked the first collaboration between Travolta and director Brian DePalma, and it’s a classic DePalma production, featuring his signature fast-paced style and a shocking ending that still surprises viewers today.

Related feature : The story behind the shot……. Carrie (1976)

 

  1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

It’s hard to imagine another film that could have saved his career. Before Pulp Fiction, John Travolta’s career had stalled. The 1980s brought a disappointing Saturday Night Fever sequel, some music videos, and a series of financially successful but critically weak talking baby movies. Quentin Tarantino, a longtime fan – especially of the film Blow Out – wanted to see Travolta shine again and wrote the role of Vincent Vega specifically for him. Following the success of Reservoir Dogs, A-list actors were eager to work with Tarantino, but the studio resisted casting Travolta, considering him past his prime. Tarantino, however, consistently proved his ability to draw incredible performances from underrated actors, even earning them Oscar nominations. Travolta was nominated for Best Actor, but lost to Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. Samuel L. Jackson also delivered a standout performance, but lost to Martin Landau in Ed Wood, further illustrating that the Oscars don’t always recognize the most deserving talent. Pulp Fiction‘s massive success revitalized Travolta’s career, returning him to the A-list and leading to a string of good roles. However, the 2000 box office failure Battlefield Earth significantly damaged his career, and despite continuing to work, he hasn’t had a role or film as transformative as Pulp Fiction since.

….and those are John Travolta’s films rated!

Here’s John Travolta and his daughter talking about is directorial debut …..

Read More

2026-06-01 18:24