You may be surprised to learn that Empire ranked John Travolta number 21 in their list of the Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time. Whether you agree or not, John Travolta movies certainly has the resume of an acting icon. Whether lighting up the screen as a high school greaser, a disco dancer, or a burger-eating hitman, Travolta has left us with no shortage of unforgettable characters.
Do you need some new movies to binge this weekend? If so, now’s as good a time as ever to catch up on Travolta’s catalog. Start by checking out these five essential John Travolta movies.
1. Grease (1978)
Table of Contents
Based on the 1971 musical of the same name that’s still running today, Grease took John Travolta’s star power to a whole new level. The wily, iconic musical follows Travolta’s Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy Olsson as they weather a year of high school romantic complications following an unforgettable summer romance.
Firmly rooted in an aesthetic of 1950s cool, Grease really tapped into a widespread sense of nostalgia that sustains its reputation as a beloved classic. Even after over forty years, you’d be surprised to learn where the cast of Grease has landed today.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Smack in the middle of the nineties, a world-renowned independent cult classic came around that cemented John Travolta’s fame all the more. No John Travolta movies list would be complete without Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino’s classic dialogue-heavy crime world caper.
In a purposeful subversion of his own star power, Travolta plays a dopey second-rate hitman with a love of fast food and confused slow-boiling romantic tension with his boss’s wife Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman). With a fragmented narrative that’s best left unspoiled, Pulp Fiction makes for a wild watch that’s great for repeat viewings.
3. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Just one year before Grease, there was a different John Travolta dance movie that put a rising star on the map.
Packed with all the classic tunes and light-up floors you could ask for, Saturday Night Fever practically ignited America’s disco craze. Travolta’s unforgettable turn as disco dancer Tony Manero all but cemented the style and dress sense of an entire subculture. There’s a reason you still can’t hear “Stayin’ Alive” without thinking of this movie!
4. Urban Cowboy (1980)
Set in a honky tonk in Pasadena, Texas, this John Travolta cowboy movie arguably set its sights on doing for country music what Saturday Night Fever did for disco.
The country-fried trials and romantic entertainment of Travolta’s down-on-his-luck oil worker Buford “Bud” Davis are sure to hit all the nostalgic, comfort-watch criteria you might be craving.
5. A Civil Action (1998): The Travolta Pick of John Travolta Movies
A Civil Action is far from just a John Travolta lawyer movie, it’s also Travolta’s favorite role according to the man himself!
Based on a true story of environmental pollution in Woburn, Massachusetts, the movie sees Travolta as a hotshot attorney named Jan Schlichtmann who must deliver justice to an ailing town. If a tight legal thriller is what you’re after, Travolta himself would say you’ve made an excellent choice!
Stay Tuned For Even More Entertainment At Your Fingertips!
John Travolta movies are far from the only way to stay entertained and engaged from the comfort of your home!
Keep up-to-date with DD Freedish News for even more of the latest in entertainment, home, lifestyle, and more!
