For over four decades, John Travolta has consistently delivered in iconic performances that have left an indelible mark in the movie industry. From his Oscar-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever to his universally praised performance as Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray (2007), Travolta has cemented himself as a Hollywood star.
In this article, we will preview five of his most iconic films, discuss the wide range of notable roles in his filmography, and explore his music career. Finally, we will conlcude with his current projects.
5 of John Travolta’s Most Iconic Movies
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Saturday Night Fever (1977): Travolta received Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor for his leading role in Saturday Night Fever as Tony Manero, a working-class Italian-American dance fan who is one of the stars of the Brooklyn nightlife scene. While the music and dance sequences were the main attractions of the film, Travolta’s charismatic and heartfelt performance left a lasting impact.
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Grease (1978): This iconic, feel-good musical featured Travolta as Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy. Their relationship was an integral part of the film, but the memorable music and performances, such as Travolta’s “Greased Lightnin” showpiece at the end of the film, was what truly made Grease a classic.
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Pulp Fiction (1994): With a star-studded cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, and Harvey Keitel, Pulp Fiction redefined the gangster movie genre with a healthy dose of dark, witty humour.Travolta’s turn as Vincent Vega, a sleazy hitman, was one of the highlights of the film.
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Get Shorty (1995): Travolta starred opposite Gene Hackman in the lead roles of this popular action-comedy. Based on the novel by author Elmore Leonard. Travolta played the role of Chili Palmer, a loan-shark-turned-Hollywood producer who is trying to get his latest movie made. The chemistry between Travolta and Hackman made Get Shorty a classic.
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Face/Off (1997): This high-octane action thriller, co-starring Nicholas Cage, featured Travolta’s dual performances as FBI agent Sean Archer and psychotic terrorist Castor Troy. Both roles showcased Travolta’s range and immense flair for physicality, ensuring the film a place amongst the most thrilling action movies of all time.
Notable Movies in Travolta’s Filmography
Travolta’s impressive and varied filmography includes roles in many other popular films, from the sci-fi comedy classic Universe (1990), to the Christmas classic Home Alone (1993). His list of movies includes popular titles such as:
• Primary Colors (1998)
• Sword Fish (2001)
• Ladder 49 (2004)
• Wild Hogs (2007)
• Bolt (2008)
• Savages (2012)
• Gotti (2018)
John Travolta’s Music Career
Though most people are familiar with John Travolta’s acting achievements, the actor has put out some exceptional music albums over the years. Travolta made his singing debut in the musical Grease, in which he sang several songs, including “Greased Lightnin”.
In the late 70s, Travolta released two successful albums, John Travolta and The Johnny Travolta Band. Both albums contained covers of popular songs, as well as some of Travolta’s own compositions. The albums were very popular and even reached the charts in the UK and Australia.
In 2012, Travolta released “This Christmas” with Olivia Newton-John, a holiday-themed album that was met with rave reviews.
John Travolta’s Recent Projects
Most recently, Travolta has been seen in the critically acclaimed Ryan Murphy miniseries The People vs. O. J. Simpson (2016) as Robert Shapiro. Travolta also starred in the action-thriller Speed Kills (2018) and is currently filming the sci-fi thriller Paradox (2021), in which he will reprise his role as Don Vito Corleone from the cult classic The Godfather: Part III (1990).
Travolta can also be seen in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino historical drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2021). The film, which focuses on the late 1960s, features Travolta as real-life cult leader Charles Manson.
Travolta is clearly showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 67. He has consistently been one of the most iconic and recognizable Hollywood stars of all time.
John Travolta has starred in a variety of popular films over the past four decades. From his iconic roles in Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction to his recent turns in The People vs. O. J. Simpson, Speed Kills and Paradox, Travolta has been a fixture in Hollywood. Not to mention, his music career and holiday-themed album with Olivia Newton-John, as well as his upcoming role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We can be sure that John Travolta will continue to be an iconic figure in the film industry for years to come.
