Best John Travolta films

Miramax There are few Hollywood career arcs stranger than that of John Travolta. Even calling it an arc is a misnomer. Travolta took the chance to bully poor, supernatural Carrie White and parlayed it into the role of heartthrob on “Welcome Back, Kotter.” He used his dancing skills in “Saturday Night Fever” and musical theater prowess in “Grease” to become one of the biggest stars in the world, acting in the #1 movie and hitting #1 on the Billboard charts in 1978. Later that year, he was in a film so horrible it almost ended both his and Lily Tomlin’s careers. As always, Travolta bounced back. His first revival flick was “Urban Cowboy”–think “Saturday Night Fever” in a country-western bar; later, the role of a lifetime appeared in “Pulp Fiction,” landing Travolta back in Hollywood’s good graces again. But even that seemingly infallible revival as Vincent Vega–about as iconic as characters come–was squandered with odd choice after odd choice. His recent television role as Robert Shapiro in “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story” seemed gifted from the gods–producer Ryan Murphy is the king of camp, an arena in which Travolta thrives. But even then, he was overshadowed by others in the series’ all-star cast. Travolta is undoubtedly one of the most known Hollywood figures of all time. Forty years later, does he still shock us with performances no one saw coming? Almost certainly. To look back on Travolta’s enduring career, Stacker ranked all feature-length John Travolta films by IMDb user rating, with ties broken by votes. Cameos and documentaries were not included. Without further ado, here are Travolta’s best movies. You may also like: Biggest box office bombs of all time #58. Battlefield Earth (2000) Warner Bros. – Director: Roger Christian – IMDb user rating: 2.5 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 118 minutes A lot of terrible things have been said about this movie–it’s been called a “10-ton turkey,” “appalling,” and the “worst of the millennium”–and rightly so. This film based on the L. Ron Hubbard novel of the same name is B-movie bad without any of the fun. The problems are nearly countless, but known Scientologist Travolta’s devotion to the source text, written by the religion’s founder, must have made the adaptation process tricky. Travolta plays an embattled security chief of an alien race who illegally tries to mine gold to pay back to his home country. He wears a codpiece and a dreadlock wig–and it gets worse from there. #57. Moment by Moment (1978) RSO – Director: Jane Wagner – IMDb user rating: 3.1 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 102 minutes Travolta had a three-film run with Cream and Bee Gees producer Robert Stigwood: “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grease,” and then this poorly reviewed romance–still a tremendous two-year run. Written and directed by Jane Wagner, “Moment by Moment” tells the story of an older Beverly Hills socialite (Lily Tomlin) who rebounds from her divorce with a pillhead named Strip Sunset (Travolta). Both actors were at the height of their power, but something just didn’t click, and the film was an absolute mess. It was so bad it nearly derailed both actors’ careers. #56. The Fanatic (2019) Quiver Distribution – Director: Fred Durst – IMDb user rating: 4.2 – Metascore: 18 – Runtime: 88 minutes In a poorly executed meta role, Travolta stars in “The Fanatic” as Moose, a fanboy who begins stalking his celebrity action hero, Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa). The film’s attempts at satire fell flat with critics and audiences alike, earning it just $3,153 at the box office on its opening day, a colossal failure. Travolta even won Worst Actor at the following Golden Raspberry Awards for his performances in both “The Fanatic” and the car-racing film “Burning Rubber.” #55. Speed Kills (2018) Hannibal Media – Director: Jodi Scurfield – IMDb user rating: 4.3 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 102 minutes Inspired by the life of the late speedboat racer Donald Aronow, “Speed Kills” stars Travolta as Miami businessman Ben Aronoff, whose success as a boat racer is interrupted when his former mob acquaintances attempt to seduce him into the drug trafficking underworld. As John DeFore described the critically panned “Speed Kills” in his Hollywood Reporter review: The movie kills–“kills careers that is.” #54. Look Who’s Talking Now (1993) TriStar Pictures – Director: Tom Ropelewski – IMDb user rating: 4.4 – Metascore: 26 – Runtime: 96 minutes The third in the Look Who’s Talking trilogy, “Look Who’s Talking Now” adds talking animals into the fold. The 1993 film follows Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and their two unexpectedly talking babies, who are now old enough to talk without the aid of overdubbed grown-up actors. The family gets some dogs (voiced by Diane Keaton and Danny DeVito) who also have the gift of gab but lack the same magic as their predecessors. You may also like: Top 25 LGBTQ+ films, according to critics #53. Burning Rubber (2019) Elipsis Capital – Director: Karzan Kader – IMDb user rating: 4.5 – Metascore: 34 – Runtime: 87 minutes Sorry, Travolta, not every father-son sports movie can be a home run. This was the case of the ill-received “Burning Rubber” (aka “Trading Paint”), which sees the actor depicting a legendary car racer whose son (Toby Sebastian) ditches him for his longtime rival, Bob Linsky (Michael Madsen). The movie helped win Travolta a Golden Raspberry Award, but hey, at least it has Shania Twain. #52. Perfect (1985) Columbia Pictures Corporation – Director: James Bridges – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 46 – Runtime: 115 minutes There’s a great section in Joe Hagan’s biography of Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner where he talks about the misguided decision to play a caricature of himself in this film. Wenner, ever the scenester, thought it would be great to act alongside Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis, playing Mark Roth, the editor of Rolling Stone who ends up being the villain in “Perfect.” Travolta plays a reporter who falls in love with his subject (Curtis), a workout instructor. Roth ends up changing Travolta’s feature on gyms as the “single bars of the ’80s” to make it more salacious. The film not only appears dated in hindsight–it already felt too late upon its release to be relevant and too self-promotional for Wenner’s magazine to be taken seriously. #51. Look Who’s Talking Too (1990) Big Mouth Productions – Director: Amy Heckerling – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 81 minutes While the second film in the Look Who’s Talking trilogy is far from perfect, it does have a solidly punny title. This time, the young couple (Travolta and Kirstie Alley) are struggling parents whose lives are further complicated when they add a baby daughter (voiced by Roseanne Barr) to their brood. Strangely, Mel Brooks voices a talking toilet. Archeologists will look back at Travolta as the ur-handsome ’90s dad in this film. #50. Staying Alive (1983) Paramount Pictures – Director: Sylvester Stallone – IMDb user rating: 4.7 – Metascore: 23 – Runtime: 93 minutes Somehow, this sequel to “Saturday Night Fever,” penned and directed by Sylvester Stallone–with a soundtrack written by Parkland student bully Frank Stallone–exists. As expected, catching up with disco dancer Tony Manero (Travolta) a half-decade later–now on Broadway–does not recapture the somewhat gritty, lived-in feeling of the original. The whole product seemed flawed from the start, and pulling genius from a precarious premise is not a specialty of the Brothers Stallone. Still, it’s always a joy to watch Travolta dance. #49. Two of a Kind (1983) Twentieth Century Fox – Director: John Herzfeld – IMDb user rating: 4.7 – Metascore: 5 – Runtime: 88 minutes It was a big deal to have Travolta and “Grease” co-star Olivia Newton-John reunite five years after their musical megahit. Unfortunately, “Two of a Kind”–about an inventor (Travolta) who robs a bank (at which Newton-John is a teller) while God (Gene Hackman) contemplates a second flood–was far from greased lightning. The film flopped and was lampooned by critics, but the Newton-John-heavy soundtrack went platinum. One of the singles was “Take a Chance,” a duet with Travolta. You may also like: Best Clint Eastwood movies #48. Gotti (2018) EFO Films – Director: Kevin Connolly – IMDb user rating: 4.7 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 112 minutes Described by one critic as “the Gigli of gangster movies,” this derided biopic stars John Travolta as notorious New York mobster John Gott. He acts alongside his real-life then-wife, Kelly Preston (who plays Gotti’s wife, Victoria). The film was in development hell for years, and as the reviews indicate, it shows in the final product. #47. Eye for an Eye (2019) BBI – Directors: Francesco Cinquemani, George Gallo – IMDb user rating: 4.7 – Metascore: 26 – Runtime: 98 minutes Also known by “The Poison Rose,” this crime thriller sees Travolta taking on the role of Carson Phillips, a private investigator whose investigation into a mental facility patient’s missing person case in Texas unfolds into a far-reaching web of crimes and conspiracies. Grossing a measly $323,754 at the box office, The Guardian called “Eye for an Eye” a “ridiculous and mostly boring hardboiled thriller.” #46. The Experts (1989) Paramount Pictures – Director: Dave Thomas – IMDb user rating: 4.8 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 94 minutes This 1989 Cold War comedy is an example of a legendary premise that gets botched in execution. “The Experts” follows two American party boys (Travolta and Arye Gross) kidnapped by a Russian spy on the way to a club and transported to a phony American town in the center of the Soviet Union. The town is used to train Soviet spies on how to be American, and Travolta and Gross become the ambassadors to America’s way of life. Quickly, the spies fall for the guys’ love of fun and excess, leading to panic among the higher-ups. Travolta has a genuinely fantastic mullet in this film. #45. The Devil’s Rain (1975) Sandy Howard Productions – Director: Robert Fuest – IMDb user rating: 5.0 – Metascore: 28 – Runtime: 86 minutes Between the end of the “Star Trek” TV series and the beginning of its film run, William Shatner did a few B-movies, including this one, which has him battling a supernaturally powerful satanist. This movie has no business being memorable, but it features a young Travolta in his first film role, in which he gets indoctrinated into the satanic cult. #44. Lucky Numbers (2000) Paramount Pictures – Director: Nora Ephron – IMDb user rating: 5.1 – Metascore: 31 – Runtime: 105 minutes Directed by the legendary Nora Ephron, “Lucky Numbers” has all the ingredients of a great film: a fun storyline, a great director, and a noteworthy cast, including Travolta, Lisa Kudrow, Tim Roth, Ed O’Neill, Bill Pullman, Michael Rapaport. But unfortunately, the film–which follows a beloved but financially distressed weather reporter (Travolta) trying to rig the state lottery–did not strike gold. Part of the problem may have been that it was the only Ephron-directed film she did not write–in other words, it could’ve used more of her signature banter. You may also like: Most widely watched but universally hated movies of all time #43. Chains of Gold (1990) Management Company Entertainment Group (MCEG) – Director: Rod Holcomb – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 95 minutes Travolta wrote this film, which didn’t get a theatrical release and instead aired on Showtime. He stars as an alcoholic-turned-social worker who fights to save a Miami kid from a crack-peddling street gang run by Benjamin Bratt’s character, Carlos. #42. Shout (1991) Universal Pictures – Director: Jeffrey Hornaday – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 89 minutes In this film, Travolta plays a music teacher at a strict West Texas all-boys school in the 1950s who introduces his students to rock ‘n’ roll–much to the dismay of the headmaster. Heather Graham plays the headmaster’s daughter, who falls for one of the boys, and Gwyneth Paltrow shows up in her first movie role. #41. Life on the Line (2015) Elite Film Productions – Director: David Hackl – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 97 minutes Based on a true story, “Life on the Line” follows a crew of lineworkers fixing a power grid who must survive a barrage of downed power lines during a deadly storm. Travolta plays a crew member, but ironically, the film lacks electricity. Instead, it falls into a classic “based on a true story” trap, being overly reverential and recounting events rather than exploring the characters’ interior lives. #40. The Tender (1991) TWE – Director: Robert Harmon – IMDb user rating: 5.3 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 95 minutes Although “The Tender” (aka “Eyes of An Angel”) was released in France in 1991, it didn’t reach U.S. audiences until 1994, when Travolta’s career was revitalized with the release of the Quentin Tarantino classic “Pulp Fiction.” In this film, Travolta plays recovering alcoholic and struggling single father Bobby, whose young daughter fights to be reunited with her adopted dog as Bobby deals with the fallout of stealing his brother-in-law’s money. “The Tender” was still a fairly under-the-radar release, going straight to VHS. #39. White Man’s Burden (1995) Rysher Entertainment – Director: Desmond Nakano – IMDb user rating: 5.3 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 89 minutes It’s hard to believe this film exists. Clearly birthed from high-minded and hopeful ideas, “White Man’s Burden” imagines a world where white Americans are the underclass while African Americans make up America’s ruling elite. Travolta plays a white factory worker who is fired by Harry Belafonte’s character and responds by kidnapping the factory owner. This film wasn’t well-received in the mid-’90s and is even less accepted decades later. You may also like: Can you guess which iconic movie these scenes are from? #38. Old Dogs (2009) Walt Disney Pictures – Director: Walt Becker – IMDb user rating: 5.3 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 88 minutes Dedicated to Travolta’s late son Jett, “Old Dogs” co-stars him and Robin Williams as free-wheeling business partners whose carefree lives are turned upside down when Williams’ character discovers he’s the father of twins (one of whom is played by Travolta’s daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta). The raunchy film was derided for its dimwitted physical comedy, and Travolta received a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Actor for his performance. #37. Killing Season (2013) Millennium Films – Director: Mark Steven Johnson – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: 25 – Runtime: 91 minutes Despite featuring the much-awaited pairing of Robert De Niro and Travolta, “Killing Season” was a flop. In the film, De Niro plays a retired colonel who oversaw the execution of Serbians during the Bosnian War. Travolta–donning a misguided beard and accent–plays a survivor of the shootings, bent on revenge, who tracks down De Niro at his rural cabin and befriends him under false pretenses. An at once compelling and suddenly anticlimatic face-off ensues. #36. I Am Wrath (2016) Hannibal Classics – Director: Chuck Russell – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 92 minutes This action film follows a former Black Ops agent (Travolta) who turns into a vigilante to avenge his wife’s murder at the hands of a street gang. This film is another entry in the seemingly endless pool of old action star revenge flicks; the standout of this one is that Travolta gets a back tattoo that says, “I am wrath.” #35. Domestic Disturbance (2001) Paramount Pictures – Director: Harold Becker – IMDb user rating: 5.6 – Metascore: 29 – Runtime: 89 minutes This thriller stars Travolta as a divorced shipbuilder whose wife (Teri Polo) remarries a pillar of the community with a dark secret (Vince Vaughn). While Travolta and Vaughn do fine, the film never unleashes the bizarre Vaughnian menace of a much better, if still disappointing, “Psycho.” #34. Be Cool (2005) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) – Director: F. Gary Gray – IMDb user rating: 5.6 – Metascore: 37 – Runtime: 118 minutes The sequel to the fantastic “Get Shorty” sees the return of Travolta as Chili Palmer, a hitman-turned-film producer who now wants to break into the music industry. Both the original and this sequel were based on crime-writing legend Elmore Leonard’s novels; both are hilarious and star-studded. Travolta is great as the tough-yet-kind Palmer, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson steals the show as a bodyguard named Elliott. You may also like: Different movies with the same plots #33. Michael (1996) Turner Pictures – Director: Nora Ephron – IMDb user rating: 5.7 – Metascore: 38 – Runtime: 105 minutes In this Nora Ephron film, Travolta plays the archangel Michael, brought to Earth to get two tabloid reporters together–God works in mysterious ways. Travolta’s Michael is a booze-dipped, cigarette-stained angel but reveals the goodness within him as the film goes on. “Michael” is scored by Randy Newman, who starred in one of the greatest music videos of all time and wrote the songs for “Toy Story.” #32. Wild Hogs (2007) Touchstone Pictures – Director: Walt Becker – IMDb user rating: 5.8 – Metascore: 27 – Runtime: 100 minutes By the same director as “Old Dogs,” “Wild Hogs” tells the story of a group of middle-aged friends (Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, William H. Macy, and Travolta) who put on lots of leather and go on a motorcycle road trip. Critics hated this film, but it was a hit at the box office. Disney canceled the planned sequel after “Old Dogs” bombed at the box office. #31. The Forger (2014) Saban Films – Director: Philip Martin – IMDb user rating: 5.8 – Metascore: 32 – Runtime: 92 minutes In this crime thriller, Travolta stars as a thief and art forger released from jail on a favor from a crime syndicate to see his dying son (Tye Sheridan). Once outside, the syndicate asks him to create a fake Monet and pull off a heist, so he enlists his son and his thief of a father (Christopher Plummer) to help him pull it off. A family drama or a heist film with these three actors had the potential to be great. Unfortunately, the two plots never quite connect. #30. Criminal Activities (2015) Capacity Pictures – Director: Jackie Earle Haley – IMDb user rating: 5.8 – Metascore: 51 – Runtime: 94 minutes “Criminal Activities” follows four young men, including Dan Stevens from “Downton Abbey,” who invest borrowed money in a can’t-miss company that, because of regulatory scrutiny, manages to miss. Travolta plays the mobster who cashes in by having them kidnap a high-powered crime lord’s nephew. As expected, things go horribly wrong. #29. Look Who’s Talking (1989) TriStar Pictures – Director: Amy Heckerling – IMDb user rating: 5.9 – Metascore: 51 – Runtime: 93 minutes The talking baby franchise’s original was the brainchild of Amy Heckerling, who also directed “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Clueless.” In this film, Kirstie Alley is left with a newborn by her older, married co-parent (George Segal) and dives back into the dating pool, eventually re-meeting the handsome cabbie (Travolta) who had helped her while she was in labor. The title refers to the film’s most memorable gag: Alley’s baby is voiced by a cynical, rude, but funny Bruce Willis. You may also like: 50 best WWII movies of all time #28. She’s So Lovely (1997) Miramax Films – Director: Nick Cassavetes – IMDb user rating: 5.9 – Metascore: 61 – Runtime: 100 minutes This film was written by the legendary actor and director John Cassavetes and finally brought to the screen a decade later–and eight years after the elder Cassavetes’ death–by his son, the director Nick Cassavetes. Sean Penn and Robin Wright play a young married couple whose lives are derailed when their violent neighbor (James Gandolfini) beats up Wright. Penn’s character seeks vengeance and ends up in an insane asylum, and Wright remarries a construction manager played by Travolta. #27. Broken Arrow (1996)