When Your Career Is All Over the Place - John Travolta

Ever since John Travolta tore up the dance floor in 1977's Saturday Night Fever, his career has been all over the place. He went from being nominated for an Oscar, to getting a Worst Actor of the Decade nomination, to another Oscar nod with Pulp Fiction, to tons of Worst Actor wins. So today we wanted to take a look at the rise, and fall, and rise, and fall of John Travolta.
With iconic performances in Grease, Blow Out, Pulp Fiction, Face Off, Get Short and Hairspray, he somehow matched these with some of the worst performances in film with Battlefield Earth, Old Dogs, Gotti and The Fanatic. It's a fascinating career, and one very difficult to pinpoint. How one of the hottest actors of the 70s managed to stay relevant 5 decades later with such weird career...
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Rise (70s)
03:01 - Fall (80s)
05:47 - Biggest Hollywood Comeback (90s)
08:20 - Worst Film Ever?
10:29 - Fall Again (00s)
John Travolta. Kelly Preston. Pulp Fiction. Saturday Night Fever. Grease. Staying Alive. Blow Out. Welcome Back, Kotter. Look Who's Talking Too Now. Get Shorty. Michael. Phenomenon. Broken Arrow. Face Off. Nicolas Cage. Razzie. Worst Actor of the Decade. Battlefield Earth. Hairspray. Bolt. Wild Hogs. The People vs OJ. Gotti. The Fanatic. Weird Oscar Moments. 90s actor.
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#johntravolta #70s #90s

[@meghansullivan6812]

his baby picture are u kidding me😭 like that big eyes hamster meme rn

[@crazyquill2153]

Lmao I hear the violin

[@Dilemina]

John Travolta was outperformed by Nic Cage in face off. But it was probably only because Nic Cage was portraying John Travolta.

[@memesouls8653]

Yeah, John is known for being over the top so I think Nic took that as the basis for his performance and Nic Cage acting over the top is just about as over the top you can get in a role.

[@user-xq1ix4zd4c]

no

[@FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

I’ve never seen a movie get a 0% on rotten tomatoes before. That’s crazy! One thing we can definitely say about John Travolta is that he has one of the most interesting film careers in Hollywood history!

[@aandwdabest]

He’s truly one of the actors of all time.

[@legbert123]

This is a you tube channel of all times @@aandwdabest

[@FrshJurassicPrnceYA]

@aandwdabest For sure 😆😆

[@Scarlett_Azure]

Along with his Face off co-star Nicolas Cage

[@The_RedVIII]

I think Tarantino needs to bring him back for his last movie. ;)

[@shauncanuto7380]

Definitely and he needs to steal the scene as well

[@thetrickster9885]

I heard he was bringin cruise. Cruise and travolta can have a great time together

[@applesonaplatewithpeas27]

John's performance in From Paris With Love, I really enjoyed - I believe it is an underrated movie.

[@myway7367]

I really enjoy eating raw sugar like a child; I believe it's an underrated dessert.

[@applesonaplatewithpeas27]

I may be silly, but I don't get what you mean. @@myway7367

[@OrphanCrippler1]

Same

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@myway7367what a pathetic comparison

[@barriolimbas]

​@@myway7367"no matter what anyone says, you can never have too much sugar"

[@jaysonb.6669]

Blow Out (1981) is a fantastic hidden gem of a film.

[@isabellind1292]

I agree!

[@alisdairmckenzie]

And one of Tarantino's favourites... so there was a definite connection there.

[@trikkerman1]

It was a good sceam.

[@alisdairmckenzie]

@@trikkerman1 And a desperately sad one, the last one which they use. The ending is so downbeat

[@jaysonb.6669]

@@alisdairmckenzie Sad, but realistic. Hollywood could use a lil' less fairytale & a lil' more somber nuance today.

[@p_ttown1979]

it feels like many stars would share the same fate as travolta. only the very few have consistent careers at the top

[@caldera11]

It's usually stars who mainly work with 1 director and that director is insanely good at making movies that have a really great filmography critically Sort of like robert deniro with scorsese

[@Schlabbeflicker]

Well, yeah, you're only EVER hearing of the 1% of the 1% who have that rare combination of talent and luck. The vast majority of people who try never make a career out of acting, and the vast majority of actors never get rich doing it.

[@WellFedProductions]

Daniel Day Lewis

[@WellFedProductions]

@@caldera11 Deniro has made some stinkers though

[@user-xq1ix4zd4c]

john did nothing wrong

[@allys744]

It’s actually impressive that John’s career has been around for so long that he has had many comebacks and setbacks: from Carrie to grease to Saturday night fever to the look who’s talking franchise to pulp fiction to get shorty to the generals daughter to face/off to battlefield earth to hairspray to the people vs oj Simpson to many other performances, good and bad. You definitely can’t say the man doesn’t have range. They should get him on for GQ where he breaks down his entire career.

[@richfictionfighter]

Pulp Fiction is my all time favourite movie. Face/Off is among my favourite action films, and I’ll never get tired of Grease. Travolta may have made a lot of missteps in his career but it’s hard for me to not be a fan of his

[@masteroz1]

Nicolas Cage definitely shares the highs and lows

[@user-sl4hx8vs9w]

They were great in faceoff! Rewatch it every once in awhile

[@caldera11]

Mostly the lows though hehe

[@Ccfatfat8427]

I just watched him in Dream Scenario and he was great, highly recommend!

[@jekw23]

Cage covers the entire spectrum….part of what I love about him.

[@StandWatie1862]

Don't compare Cage to Travolta! Cage is a national treasure

[@markula_4040]

I think part of the reason is career hasn't really recovered from Battlefield Earth is because he no longer looks human and more like an alien disguised as a human with all that plastic surgery. He could have been enjoying a Paul Newman or Robert Redford like late career renaissance if he just allowed himself to age gracefully instead of going under the knife.

[@benjaminparker671]

What If Disney didn't buy Pixar

[@FilmStack]

We got a Pixar related what if in the works. Hope to have it out next month!

[@benjaminparker671]

@@FilmStackThanks for letting me know

[@chattingwithbabesallday]

Who gives a shit about Pixar? What about what they did to Star Wars and Marvel!

[@Kessekom]

@@chattingwithbabesalldayStar Wars was already dead before Disney got to it

[@arshiaaghaei]

@@Kessekom Tell that to TCW

[@epsilontiger]

I love how charmingly inoffensive and cheerful criticism is being delivered on this channel. They know how to bash without hurting anyone.

[@radiorob7543]

I will always be impressed with his role in Blow Out.

[@fernandomaron87]

Yeah he was very young and delivered a powerhouse performance.

[@joewas2225]

It's the movie Tarantino saw that got him to want Travolta for Pulp Fiction.

[@isabellind1292]

@@joewas2225 "Blow Out" was a really good film! So suspenseful! And I really, really like Nancy Allen. It was written/directed by Brian DePalma who came up w/the concept while making "Dressed to Kill", also starring Nancy Allen. DePalma had good taste in his female leads.☺👍👍

[@Locadel2003]

"The general daughter" from 1999 was an excellent underrated performance and movie

[@brick6347]

I had no idea he had a music career! I'm not sure if I want to look for his music on Spotify or not! I suspect not!

[@Dilemina]

Pretty sure my parents had the album.

[@vicariously143]

As long as he is happy with what he's done. He seems like a laid-back person who wants to have a fun career.

[@RachelNobody]

He used to order from a restaurant my parents worked at in Daytona Beach and all my mom has to say is "he was short and had planes" 😂 idk why I find her response so funny. And all I can personally say is ... GREASE! He definitely lit up every scene he was in and could sing. Plus he was so cute. I had the script printed out when I was like 7/8 and made my friend 'perform' it with me BUT I had HAD to be Danny every single time 😂 I was always a little, um, different lol. Now my 1 year old LOVES the songs too and its great 😊 BTW I liked The Fanatic. Randomly found it when my bf and I first moved in together with only an antenna we'd go search dollar store for dvds and found that one night, expecting it to be so bad it was funny. We actually both enjoyed it. Not a GREAT movie but wasn't a bad one.

[@bobthebear1246]

Really good comprehensive video. This is the first time watching one of your videos and it won't be the last. Subscribed.

[@freddyrose7815]

His part in Pulp was still one of the all time greats though. That alone is enough for me.

[@katemaloney4296]

You forgot 'The Boy In The Plastic Bubble' in 1976.

[@LeanestBeanest]

I honestly really enjoyed Swordfish and still go back to it from time to time, surprised to see it was dogged by critics

[@Alienkiwi730]

My problem with him, especially nowadays is that I just simply don't find him a believable actor. He's had so much work done on his face, he just doesn't look like a normal human being, which makes every role I see him in seem like a complete parody

[@charlotteroach7781]

I’m loving these videos.

[@Supermunch2000]

Great video!

[@AlmostEthical]

A brilliant and versatile actor. His performance in Pulp Fiction showed how talented he is. I enjoyed his acting in Battlefield Earth - people think his acting was mannered and unnatural, but he was playing an alien. They are not supposed to be like us. Plenty worse movies than BE have received less hostility. It the association with Scientology that annoys some people.

[@aleksbtv]

hey ,SHOUT is one of my favorite movies ever,he was extremely underrated in that role,he was great in that pure rock n roll movie!

[@meghansullivan6812]

his DANCING!!!! i love it.

[@TonyG8992]

Regardless, I will always love John Travolta, Vincent Vega is one of the best characters ever created, and yes thanks to Quentin Tarantino, but only John Travolta made him come to life.

[@solomonrichards599]

Blow Out is an absolute masterpiece. One of the greatest thrillers I have ever ever seen and I think everyone should see it.

[@guillermojoaquinbello448]

People can say whatever they want about John Travolta but he's one of the best actors in film history, much better than many that are considered great but are a bunch of overrated actors. The same goes for Nicolas Cage.

[@kptgalangflyheight8908]

I think rotten tomatoes don't like John Travolta movies much. Or maybe because public have known him as actor with good dancing ability instead dramatic acting.

[@pnojazz]

Great actor, with the right role. He and Samuel Jackson deserved an Oscar for Pulp!

[@kaivalyajahagirdar4307]

I think worst best actor is nicolas cage

[@FilmStack]

Hopefully he continues his recent form and doesn’t drop off again like Travolta did

[@keekrainer9505]

Shit's meta..

[@christinsmith]

word!

[@Blackdiamondprod.]

No, he’s JUST a bad actor. He wouldn’t even be an actor if he wasn’t Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew.

[@koira1]

​@@Blackdiamondprod.You clearly havent seen Leaving Las Vegas

[@joez203]

After he got really famous (late 90s), I thought Travolta would OVER act. He delivered every line with such exaggerated and unnatural emphasis. It was annoying and contrived.

[@pnojazz]

And I actually loved the DePalma film Blow Up. I saw it in the theater and bought it on vhs and Blu Ray 😂

[@hanschristopherson8056]

I’ve only ever seen travolta in pulp fiction and based on this video it’s clearly his best performance because you get some of the goofiness of earlier roles along with some more serious stuff

[@dornravlin]

I think Travolta’s a talented ass man. But I also think he’s a troubled man. And I feel for him loosing his wife and kid. I admire a man that can dance wish I could dance

[@Iron-Bridge]

He was great in Pulp Fiction, Broken Arrow and Face/ Off. That's all I need to know. 😊

[@KEN-1991]

For Goodfellas, I always thought John Travolta would be a better Tommy than Joe Pesci because his appearance almost matches the actual criminal.

[@fredflux2738]

Poor guy honest. I hate Scientology, but I don’t blame Tom or him for taking part. He’s taken a ton of heat with really wild rumors.

[@uzetaab]

I'm not a fan of rotten tomatoes. Critics never seem to like the movies I like. I find imdb ratings a better match for my opinions.

[@zsoltbartus169]

A few great movies, many mediocre, and bunch of bad ir worse... Pulp Fiction was directed by Tarantino who already a great director. Travolta had a great direction with that film that made it possible to do his best. But it seems like he is totally unable to decide whether he should or shouldn't join to a movie, and a movie should or should not be made.

[@travissmalley4349]

Besides him being a scientologist I love him

[@barriolimbas]

And the rest of the world would say that about Tom Cruise.

[@GodBless423]

“ A Civil Action “ was one of my personal favorites of his … love your channel BTW

[@JoJoJoker]

James Gandolfini before The Sopranos.

[@captainamvv7135]

I hope he gets another comeback.. Seems like a good guy

[@GamingSaturnMoonManBoy]

John Travolta was one of my childhood favorites and one of my favorite human beings (from what I heard)

[@metalinyourhead3604]

I just saw him in the WW2 short film “The Shepard”, on Disney Plus, and I loved it.

[@KevenThePuma]

I can’t ever stay mad at someone that was involved in Broken Arrow

[@thewildformosanformosan]

I don't ever consider Battlefield Earth is a bad film, it's actually quite entertaining

[@j.w.w4851]

I think hes one of the greatest of all time. Charisma. Charm. Lovable. Funny. Great facials and range. Belieable. I follow my own opinions and not a bunch of critics. Trust me, do the same and i guarantee you'll find some of your fave films or stars are the ones critics hate.

[@thedarkdescent2387]

Holy, this guy was in alot of movies

[@SoulforSale]

Urban Cowboy is such an underrated flick

[@yoursubconscious]

ya, he is a positive person indeed to have ppl. so close and yet to keep as healthy and charming as he seems. Wow!

[@Monkeypole]

Actors who's career had dipped before Tarentino hired them

[@nicholassyrmis3789]

I love and hate John but I love him more I grew up with him 😊

[@jacko250]

Another actor who had an even wilder career (& a wilder personal life) is Oliver Reed! I really love reading stories about all the hellraising he got up to behind the scenes but that’s all he is known for these days and a big part of his legacy which is a shame as I do really believe he was one of the greatest actors of his generation who’s talents aren’t appreciated enough

[@marksargent2440]

I like him as actor grew up seeing him in grease but he's had his ups and downs I love pulp fiction and I like face off as well

[@freshwalker2643]

This was incredible video had a good laugh too

[@bronsonbamnallen1633]

you didnt mention Swordfish or the Punisher

[@rafanifischer3152]

I didn't know he had made so many movies. I did not see 60% of the films mentioned.

[@_birdie]

Omg I forgot his look for From Paris With Love haha

[@indransubramaniam763]

He is always a big star & great actor who inspired huge amount of individuals around the world to choose acting as a career. Negative or positive roles. He rocked both.he is a rockstar & hero for his fans..

[@betoo1769]

Face off is one of the best film in my list .

[@lordcolinb]

Swordfish is awesome

[@tariqjohnson9421]

From Paris with love was actually surprisingly good. Also I didn’t know Kelly Preston died rip .

[@blainmoney6948]

@11:40 i gotta say Criminal Activities is a really solid sleeper flick. A good bit of plot twists and a bunc of unlikable and in over their heads characters go alone way for it. Also Jackie Earl Haley stars and directed it. Solid movie fr. Also A Valley Of Violence is also pretty good. Just a different kind of western movie; more of a revenge flick but him and ethan hawke kind of kill it in the few scenes they share

[@cryingbananajo]

Dame, how do you own a private airport in your mansion? My poverty limited my imagination!

[@BlindingSun_]

I think one day he’s gonna be on a list with Kevin Spacey. There’s something slimey about travolta and I don’t trust him

[@isabellind1292]

Well then you don't have to have anything to do w/him. Whew, close call!

[@gottfriedosterbach3907]

Jeez, the guy was all face. Eventually though his body caught up.

[@drewo.127]

Based on the Capital One Holiday Night Fever ad, I’d say John Travolta needs to play Santa in a Christmas movie! Travolta Claus is something this world needs way way way more of!

[@akshayde]

I love Travolta, he is nuts!!. He is good but also nuts

[@radinsyah1574]

Phenomenon is a golden example where the critics can be full of it.

[@21bruce]

Seeing as I’ve never acted in much of anything, I don’t feel quite so qualified to judge. And I’m certainly not a travolta fan boy. But I’ve enjoyed most of his movies. That’s more than I can say about most other actors which is not nothing.

[@splatterfodderinc]

quentin never worked with him again.

[@hotpotatopodcast]

I loved shout. As a kid it was one of my favourite films ever

[@nms7872]

gotti and the fanatic iconic cinema

[@RadioLaPrincess]

He is supposed to be a nice guy, I know a few who met him and all liked him so sad he's had so many flops. My favorite movie of his is definitely Grease, although Saturday Night Fever is a very close second.

[@GeeEm1313]

It's the Cadillac of minivans.

[@Laurafern6969]

This just made me like him for some reason

[@squirrelsyrup1921]

Face-Off was the perfect movie for Travola. His legacy lends him perfectly to playing a face-swapped Nicolas Cage.

[@loganmedia4401]

They're both people who do best in roles where they can over-act.

[@booch2912]

He just wants to dance

[@marcosmadeiros9553]

Such hate towards the actor…

[@HeD502]

From Paris with love was awesome

[@Kiyoone]

John Travolta best acting was from Face/off where he plays Nicolas Cage (literally)... Very few people can play Nic Cage, Even Nic Cage forgets how to play Nicolas Cage sometimes. If you do not have a video dedicated to Nic, please, make one.

[@xjamesxreedx]

Fuck Xenu, Travolta better start worshiping Quentin Tarantino for reviving his career.

[@MrBdiddypop]

Face/Off was probably the peak for John and Nic. Unfortunately now theyre both the kings of VOD with Bruce Willis and John Cusack and Mickey Rourke.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

Nic isn’t doing DTV stuff anymore, he’s back to doing major productions.

[@t2av159]

you take critics ratings too seriously. They will say a movie flopped when it makes 30x its budget, and audiences loved it.

[@mangore623]

If we judged things by public taste, pizza and coke would be considered haute cuisine.

[@frankstrawnation]

​@@mangore623Coke is high on sugar and because this quite addictive. But pizza is simply great.

[@t2av159]

@@mangore623 I bet you like modern art and the smell of your own farts.

[@loganmedia4401]

@@frankstrawnation Sugar is not addictive.

[@loganmedia4401]

Which critics base their opinion of a film on how much money it makes? Can you give an example of a film that earned thirty times its budget, but was declared a flop?

[@ace15Nura]

John Travolta is a puzzled to me. He´s biggest flops are worth studing for how bad they are.

[@w4shedup]

i think a lot of the negativity towards him is unwarranted. i have never heard of him doing anything wrong just him not being able to live up to the impossible expectations of him after being in so many good films in the early and mid points of his career. i feel bad that he has a bad rep he's been through a lot and i hope he's happy at the very least

[@biggiebaby3541]

Keanu Reeves, all the emotional range of Kamala Harris.

[@isabellind1292]

But can he nail a cackle?!

[@Agmz69]

In a valley of violence was an amazing role for travolta

[@rmartins1984]

I would argue De Niro has had a similar career although he has a lot more highs. Last 20 years, he's taken a lot of paycheque roles, and some movies are really bad. With the odd hit like Killers of the Flower Moon.

[@JamieWalker-pc6nd]

“Swordfish” was actually a pretty good movie to be fair. Basic had some really good potential but lacking where the type of person that watches this particular type of movie will notice (I mean service personnel & veterans- these types of movies, need to be absolute perfection in terms of accuracy with little things like uniforms, period correct patches. Weaponry (cos we all like our gear that’s the main reason we joined and I don’t care what anyone says it’s true😂) The amount of times I been watching a good military movie only to see a pint fly over my head in the direction of the tv because of something like a pistol shot taking off someone’s head at 50 meters or (laughable to be honest: “Marky marks” portrayal in “the shooter” which in terms of accuracy was right up there… until he appears on the street holding a rifle with literally every single attachment available (at the time) and I’m talking a “peq-16 llm” an eotech scope on top and a red dot laser mounted to the side. Oh then there’s that cringe moment when he flinches when firing the first shot. An expert sniper/veteran isn’t going to flinch like a little boy letting off his first real round. Now that I think about it “Kajaki” is the ONLY military movie I’ve seen which doesn’t have any innacuracy’s whatsoever. Like literal zero. The actors who financed the movie did so because one of their mates died and reckoned they could film it in a month… After going to the regimental barracks and meeting some of the serving soldiers they realised that they were in deep and if they messed up “they were deed” - i believe there’s a story of an encounter with the regimental sgt major when they were in aldershot. This led to them actually joining in on a “P company”with one of the actors actually going all the way and doing the reserves course. After that they hired all the extras from aldershot. So every single soldier that has 2 lines or less, is indeed a paratrooper. Couple of them play themselves. Ok how to tie this back to travolta… 🤔😅✌️

[@wardenmagellan2643]

One of my favourite actors! He acts in some of my all time favourites! And I really loved how bad his new shitty movies are

[@Tylerbremner]

He’s awesome

[@oliverqueen7499]

How you skip over one of his top five films co starring Halle Berry & Hugh Jackman sitting across with from Don Cheadle with fantastic dialogue…“SWORDFISH”

[@Ccfatfat8427]

Pretty crazy to think Fred Durst directed The Fanatic

[@trueatfalse]

Bring another one like this about Mickey Rourke :-)

[@MitchCyan]

1:10 The guy on the left is dressed as Ed.