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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Saturday Night Fever
Paramount Pictures


9.8

based on 7 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 5 votes
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MPAA RATING: R

Starring John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow, Bruce Ornstein, and Julie Bovasso

John Travolta stars as a local disco kingpin at the peak of his popularity. Once a week, after six full days of work in a Brooklyn paint store, Tony (Travolta) douses himself with Brut cologne, dons a floral bodyshirt, gabardine pants and platform shoes - and ritualistically prepares himself for "Saturday Night Fever." Through the influence of Stephanie - his more sophisticated dance partner - and Tony's brother - a disillusioned priest - Tony begins to question the way his views life and the narrowness of his perspective. (Paramount Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Musical
WRITTEN BY:	Norman Wexler Nik Cohn (magazine article Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night)
DIRECTED BY:	John Badham
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 8, 2002 Video: February 11, 1991 Theatrical: December 16, 1977
RUNNING TIME:	118 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

John Travolta was nominated for a 1978 Academy Award in the category of Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in this film. Astonishingly, none of the songs from the film were nominated for an Oscar.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Tribune Gene Siskel

One minute into Saturday Night Fever you know this picture is onto something, that it knows what it's talking about. [15 Oct 1999, Siskel Years, p.6]

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It's also interesting to see how little screen time the final disco competition really has, considering how large it looms in our memories.

Entertainment Weekly Staff (Not Credited)

Travolta molds what could have been an equally obvious character into a substantial, tragic figure.

Chicago Reader Dave Kehr

A small, solid film, made with craft if not resonance.

TV Guide Staff (Non Credited)

The story here is really secondary to character and milieu, as director John Badham and his actors create a convincing portrait of frustrated 1970s working-class youth and the escape offered by the swirling lights and pulsing rhythms of the disco.

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Fever beings to flag when, after an initial hour filled with high spirits and jubilant music, it settles down to tell its story; the effect is so deflating that it's almost as though another Monday has rolled around and it's time to get back to work. [16 Dec 1977]

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

The clumsy story lurches forward through predictable travail and treacle, separated by phonograph records (or vice versa).

The average user rating for this movie is 9.8 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

John H. gave it a10:
Best of all time!!!!

Evan W. gave it a 10:
I always enjoy watching Saturday Night Fever. It's not my favourite film though, even if all my friends make out that it's more than a favourite to them than I can imagine. The film isn't at an obvious level worthy of being filmed, or for that matter capable of being seen as an art work. I may be one of a few individuals who think this movie is still good enough to watch during 2004, even though it probably seems to everybody concerned as if we are worth much more this time round.

Yoon C. gave it a 9:
A film from the disco craze era that overcomes the datedness of the material by presenting a memorable character struggling with the universal, timeless problems of growing into manhood. Travolta at his best and great music from Bee Gees.

Mark K. gave it a 10:
I never knew that Danny Terrio from "Dance Fever" was the one who taught Travolta how to dance in this film! In any event, this is an all-time classic, and I agree with the late, great Gene Siskel.

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Saturday Night Fever Paramount Pictures

Saturday Night Fever
Paramount Pictures