https://www.datalounge.com/thread/21713536-what-derailed-john-travolta-s-career-
In the 80s her really had trouble. Yes Staying Alive and Two of a Kind where flops as was Perfect but he had just had Urban Cowboy a few years before. It seems odd that a few flops stopped his momentum for so long.share
https://lebeauleblog.com/2012/09/02/what-the-hell-happened-to-john-travolta/
PULP FICTION though... back on the rails :)
sharepoor choices
shareUninteresting movies. That simple.
He had his resurgence after Pulp Fiction, which lasted for about a solid decade, but then films like Wild Hogs, The Taking of Pelham 123 and From Paris With Love just didn't do much to bolster his popularity and it wasn't long after that when he started appearing mostly in direct-to-video films.
Didn't know his career had been de-railed.
shareWhat's the last hit that you can name that he starred in?
shareI can't answer that because I hadn't been following his career too closely. That's why I didn't know that it had been de-railed. The last film I saw him in was Pelham 1-2-3, and I thought that he did well there.
sharePelham was an okay movie, but it didn't make money. If you take a look at his filmography you'll see that these days he mostly just stars in straight-to-video movies that are almost all terribly reviewed.
It's a shame really, because Pulp Fiction gave him a fresh start after an initial career slump and he was able to ride that wave for several years and made some good movies in that time. All that's over now, though.
I immediately Thought "Swordfish" but that movie was awhile ago.
I liked both Pelham 123 and From Paris With Love, but they werent mega hits considering people I mention it to havent seen the movies
I actually just watched From Paris With Love a few months okay. It was okay in terms of getting a quick action fix. Not a bad movie, but not a great one either. As you say, I don't think many people have seen it.
Looking at his filmography, it looks like the last actually good movie he did was In a Valley of Violence in 2016. That was a solid western he did with Ethan Hawke that I suspect almost no one has watched.
His last actual hit was Wild Hogs in 2007.
Neither film was a starring vehicle. His role was big in Valley, but Hawke was the lead. And Wild Hogs was an ensemble.
Scientology, creepy attitude and tons of shitty movies. It's one thing to have to talent, it's another to be able to handle your career carefully. Just look at Johnny Depp and Sylvester Stallone: two other great examples of talented actors who madepoor choices and ultimately destroyed their career and reputation.
shareSylvester Stallone destroyed his career and reputation?
I'd say the boatload of money the Expendables and Creed films made would disagree with you. And the upcoming Rambo film will probably be a hit too, at least financially if not critically.
I'm with you here. And, I'm not entirely sure that Travolta's career is quite "derailed" just yet. If you look at the history of his career, he always had movies of lesser success in between the big ones. Now, throughout all that time he may have never fallen all the way to straight-to-video status, as you mentioned above, so perhaps his career is "derailed". So, maybe I just feel like he could have a big hit as he gets into his older years and pull it back on track near the end. Honestly, that's probably one of his biggest problems: he's 65, going on 70, and tries to fight it too hard. I think he should embrace his age, do it a little more gracefully, allow himself to look the part, and knock those roles out of the park. I think he still has a performance or two in the tank. Just needs to stop with all the plastic surgery and hair tricks, and be a great old man character.
shareFunny you bring up his plastic surgery. I was just noticing recently when watching his straight-to-video film Speed Kills that he had clearly had enough work done that he's just starting to look odd.
I would definitely say that his career as of this moment classifies as " derailed." But as you say, that doesn't mean he can't get back on track. He needs another Pulp Fiction, some film that's a surprise hit and gets producers and audiences interested in him again.
His last role of note, as far as I can tell, was his supporting work in The People vs OJ Simpson. But before that you have to go all the way back to From Paris With Love in 2010.
I know that he has a movie coming up that's directed by Fred Durst and it looks like it could be an interesting, and atypical, role for him. I doubt the film will actually be a big financial hit though.
Exactly. Hearing QT talk about the negotiation process of getting the studio to agree on Travolta for "Pulp Fiction" was very interesting to me. Part of what gave me that idea, actually. He needs to do something that makes people say "he doesn't fit that" or "that doesn't sound like him" to blow people away again, like he did in PF. I think an old timer role could be just the ticket. His own "No Country"; not necessarily plot wise, but being and meaning what Tommy was and meant to that film.
shareYeah, that's what's going to have to happen if he's ever going to have a career resurgence. The thing with that is that a director is going to need to have a QT-style moment of inspiration and producers are going to have to agree to give Travolta a chance.
Will that happen? I don't know. I would like to see it but I have my doubts, just because I don't think Hollywood regards him as a bankable star anymore.
Several really bad movies, and all that Scientology crap.
sharehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smTsoCfDBs0
In our latest WTF series, we take a look at some of our favorite stars and filmmakers who have seemingly disappeared or altered their careers over the years to the point that begs the question; WTF happened? Now, before you think we're just picking on celebrities or running some gossip rag stuff, think again! We take a fun (and sometimes funny), researched and fair approach, looking at all angles that led our subject to wherever they are now (which isn't necessarily a bad place at all). If anything, it answers the question on where these fine folks went, how they got there and where you can find 'em now.share
John Travolta is the king of the comebacks. Initially rising to fame as one of the "Sweathogs" on "Welcome Back, Kotter", he blasted into superstardom in the disco classic SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, while GREASE and URBAN COWBOY solidified his status as the biggest star of his era. However, his fame soon became eclipsed by other heartthrobs after a slew of bad movies, resulting in his playing second fiddle to a talking baby in LOOK WHO'S TALKING and its sequels. But, he soon crossed paths with Quentin Tarantino and arguably became a bigger star than ever in the wake of PULP FICTION and other smash hits like GET SHORTY, FACE/OFF and more. But then, his misbegotten BATTLEFIELD EARTH once again put his career on ice, and he's been up and down ever since. While he's mostly stuck doing bargain basement VOD movies these days like SPEED KILLS and I AM WRATH, don't ever count out John Travolta. Hollywood loves a comeback and Travolta is their king!
Scientology
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