Once among the biggest names in Hollywood, John Travolta is now more punchline than powerhouse, with recent flops and career missteps overshadowing a legacy that once included Oscar nods and million-dollar paydays.
Despite iconic turns in Grease, Saturday Night Fever and a major comeback with Pulp Fiction, the 70-year-old actor’s more recent efforts have failed to land.
His latest films, High Rollers and Mob Land, barely registered with audiences — the latter pulling just £138 ($A287) at the UK box office, News.com.au reported.
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Industry insiders say Travolta’s staying power may have become his undoing.
“If Travolta had stopped after his Pulp Fiction comeback, he’d be remembered as one of the greats,” one Disney executive told news outlets.
“But now he’s like that sad guest who overstayed their welcome at the party.”
The reviews back it up.
The Guardian labelled High Rollers “a heart-slowing work of staggering stupidity,” while Rotten Tomatoes has yet to rate it — an awkward silence in itself.
Travolta also holds the rare (and unfortunate) honour of scoring two films with a zero per cent rating on the site in the same year (Gotti and Speed Kills, both 2018).
In recent years, Travolta has become a fixture in low-budget, straight-to-streaming thrillers known in the industry as “geezer teezers” — a label popularised by Bruce Willis.
These films trade on fading star power to drive rentals, with actors often appearing on screen for mere minutes.
Travolta’s career has also been dogged by persistent rumours and controversy. One missed opportunity?
Turning down the lead in American Gigolo — a box office smash — allegedly over concerns about the film’s “gay subtext.” The role went to Richard Gere, launching him to stardom.
It’s a long fall for an actor who once lit up the screen — and the dance floor — but in Hollywood, comebacks are always just one hit away.
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