Burt Reynolds, Hollywood's biggest box office draw from 1978 to 1982, expressed anxiety in 1978 that his reign was ending, specifically citing the meteoric rise of John Travolta as his successor. Reynolds remarked that Travolta's ascent was inevitable and unstoppable, reflecting on how quickly stardom can be displaced in the film industry—a concern that proved prescient, as he plummeted from prominence after 1983 whilst most modern A-list actors sustain their careers for decades.

Travolta's threat was formidable: at age 24, he had starred in Saturday Night Fever (1977), the biggest R-rated film ever made, and Grease (1978), the year's top-grossing film, with both films combining for nearly $700 million worldwide. Despite Reynolds' fears, Travolta never actually reached the top spot as Hollywood's number-one money-making star; he peaked at second place in 1978, immediately behind Reynolds, who retained his position for another four years before his dramatic decline.