Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
The $700,000,000 movie star who put the fear of god in Burt Reynolds in 1978: “You can’t stop it”
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.
In short
- Reynolds feared Travolta's rise would end his stardom in 1978.
- Travolta's two massive 1978 films earned ~$700 million combined.
- Travolta never actually became Hollywood's top money-making star.
Explained simply
Hollywood stardom can rise quickly when a film becomes a major hit, but box office rankings measure only a particular moment in an actor’s career. In the late 1970s, Burt Reynolds was a leading draw for cinema audiences, while John Travolta became famous through Saturday Night Fever and Grease.
The two films made Travolta one of the era’s most prominent young stars, and his success prompted comparisons with Reynolds. Their careers show how quickly attention and commercial success can shift in the film industry, though a high ranking in one year does not necessarily mean an actor will take the top spot or keep it.