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John Travolta

John Travolta

Actor, also producer, writer and director · Born February 18, 1954 (72) · Englewood, New Jersey, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · 2 Golden Globes · Oscar nominee · 5 other major award bodies

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting on television before transitioning into a leading man in film. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Travolta came to prominence starring in the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), followed by leading roles in Carrie (1976), Grease (1978), Urban Cowboy (1980), and Blow Out (1981). He earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Pulp Fiction (1994). His other notable films include Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Michael (1996), Face/Off (1997), A Civil Action (1998), Primary Colors (1998), The General's Daughter (1999), The Punisher (2004), Wild Hogs (2007), Hairspray (2007), Bolt (2008), and Savages (2012). Travolta returned to television, portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He received an Emmy Award as a producer and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He was also Emmy-nominated for his role in the action-comedy web series Die Hart (2021).  Travolta has released nine albums outside of acting, including four singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. His albums typically accompanied films he starred in, such as Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (1978), which topped the Billboard 200. Travolta is also a private pilot.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 18, 1954 (72)
From
Englewood, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, writer and director
Titles
79 on MovieCove · 108 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 6% in 30 days

What are John Travolta's films like?

Across their 72 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 69 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 25 · Serious 17 · Dark 27

A split, not a type: Grounded 34 · Stylized 26 · Heightened 9

A split, not a type: Gentle 17 · Charged 17 · Intense 35

Steady 23 · Shifting 35 · Whiplash 11

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 40 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 12

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 45 · Relentless 9

A split, not a type: Casual 33 · Engaged 27 · Full focus 9

A split, not a type: Easy watch 26 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 22

Resolved 56 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

65 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 34 of 65 analyzed roles.

Hero
34 of 65
Mentor
11 of 65
Shadow
8 of 65
Trickster
5 of 65
Ally
3 of 65
Herald
2 of 65
Shapeshifter
1 of 65
Threshold guardian
1 of 65
Show the 65 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
45
Melancholic
29
Joyful
19
Warm
17
Thrilling
16
Other
73

How their films end · 14 with a twist

  • Happy28
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous11
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Travolta's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 51 of their 79 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Subscription and free streaming for John Travolta's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

108 credits, 79 with a MovieCove page; 91 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • November 1963 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Johnny Roselli

  • The Gentleman Thief(2026)

    as Mason Goddard

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Propeller: One-Way Night Coach(2026)

    Director · Book · Producer · Screenplay · as Retiring Captain / Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • High Rollers(2025)

    as Mason Goddard

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
  • Cash Out(2024)

    as Mason Goddard

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • The Shepherd(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Johnny Kavanagh

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Mob Land(2023)

    as Bodie Davis

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Die Hart(2023)

    as Ron Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Paradise City(2022)

    as Buck

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Die Hart(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ron Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows
  • The Fanatic(2019)

    Producer · as Moose

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • The Poison Rose(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Carson Philips

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • Trading Paint(2019)

    Producer · as Sam

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • Speed Kills(2018)

    Producer · as Ben Aronoff (Don Aronow)

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Gotti(2018)

    as John Gotti

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • The Grease Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Danny Zuko

  • John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Thanks · as Self - Actor (archive footage)

  • Life on the Line(2015)

    as Beau Ginner

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • In a Valley of Violence(2016)

    as The Marshal

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • I Am Wrath(2016)

    as Stanley Hill

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • American Crime Story(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer · as Robert Shapiro

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • Criminal Activities(2015)

    Executive Producer · as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Zuko (archive footage)

  • The Forger(2014)

    as Raymond Cutter

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • Kirstie(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Mickey Russo

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows
  • Killing Season(2013)

    as Emil Kovac

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Savages(2012)

    as Dennis

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Scrat Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift(2010)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • From Paris with Love(2010)

    as Charlie Wax

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Old Dogs(2009)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Bolt(2008)

    as Bolt (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Oprah's Big Give (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hairspray(2007)

    as Edna Turnblad

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Wild Hogs(2007)

    as Woody Stevens

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • Lonely Hearts(2006)

    as Elmer Robinson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jim Irwin

  • Everyday Heroes: Real Stories from Real Firefighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Fat Actress(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as John Travolta

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
  • Be Cool(2005)

    as Chili Palmer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
  • Ladder 49(2004)

    as Captain Mike Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • War Journal: On the Set of The Punisher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • A Love Song for Bobby Long(2004)

    as Bobby Long

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Punisher(2004)

    as Howard Saint

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Basic(2003)

    as DEA Agent Tom Hardy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Pulp Fiction: Behind The Scenes Montages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Austin Powers in Goldmember(2002)

    as John Travolta / Famous Goldmember ('Austinpussy')

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • HBO First Look: Swordfish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Domestic Disturbance(2001)

    as Frank Morrison

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • Fear Factor(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows
  • Swordfish(2001)

    as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Lucky Numbers(2000)

    as Russ Richards

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Welcome to Hollywood(1998)

    as John Travolta

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Battlefield Earth(2000)

    Producer · as Terl

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
  • The General's Daughter(1999)

    as Warrant Officer Paul Brenner

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Our Friend, Martin(1999)

    as Kyle's Dad (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • A Civil Action(1998)

    as Jan Schlichtmann

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • The Thin Red Line(1998)

    as Brig. Gen. David Quintard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Primary Colors(1998)

    as Jack Stanton

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Mad City(1997)

    as Sam Baily

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • She's So Lovely(1997)

    Executive Producer · as Joey Germoni

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Face/Off(1997)

    as Sean Archer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Michael(1996)

    as Michael

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • Phenomenon(1996)

    as George Malley

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Broken Arrow(1996)

    as Vic Deakins

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • America's Flying Aces: The Blue Angels 50th Anniversary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Hosted by

  • White Man's Burden(1995)

    as Louis Pinnock

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Get Shorty(1995)

    as Chili Palmer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Trailer Camp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as (Archival)

  • Pulp Fiction(1994)

    as Vincent Vega

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Look Who's Talking Now(1993)

    as James Ubriacco

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Shout(1991)

    as Jack Cabe

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Chains of Gold(1990)

    Writer · as Scott Barnes

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Eyes of an Angel(1991)

    as Bobby

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • Look Who's Talking(1989)

    as James

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • The Experts(1989)

    as Travis

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Basements (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Ben (segment "The Dumb Waiter")

  • Perfect(1985)

    as Adam Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Two of a Kind(1983)

    as Zack

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Staying Alive(1983)

    as Tony Manero

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Blow Out(1981)

    as Jack Terry

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Urban Cowboy(1980)

    as Bud Davis

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Moment by Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Strip

  • Grease(1978)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Saturday Night Fever(1977)

    as Tony Manero

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
  • Everyman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Boy in the Plastic Bubble(1976)

    as Tod Lubitch

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Carrie(1976)

    as Billy Nolan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Mr. T and Tina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 9 episodes · as Vinnie Barbarino

  • The Tenth Level (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Lab Technician (uncredited)

  • Welcome Back, Kotter(1975)

    Show 95 episodes · as Vinnie Barbarino

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows
  • The Devil's Rain(1975)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Man Outside Store (uncredited)

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Chuck Benson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny

  • Top of the Pops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Black Tides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Bill Pierce

  • ED (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Syndicate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Special Agent Felix Miller

  • That's Amore! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Nick Venere

  • TRAVOLTAHON (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 109 titles, 103 of them dated from 1964 to 2026; peak year 1997.

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19642026

Peak 1997 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 58 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 5 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 109: 98 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score36thDirecting1 of 109: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting2 of 109: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing9 of 109: 0 only producing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thOther crew1 of 109: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

109 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s22 · 22 acting · 2 crew2000s26 · 26 acting · 1 crew2010s21 · 20 acting · 6 crew2020s9 · 9 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 73% of 67 roles
7580909500051020

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy, 2 Golden Globes and 3 other major awards from 21 major nominations, 1978–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Cannes award, won
  2. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
  3. 2017
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  4. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Limited Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
  5. 2009
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Song
  6. 2008
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble
  7. 1999
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  8. 1996
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 1995
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
  2. 1979
    • Golden Globe, won · World Film Favorite - Male
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  3. 1978
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do John Travolta's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 72; across their 69 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 69

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 69

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 69

Midcredits score across 79 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th31

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 79 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned3
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed33

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 65 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Travolta's work okay for kids?

Across up to 53 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore39 titles23–87 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity53 titles15–66 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity43 titles36–90 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs36 titles25–67 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense35 titles21–74 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Travolta work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Travolta's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Anson Downes shares the most, 25.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles