Saturday Night Fever
A gifted Brooklyn disco dancer seeks escape from family conflict and working-class stagnation while a dance partnership forces him to reconsider who he wants to become.
Overview
A young man's passion for dance leads him to confront the harsh realities of life beyond the disco.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- energetic
- lyrical
- witty
- dance movie night
- 1970s nostalgia
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film as a poignant 1970s drama elevated by John Travolta's star-making performance, hypnotic dance sequences, and classic soundtrack.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tony Manero's disco performances provide relief from his dead-end job, family conflict, and limited Brooklyn prospects.
Tony and Stephanie imagine Manhattan and a better life while confronting constrained employment, family expectations, and neighborhood pressures.
The film's club sequences use the Bee Gees soundtrack, elaborate choreography, and vivid dance-floor presentation to create Tony's idealized world.
Tony's confidence as a dancer contrasts with his callous behavior, unstable relationships, and growing awareness of the limits of his social world.
Films like Saturday Night Fever, and why
The Last Picture Show
shared coming of age drama, music-driven identity, working-class youth, and emotionally conflicted protagonist
American Graffiti
shared new hollywood realism, youthful alienation, dead-end social environment, and poignant character drama
Flashdance
shared dance-centered aspiration, working-class romance, pop soundtrack, and transformation through performance
The Wiz
shared disco-era music culture, romantic tension, and performance as escape from ordinary life
Movie Details
- Director
- John Badham
- Release Date
- 1977-12-16
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (2157)
Cast
- John Travolta
- Karen Lynn Gorney
- Barry Miller
- Joseph Cali
- Paul Pape
- Donna Pescow
- Bruce Ornstein
- Julie Bovasso
- Martin Shakar
- Sam Coppola
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Saturday Night Fever about?
- A gifted Brooklyn disco dancer seeks escape from family conflict and working-class stagnation while a dance partnership forces him to reconsider who he wants to become.
- What is Saturday Night Fever like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Saturday Night Fever as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Saturday Night Fever violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Saturday Night Fever as moderate.
- What did critics think of Saturday Night Fever?
- Critics broadly praise the film as a poignant 1970s drama elevated by John Travolta's star-making performance, hypnotic dance sequences, and classic soundtrack.
- Which films are like Saturday Night Fever?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Picture Show, American Graffiti, Flashdance, and The Wiz.
- How long is Saturday Night Fever?
- Saturday Night Fever runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Saturday Night Fever?
- In United States, Saturday Night Fever streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
