The comedy that saved John Travolta‘s career 35 years ago was almost canceled, according to its director, who says “John was box-office poison.” The actor rose to fame for his role in the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter from 1975 to 1979. In the following years, Travolta gained further recognition with two of his most iconic performances in Saturday Night Fever, earning his first Oscar nomination, and Grease, which were both massive box-office hits that propelled Travolta to global fame.

Travolta’s success continued into the early 1980s, capitalizing on the growing country music craze with Urban Cowboy. In 1981, he starred in Brian De Palma’s Blow Out, which earned critical acclaim, but struggled at the box office, likely due to its somber ending. Following Blow Out, Travolta faced a string of commercial and critical misfires that temporarily derailed his career, including Two of a Kind, Perfect, and the Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive, which performed well financially but was met with harsh reviews from critics.

Look Who’s Talking Was Almost Canceled

The 1989 Comedy Saved John Travolta’s Career

Look Who’s Talking, the comedy that saved John Travolta’s career 35 years ago, was almost canceled. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling – also known for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless – her 1989 romantic comedy follows the relationship between a single mother and her infant son’s babysitter. The cast includes Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, Olympia Dukakis, George Segal, Abe Vigoda, and Bruce Willis as the voice of the baby’s inner thoughts only audible to the audience.

During a recent interview with Empire Magazine, director Amy Heckerling revealed that Look Who’s Talking was almost canceled due to studio politics following Sony’s acquisition of TriStar, with Travolta being unfairly labeled as “box-office poison.” However, the film’s release was ultimately saved by Travolta and Bruce Willis threatening legal action, whose deals required a wide release. Read Heckerling’s full comments below:

I really thought the movie [wouldn’t come out]. The party line was that John was “box-office poison,” so the people who took over said, “We can’t release this.” John became the fall guy. But really, it was because we did so great at [test] screenings. It wouldn’t do the new people any good to say, “The old people made this movie, and look how well it’s doing…” John and Bruce had made their deals based on the movie getting a wide release. As far as I know, they got together and threatened to sue the studio… and that’s when it came out. So, it’s thanks to John and Bruce that I have my house.

What Look Who’s Talking Meant For John Travolta

It Saved His Career, But Pulp Fiction Reinvigorated It

After Look Who’s Talking was an enormous box office success, grossing nearly $300 million on a $7.5 million budget, Travolta went on to star in the sequels Look Who’s Talking Too and Look Who’s Talking Now, though his career truly rebounded when Travolta starred in Pulp Fiction, earning his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Following Pulp Fiction, John Travolta received a flood of diverse offers and took on notable roles in Get Shorty, Michael, Face/Off, and many more movies.

Source: Empire Magazine

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John Travolta

Discover the latest news and filmography for John Travolta, known for Grease and Pulp Fiction.

Birthdate

February 18, 1954

Birthplace

Englewood, New Jersey, USA

Professions

Actor
, Singer
, Dancer
, Pilot