Grease (1978)
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80% of critics liked it
(56 reviews) -
85% of users liked it
(1,078,571 ratings)
"Grease," said the poster and the Barry Gibb song, "is the word." Transferring its setting from Chicago to sunny California, and adding a dash of disco to the ersatz '50s score, producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser turned this long-running Jim Jacobs-Warren Casey… More "Grease," said the poster and the Barry Gibb song, "is the word." Transferring its setting from Chicago to sunny California, and adding a dash of disco to the ersatz '50s score, producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser turned this long-running Jim Jacobs-Warren Casey Broadway smash into the biggest blockbuster of 1978. 1950s teens Danny (John Travolta) and Australian transfer Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) spend their "Summer Nights" falling in love, but once fall comes, it's back to Rydell High and its cliques. As one of the bad-boy T-Birds, Danny has to act cool for best pal Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) and their leather-clad mates Sonny (Michael Tucci) and Doody (Barry Pearl, in the role Travolta played on-stage). Despite befriending Frenchy (Didi Conn), one of the rebel Pink Ladies, virginal Sandy is "too pure to be Pink," as the Ladies' leader, Rizzo (Stockard Channing), acidly observes. Declaring their devotion in such ballads as "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Sandy," Sandy and Danny split, reconcile, and split again amidst a pep rally, dances, drive-ins, and a drag race, before deciding "You're the One That I Want" at the climactic carnival. With Travolta white-hot from Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease soundtrack singles climbed the charts and summer movie crowds poured in. With the presence of Joan Blondell, Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, and Frankie Avalon appealing to grown-up memories, Grease became the highest-grossing film of 1978, the highest-grossing movie musical ever, and the third most popular film of the new blockbuster '70s after Star Wars (1977) and Jaws (1975). Its sequel, Grease 2, did not exactly set the world on fire in 1982. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
- Directed By
- Randal Kleiser
- Genres
- Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1978 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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John L. Wasserman, San Francisco Chronicle
The screenplay is a prepubescent shambles, the direction is by acne out of disposable douches, the dubbing and looping of the songs is painfully obvious, the characterizations are generally repulsive and the whole thing is utterly without style.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Travolta is a riot. Alternately swaggering to prove his "coolness" and re-affirming his ability on the dance floor, the actor gives the kind of performance that's perfect for the role.
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Michael Booth, Denver Post
Grease holds up for new generations because it captures the enthusiasm of youth and the vibrancy of California's sunshine-and-cars culture.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Grease has got it, from the outstanding animated titles of John Wilson all the way through the rousing finale as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John ride off into teenage happiness.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Limp, cheaply made.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Travolta
as Danny Zuko
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Olivia Newton-John
as Sandy Olsson
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Stockard Channing
as Rizzo
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Jeff Conaway
as Kenickie
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Didi Conn
as Frenchy
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Eve Arden
as Principal McGee
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Joan Blondell
as Vi
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Dinah Manoff
as Marty
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Michael Tucci
as Sonny
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Barry Pearl
as Doody
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Kelly Ward
as Putzie
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Susan Buckner
as Patty Simcox
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Eddie Deezen
as Eugene
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Lorenzo Lamas
as Tom Chisum
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Dennis Stewart
as Leo
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Annette Charles
as Cha Cha
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Dick Patterson
as Mr. Rudie
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Fannie Flagg
as Nurse Wilkin
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Darrell Zwerling
as Mr. Lynch
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Ellen Travolta
as Waitress
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Frankie Avalon
as Teen Angel
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Edward Byrnes
as Vince Fontaine
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Sid Caesar
as Coach Calhoun
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Alice Ghostley
as Mrs. Murdock
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Dody Goodman
as Blanche
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Sha Na Na
as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers
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Michael Biehn
as Jock (Basketball Player)
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Dennis Daniels
as Dancer
- Riverboat Gamblers
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Johnny Casino & the Sha-Na-Na
as Johnny Casino & the Gamblers (as Sha-Na-...
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Daniel Levans
as Dancer
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Steve M. Davison
as Leader of the Scorpions
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Andy Tennant
as Dancer
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Mimi Lieber
as Dancer
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Sean Anthony Moran
as Dancer
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James Donnelly
as Jan
- Susam Buckner
- Jamie Donnelly
- Edd Byrnes








