Parents' Guide to

Saturday Night Fever

By Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Disco drama has sex, violence, swearing off the dance floor.

Movie R 1977 119 minutes
Saturday Night Fever Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 11 parent reviews

RexONE
RexONE Parent of 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17-year-old
July 18, 2022
age 16+

It's Saturday Night Reality

Well, I am a realist. Do you take your junior high child and younger, NO. But , if they are in high school then 14+ is acceptable. By then, if you haven't taken care of all the talks then they know it anyway. You can't stop what happens, so you beat society to it. The cussing is what is expected in a movie like this. You know they are cussing, yes your kid, so you teach them within earshot of an adult or younger children is disrespectful and unacceptable. A movie won't change this if you don't tell them. As a Catholic, the treatment of religion isn't what is being imprinted here, it's the glamour of a club scene lifestyle along with the darker side of it. Actually, the contests are a good lesson what it takes to be a winner and the work devoted, instead of everyone gets a trophy. This disillusion has served nothing but lowered expectations. The diversity... that is just ridiculous to be talking about it. i have lost it for any political correctness when manners will include anything in that area...diversity is a tired term along with racist ... when actual words are stereotypes and prejudices..ruining society casting these terms. It's good to see life as it is and not some false reality that media delivers... making people look more hostile than they really are..shaping wrong images of everyone. I put 16 so they can drive for it may be awkward driving kids to see this type of movie let alone go in with them. You wouldn't be welcome. So, time for the super parent to stay home and let them grow up.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
AnneLynn
AnneLynn Adult
May 22, 2020
age 18+

I had high hopes

At one point a girl is gang-raped and then she hugs her rapist later on as nothing happened. I was uncomfortable, angry but mostly disgusted.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, 19-year-old Brooklynite Tony Manero (John Travolta) lives uncomfortably at home with his large Italian-American family, works at a local paint store, hangs out with his troublemaking pals, and treats marriage-minded girlfriend Annette (Donna Pescow) with contempt, partially because she won't have sex with him. Tony's main escape is on the illuminated floor of a glittery club called 2001 Odyssey, where he's the star, and his dance moves take him to a fantasy world away from a dead-end routine. While dancing, Tony meets a local girl named Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) who has big plans to move up in life via dance lessons and relocating to the city. Tony coldly dumps Annette as his dance partner in the club's upcoming competition and starts training with Stephanie. She challenges Tony to grow up -- but Stephanie's no angel; it's hinted that she's also the mistress of her married boss. With his gang's ongoing feuds, girlfriend crises, and family problems, Tony has a fateful turning point on the night of the big dance contest.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (11):

Despite the Bee Gees' disco music and bell-bottom trousers, this is a tough, serious-minded drama about restless, sometimes violent young men on the sordid side of New York City. Travolta fought to keep his character not just vulnerable but also raw and occasionally cruel, and that's why Tony Manero works so well (Travolta received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor). The story packs a punch and gets pretty edgy -- it's not a great pick for younger children looking for Dance Dance Revolution cues.

Even Hollywood producers thought Saturday Night Fever was unusually profane and explicit. When it was released on VHS, it was in an edited, PG-rated form (which would be considered at least PG-13 today), with alternate versions of certain scenes that director John Badham shot for network TV airings (Badham has said he thinks the PG scenes have better acting). In 2002, the R-rated edition appeared on DVD, which is the more widely available version today. Parents should know it really is more severe.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Tony finds value and self-esteem on the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever. How does his home life, where he's considered the black sheep, affect his life and behavior?

  • What's the significance of the fact that Stephanie isn't the proverbial "uptown girl" outsider? How does the fact that she's from Tony's neighborhood affect her impact on him?

  • How much of this storyline is specific to New York City and its social classes, and how much is universal -- especially the similarities to other films about at-risk youth, from Rebel Without a Cause to 8 Mile?

  • Why do you think this film and its soundtrack are still so popular today?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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