Staying Alive

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Staying Alive

PG

1983

1h 36m

Drama

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30 Reviews

40%

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10,000+ Ratings

Six years after his glittering triumph in the disco dance contest of "Saturday Night Fever," an older and wiser Tony Manero (John Travolta) works as a serious dance teacher in New York City and dreams of making it on Broadway. Manero gets his shot when his girlfriend, Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes), gets him an audition for a daring new show called "Satan's Alley." Manero lands a part as a backup dancer and falls back into old habits as he lusts after Broadway bad girl Laura (Finola Hughes).

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Critics Consensus

This sequel to Saturday Night Fever is shockingly embarrassing and unnecessary, trading the original's dramatic depth for a series of uninspired dance sequences.

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Owen Gleiberman

Boston Phoenix

Staying Alive isn't just a disappointment -- it's a disgrace.

Oct 8, 2021

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

As always Travolta is urban gorgeous and very charming. The rest of the film is neither.

Jul 24, 2014

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Variety Staff

Variety

The bottom line is that Staying Alive is nowhere as good as its 1977 predecessor, Saturday Night Fever.

Oct 24, 2008

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

By turning Tony’s story into an ‘80s fairy tale, the movie not only fails on its own merits but degrades its predecessor by association.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 11, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Disco inferno, indeed.

Rated: 1/4

Sep 9, 2023

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Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

Directed by Sylvester Stallone (who even has a cringeworthy cameo), you can spot the crumbs of a Rocky movie that just don't belong.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 21, 2022

Full Review

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Dale W

You really have to take this movie as a standalone film, not really a sequel to Saturday Night Fever. In that, it is quite enjoyable. It has the upbeat 80s kind of feel bolstered by being directed by Sylvester Stallone hot off his Rocky III success. The Broadway show “Satan‘s Alley“ depicted in the film is much more like a Las Vegas spectacle, than anything that would play on Broadway (with maybe the exception of “Cats”). It’s a lot of fun to watch, however. The love story between John Travolta and Finola Hughes is a bit overdone, but does serve to teach Tony Manero a bit about using people, leading to his appreciating Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes) more, and realizing he has something special with her. All in all it is a fun 80’s “hero overcomes the odds” romp in the style of “Footloose” or “Dirty Dancing” with enough Stallone inspired spectacle to provide great visuals and energy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

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Cathy S

I really liked it, Great music and dancing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Rocco D

This film is grossly underrated. This is a great 80's time-capsule and a very watchable guilty pleasure. The new 4k transfer is fantastic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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kacie m

The only thing more difficult than putting on a Broadway show, is making a movie about the process of a Broadway show. The athleticism from all of the dancers is beyond incredible, no body doubles here! Soundtrack is top notch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

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judith C

It’s my guilty pleasure ❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

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rik b

For the real negative critics,.....Don't forget that this was a huge box office hit for a reason. The dancing, emotional egos and tension of what it's probably, exactly really like to train for and produce one of these broadway type of musicals. I enjoyed this film and the great cast in it. The music was good and mainly frank stallone and the band deliveres a couple memorable awesome hit songs also. It's more than a cult classic because it dives into these emotional characters and their hardcore desire to be accepted and great at their very hard work and talent. Success or fail, they give it their all.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/24

Full Review

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Sylvester Stallone

Director

John Travolta

Tony Manero

Cynthia Rhodes

Jackie

Finola Hughes

Laura

Steve Inwood

Jesse

Julie Bovasso

Mrs. Manero

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Synopsis

Six years after his glittering triumph in the disco dance contest of "Saturday Night Fever," an older and wiser Tony Manero (John Travolta) works as a serious dance teacher in New York City and dreams of making it on Broadway. Manero gets his shot when his girlfriend, Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes), gets him an audition for a daring new show called "Satan's Alley." Manero lands a part as a backup dancer and falls back into old habits as he lusts after Broadway bad girl Laura (Finola Hughes).

Director: Sylvester Stallone
Producer: Robert Stigwood, Sylvester Stallone
Screenwriter: Sylvester Stallone, Norman Wexler
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Cinema Group Ventures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround

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