Watch Staying Alive

Staying Alive is a 1983 dance-drama film directed by Sylvester Stallone and starring John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, and Finola Hughes. It is a sequel to 1977's Saturday Night Fever and follows the story of Tony Manero, who in the previous film was a working-class Brooklyn teenager trying to escape his dead-end life by dancing at the local disco. Staying Alive picks up six years later with a more grown-up, ambitious Tony, who has moved to Manhattan to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer on Broadway. The film begins with Tony auditioning for a dance company and being rejected for his lack of classical training. He then lands a job as a waiter at a dance club and starts taking ballet classes on the side to improve his skills. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with a fellow dancer, Jackie (Cynthia Rhodes), who helps him with his audition material. Despite his growing success, Tony faces many obstacles, including rival dancers, a domineering director, and his own ego. He also struggles with the conflicting demands of his dance career and his relationships with his friends and family, who worry that he is losing touch with his roots. Throughout the film, the dance sequences are elaborate and visually striking, showcasing Travolta's impressive moves and athleticism. The soundtrack features a mix of popular hits and original songs, including the famous opening number "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees. Staying Alive received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its high-energy dance sequences and Travolta's performance, while others criticized its formulaic plot and cheesy dialogue. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $64 million at the box office. Looking back on Staying Alive today, it is perhaps most interesting as a snapshot of the early 1980s, a time when disco had given way to new wave and MTV, but the genre still had a significant following. For fans of dance movies, it remains a fun and entertaining watch, with some standout dance numbers and a memorable protagonist in Tony Manero.