Grease (1978)

All Critics (57) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (11) | DVD (40)

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.

March 15, 2013 Full Review

John L. Wasserman

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

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.

April 30, 2009 Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Grease holds up for new generations because it captures the enthusiasm of youth and the vibrancy of California's sunshine-and-cars culture.

December 30, 2008 Full Review

Michael Booth

Denver Post

Top Critic

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.

July 18, 2007 Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Limp, cheaply made.

July 18, 2007 Full Review | Comments (25)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

An unembarrassed movie musical, something my generation experienced only in Sunday-afternoon movies on TV.

December 30, 2006

Julie Hinds

San Jose Mercury News

Top Critic

A dumb but lively rock musical.

December 27, 2010 Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

I love the film's energy. I love the movie-star charisma of John Travolta in the lead. I love the "am I doing this right?" hesitancy of much of Olivia Newton-John's performance. I love the fact that the film is so unapologetically filthy.

June 28, 2010 Full Review

Drew McWeeny

HitFix

A film that's immortal for its unbridled enthusiasm and top notch production that makes it arguably the best musical ever made...

June 21, 2010 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

One of the most commercially successful transfers of a Broadway musical to the big screen, Grease is not a great movie but it's a lot of fun to watch and listen due to superlative cast.

September 25, 2009 Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Problematic but ultimately irresistible adaptation of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's hit Broadway musical. [Blu-ray]

May 25, 2009 Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

As Blu-Ray still remains largely the province of gamers and fanboys, I don't really see the point of even releasing Grease on the format at all.

May 6, 2009 Full Review

Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

...there's no denying the charisma of the stars and the infectious nature of the song-and-dance numbers. (Blu-ray Edition)

May 2, 2009 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...comes to life when Travolta and company are singing and dancing.

May 2, 2009 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Overall, the Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) is absolutely worth buying even if you have the previous edition, as much for its newly-remastered transfer as the bounty of bonus materials.

December 23, 2008 Full Review

Todd Gilchrist

IGN Movies

Randal Kleiser's 1978 musical, set in the Fifties, has some horrible acting but the kind of exuberance that has made it a cult classic.

September 26, 2008 Full Review

Derek Malcolm

This is London

There's a surprising strain of filth, too - this is much closer to Hairspray than High School Musical. The message is: burn rubber, have sex, strut about like a chicken. It's one that's hard to resist.

September 26, 2008 Full Review

Catherine Shoard

Guardian [UK]

Much-loved but somewhat overrated.

September 26, 2008 Full Review | Comments (4)

Wendy Ide

Times [UK]

Travolta and Newton-John burn up the screen with all the passion of a potato salad while occasionally singing a song you know all the words to because they play it every week in small-town nightclubs.

March 3, 2008 Full Review | Comments (8)

Ben Reynolds

Film4

Good, clean, high-spirited fun.

July 18, 2007 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

• 1. Frenchy: [to Sandy] Uh Sandy here's your toothbrush.
  2. Sandy Olsson: [grabs it through the door] Oh thanks Frenchy, I'm sorry to be so much trouble.
  3. Frenchy: Oh it's okay.
  4. Rizzo: [puts on blond wig] Ooh This Goody Two-Shoes makes me wanna barf.
  – Submitted by Matthew C (3 months ago)
• 1. Kenickie: Hey Zuk man those Scorpions are asking for it Hey yo Danny what's up you still think about that chick?
  2. Danny Zuko: What are you nuts?
  3. Kenickie: No I just thought that.
  4. Danny Zuko: Get in there, I don't think that much.
  5. Kenickie: Oh that's cool.
  – Submitted by Matthew C (10 months ago)
• 1. Sandy Olsson: Tell me bout it stud.
  – Submitted by Nicole S (15 months ago)
• 1. Vince Fontaine: It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's what you do with your dancin' shoes.
  – Submitted by rob g (2 years ago)
• 1. Danny Zuko: You can't just walk out of a drive-in.
  – Submitted by rob g (2 years ago)

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