Staying Alive
Performance & Direction: Staying Alive Review
Last updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Staying Alive (1983) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Staying Alive features a noteworthy lineup led by John Travolta . Supported by the likes of Cynthia Rhodes and Finola Hughes , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Staying Alive (1983) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Staying Alive
Quick Plot Summary: Staying Alive is a Drama, Music film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Staying Alive
Ending Breakdown: Staying Alive attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Staying Alive reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Staying Alive?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Staying Alive
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $22.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $64.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Staying Alive Budget
The estimated production budget for Staying Alive is $22.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Staying Alive
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Where to Watch Staying Alive Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoStaying Alive Parents Guide & Age Rating
1983 AdvisoryWondering about Staying Alive age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Staying Alive is 96 minutes (1h 36m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.8/10, and global collection metrics, Staying Alive stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1983 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Staying Alive worth watching?
Staying Alive is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 5.8/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Staying Alive parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Staying Alive identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Staying Alive?
The total duration of Staying Alive is 96 minutes, which is approximately 1h 36m long.
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Critic Reviews for Staying Alive
Well I suppose it has the song.... Otherwise, this is a really poor and tawdry sequel to "Saturday Night Fever" that took six years to come to fruition. Quite why anyone but the accountant thought this was a good idea is anyone's guess - but John Travolta reprises his role as "Tony", this time trying to make it onto the Broadway stage. He's a changed man - he holds off on the booze, speaks poshly - hell, he even swears less. To be fair to director Sylvester Stallone, he does try to be innovative with his dance coverage - and the famous Travolta strut has lost none of it's hip-swinging rhythm, but the dialogue is dreadful and the characterisations really hemmed in by some shockingly poor acting - not least from the wooden Finola Hughes as the stroppy and petulant "Laura" and Cynthia Rhodes fares no better as "Jackie". The title track from the Bee Gees is the only really memorable song on a card that is busy, and oddly enough does work ok with the pace of this film - it's all just, well, rotten. The first film was not great, this makes it look outstanding.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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