What 1977 film starring John Travolta is credited with popularizing disco worldwide?

The 1977 film starring John Travolta credited with popularizing disco worldwide is Saturday Night Fever.

Directed by John Badham, the film stars Travolta as Tony Manero, a young Brooklyn man who finds escape and status on the dance floor. Its story was inspired by a 1976 New York magazine article, though writer Nik Cohn later acknowledged that much of the article had been fabricated.

The film became a global cultural phenomenon, helping bring disco fashion, dancing, and music into the mainstream. Its soundtrack, dominated by songs from the Bee Gees, became one of the best-selling soundtracks ever and included “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.”

A common mix-up is Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel in which Travolta returned as Tony Manero. Saturday Night Fever is the original film that made Travolta a major movie star and helped define the disco era.