The term “triple threat” refers to someone who can sing, dance and act. Olivia Newton-John may not have invented the concept, but she was one of the talented performers who made it a reality. Her best films combine all three talents and help make the musical genre popular again, although her impressive body of work encompasses some of it all.
It was a time when musicals, both traditional and modern rock operas, were trending in every drive-thru. Olivia Newton-John was already working as a singer and dancer when she broke into the Hollywood scene. Her recent death marks the end of an era in the media. Even if the movie wasn’t great, she increased its quality with her musical talent.
6 Fat (1978)
This is the one everyone knows, and it was the breakout role and made Olivia Newton-John a household name, so it makes sense for Fat be more open. John plays lead actress Sandy Olsson, the new girl in town who falls for bad boy Danny Zuko, played by a young John Travolta.
This movie and its iconic soundtrack brought a revival in the 1990s, so it’s a title the kids know too. It was a version of Romeo and Juliet or The outsiders where no one dies and the heroes eventually end up together. The story and style stem from a bygone era that was highly idealized, which is why everyone loved it. The song Olivia-Newton John shares with John Travolta at the end, “You’re The One That I Want,” remains one of the most popular duets in history.
5 Filthy Lives (2000)
A family of modest means gathers in their humble Texas hometown to mourn the death of the family’s matriarch, and what follows is the revelation of some very dirty lives. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was hampered by a limited release due to its indie status and relatively low budget, but generated a strong cult following sufficient for a series and a sequel.
John plays Bitsy Mae Harling, best friend of Peggy Ingram, sister of the recently deceased. Viacom produced the spin-off TV series, Sordid Lives: The Serieswhich aired in 2008. This was followed almost ten years later by the sequel in 2017, A very dirty wedding.
4 Xanadu (1980)
No other time than the early 1970s to 1980s could a musical fantasy film be so popular, but Xanadu was in the right place at the right time. The production received critical acclaim for successfully mixing a vintage idea from a romantic poem with a modern design, despite detractors criticizing the acting and special effects.
The film’s title comes from a line in a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Kubla Khan, which describes the lavish summer palaces of a Chinese emperor in a place called Xanadu. Olivia Newton-John plays Kira, the roller-skating goddess who acts as a muse for Sonny, a sincere but distraught performer, as they fall in love under the glowing lights of a disco ball.
3 A Few Best Men (2011)
A few witnesses plays on the title of another popular movie, but that was a drama, and the comedic plot here focuses on a wedding and has nothing to do with the military. In a story as old as time, David meets a girl while on vacation and gathers his three friends for his whirlwind wedding in Australia. Chaos ensues when they run into trouble with local mobsters and farmers during the journey.
It’s not exactly a critical treasure, with most of the credit going to the soundtrack. Not only does John play the mother of the bride, Barbara Ramme, but she is also responsible for most of the music, which explains why this is one of the best things about the movie.
2 The Wild Girls (2001)
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John plays Jasmine Wilde, a famous singer whose daughter wants to follow in her footsteps. 14-year-old Izzy has already been spotted by a talent agent, so mom knows her kid has it in her, but Jasmine isn’t so thrilled. Stardom isn’t always fun, and she must decide whether to let Izzy follow in her footsteps and take her chances or protect her from the public storm.
The movie was a direct-to-TV production that was filmed on the Gold Coast and in Queensland, Australia. It’s heartwarming and sweet, not Oscar material but great for what it is, and of course there’s a lot of music.
1 Score: A hockey musical (2010)
Switching from the heat of the Outback to the canoes of the countryside, Nelly Furtado and Marc Jordan also join the cast to sing about Canada’s favorite pastime, hockey. The cast includes several famous Canadians in cameos or supporting roles, such as former MuchMusic Video Jockey George Stroumboulopoulos as arena announcer.
Olivia Newton-John plays Hope Gordon, the mother of the main character Farley, and she sings one of the songs on the soundtrack, ‘Hugs’. Farley Gordon is a sheltered boy whose best friend is the girl next door. He is content with his quiet homeschooling, until a twist of fate reveals that he is a talented hockey player and the discovery turns his comfortable life upside down. After signing a contract and getting some publicity, his relationships start to change in ways he doesn’t like, but is there a way back?
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