View source for Can't Stop the Music

{{Short description|1980 film}}
{{About|the 1980 film|the soundtrack album|Can't Stop the Music (album)|the title song|Can't Stop the Music (song)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Can't Stop the Music
| image          = Cantstopthemusic.JPG
| alt            =
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Nancy Walker]]
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Allan Carr]]
* [[Bronté Woodard]]
}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Allan Carr
* [[Henri Belolo]]
* [[Jacques Morali]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Village People]]
* [[Valerie Perrine]]
* [[Caitlyn Jenner]]{{efn|name=a|Known as Bruce Jenner until her [[gender transition]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bissinger|first=Buzz|authorlink=Buzz Bissinger|title=Introducing Caitlyn Jenner|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz/|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=June 1, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>}}
* [[Steve Guttenberg]]
* [[Paul Sand]]
* [[Tammy Grimes]]
* [[June Havoc]]
* [[Barbara Rush]]
* [[Altovise Davis]]
* [[Marilyn Sokol]]
* [[The Ritchie Family]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Bill Butler (cinematographer)|Bill Butler]]
| editing        = [[John F. Burnett]]
| music          = Jacques Morali
| color_process  = [[Metrocolor]]
| studio         = [[EMI Films]]
| distributor    = [[Associated Film Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|1980|06|20}}
| runtime        = 124 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 123:42--><ref>{{cite web|title=''Can't Stop the Music'' (A)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/cant-stop-music-1970-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221231918/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/cant-stop-music-1970-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2015|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=June 5, 1980|access-date=January 3, 2013}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $13.5–20 million<ref name="disco">{{cite news|first=Shaun|last=Considine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/02/archives/were-not-making-a-gimmick-movie.html|title='We're Not Making A Gimmick Movie'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 2, 1979|page=D 13}}</ref>
| gross          = $2 million
}}
'''''Can't Stop the Music''''' is a 1980 American [[Musical film|musical]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Nancy Walker]] in her only directed featured film. Written by [[Allan Carr]] and [[Bronte Woodard|Bronté Woodard]], the film is a pseudo-[[biography]] of the 1970s [[disco]] group the [[Village People]] loosely based on the actual story of how the group formed. The film also stars [[Valerie Perrine]], [[Caitlyn Jenner]]{{efn|name=a}} in her film debut, [[Steve Guttenberg]], [[Paul Sand]], [[Tammy Grimes]], [[June Havoc]], [[Barbara Rush]], [[Altovise Davis]], [[Marilyn Sokol]] and [[The Ritchie Family]] in their only film.

Produced by [[Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment]] (formerly EMI Films), distributed by [[Independent film|independent]] distributor [[Associated Film Distribution]] (AFD), the film was released after disco's peak.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211025050103/http://www.mtv.com/news/2766092/erics-bad-movies-cant-stop-the-music-1980/ Eric's Bad Movies: Can't Stop the Music (1980) - MTV]</ref> It received largely negative reviews from critics and was a [[box-office bomb|box office bomb]]. Alongside ''[[Xanadu (film)|Xanadu]]'', ''Can't Stop the Music'' is known for inspiring the creation of the [[Golden Raspberry Awards]], winning the first Razzies for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]] and [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]].<ref name="germain"/>

==Plot==
Songwriter Jack Morell (a reference to Village People creator [[Jacques Morali]]) quits his job at a local record store after countless insults and demands by his tough-minded boss and gets a break [[Disc jockey|DJ]]ing at local [[Discotheque|disco]] Saddle Tramps. His roommate Samantha "Sam" Simpson, a [[supermodel]] newly retired at the peak of her success, attends the disco one night. While avoiding advances from the sleazy owner Benny Murray, she sees the crowd's response to a song that he composed for her ("Samantha") and agrees to help him obtain a record deal. Her ex-boyfriend Steve Waits, president of [[Marrakech]] Records (a reference to Village People record label [[Casablanca Records]]), is more interested in rekindling their romantic relationship than in Jack's music (and more interested in taking business calls than in wooing Samantha), but agrees to listen to a [[Demo (music)|demo]].

Deeming Jack's vocals inadequate, Sam recruits neighbor and Saddle Tramps waiter/[[Go-go dancer|go-go boy]] [[Felipe Rose]] (the [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]]), fellow model [[David Hodo|David "Scar" Hodo]]<ref>{{cite web|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|title=Busy group Y M C Aching|author=Purdie, Ross|date=September 25, 2012|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/busy-group-y-m-c-aching/VVRZUMRERGY7SLLDYBCDNAYBHA/}}</ref> (the construction worker, who daydreams of stardom in the solo number "I Love You to Death"), and [[Randy Jones (singer)|Randy Jones]] (the cowboy) on the streets of [[Greenwich Village]], offering dinner in return for their participation. Meanwhile, Sam's former agent Sydney Channing orders her long-suffering personal assistant, [[Girl Friday (idiom)|Girl Friday]] Lulu Brecht, to attend, hoping to lure back the star. Ron White, a lawyer from [[St. Louis]], is mugged by an elderly woman en route to deliver a cake that Sam's sister sent and arrives disconcerted. Brecht gives Jack [[Recreational drugs|drugs]], which unnerves him when her friend, fellow model and dancer Alicia Edwards, brings singing cop [[Ray Simpson]] (the policeman), but Jack records the quartet on "[[Can't Stop the Music (album)|Magic Night]]". Ron, pawed all night by the man-hungry Brecht, is overwhelmed by the [[culture shock]] of it all and leaves.

The next day, Sam encounters Ron, who apologizes, proffers the excuse that he is a [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] and follows her home. After Sam unintentionally causes Ron to spill leftover lasagna on himself, she and Jack help him remove his trousers; after Jack departs, Sam and Ron spend the night together. Newly interested in helping, Ron offers his [[Wall Street]] office to hold auditions. There, [[Glenn Hughes (Village People)|Glenn M. Hughes]] (the [[Leather subculture|leatherman]]) performs "[[Danny Boy]]" atop a piano; he and [[Alex Briley]] (the [[G.I. (military)|G.I.]]), a stagehand at a theater where Alicia works, join the group, now a [[sextet]]. They get their name from an offhand remark by Ron's socialite mother Norma. Ron's boss, Richard Montgomery, overwhelmed by the carnival atmosphere, insists that the firm not represent the group, and Ron quits.

Ron suggests a new location for rehearsal space at the [[YMCA]] (the [[Y.M.C.A. (song)|ensuing production number]] features its athletic denizens in various states of undress). That evening, the group cuts a demo ("Liberation") for Marrakech, but Steve sees limited appeal and Sam refuses his paltry contract. Reluctant to use her own savings, they decide to self-finance by throwing a pay-party.

To bankroll the party, Sam acquiesces to Channing's plea to return for a TV advertising campaign for milk, provided the Village People are featured. The lavish number "Milkshake" begins as Sam pours milk for six little boys in the archetypal costumes with the promise that they will grow up to be the Village People. The advertisers reject the concept and refuse to broadcast the spot. Norma then invites the group to debut at her charity fundraiser in [[San Francisco]]. Sam lures Steve by promising a romantic weekend, but the inference that she would proceed with the seduction takes Ron aback, and Sam ends their romantic relationship. On his private jet, Steve prepares for a tryst, but rather Jack and his former [[Showgirl|chorus girl]] mother Helen arrive to negotiate a contract. Initially reluctant, Helen charms Steve with her [[kreplach]], and eventually they are negotiating the T-shirt merchandising for the Japanese market.

In San Francisco, in the dressing room before the show, Ron, relieved that Sam did not travel or have sexual intercourse with Steve, [[Marriage proposal|proposes]] to her. Montgomery appears, seeking to rehire Ron as a junior partner representing the group. Following a set by [[The Ritchie Family]] ("Give Me a Break"), the Village People triumphantly debut before a cheering crowd ("[[Can't Stop the Music (song)|Can't Stop the Music]]").

==Cast==
{{div col}}
*[[Steve Guttenberg]] as Jack Morell
*[[Valerie Perrine]] as Samantha "Sam" Simpson
*[[Caitlyn Jenner]]{{efn|name=a}} as Ron White
*[[Paul Sand]] as Steve Waits
*[[Tammy Grimes]] as Sydney Channing
*[[Village People]]:
**[[Alex Briley]] as Alex the G.I.
**[[David Hodo]] as David the Construction Worker
**[[Glenn Hughes (Village People)|Glenn Hughes]] as Glenn the Leatherman
**[[Randy Jones (singer)|Randy Jones]] as Randy the Cowboy
**[[Felipe Rose]] as Felipe the Indian
**[[Ray Simpson]] as Ray the Policeman
*[[June Havoc]] as Helen Morell
*[[Barbara Rush]] as Norma White
*[[Altovise Davis]] as Alicia Edwards
*[[Marilyn Sokol]] as Lulu Brecht
*[[Russell Nype]] as Richard Montgomery
*[[Jack Weston]] as Benny Murray
*[[Leigh Taylor-Young]] as Claudia Walters
*Dick Patterson as the Record store manager
{{div col end}}

==Production==
===Development===
Originally titled '''''Discoland... Where the Music Never Ends''''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/chatter-vol-12-no-18/|title=Chatter|author=People Staff|archivedate=March 30, 2022|date=October 29, 1979|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330033621/https://people.com/archive/chatter-vol-12-no-18/|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> ''Can't Stop the Music'' was a fictionalized account of the formation of the Village People.<ref name="los">{{cite news|first=Clarke|last=Taylor|title=The People's Movie Moves the Village|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 9, 1979|page=L 29}}</ref> Allan Carr announced the film in June 1979, describing it as "''[[Singing in the Rain]]'' for the disco crowd" and stating that the film would star the Village People, Valerie Perrine, Tammy Grimes, [[Chita Rivera]], Barbara Rush, [[Pat Ast]] and [[Bruce Jenner]].{{efn|name=a}} It was to be the first in a three picture slate from Carr, the others including ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]'' and ''[[The Josephine Baker Story]]'' starring [[Diana Ross]]. Filming was to start on August 20 of that year<ref>{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Schreger|title=Film Clips: Hollywood's Party Champion Defends His Crown|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 11, 1979|page=E 10}}</ref> and was financed by [[EMI]], then under the aegis of [[Barry Spikings]]. When asked why EMI were making a film about disco so long after ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'', Spikings said, "I hope it is different. The film breaks new ground."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Man Who Came to Film|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 July 1979|page=10}}</ref>

The film's director, [[Nancy Walker]], a theater, film, and television star since the 1940s, had been nominated for two [[Tony Award]]s, four [[Golden Globe Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web | title=Nancy Walker | url=http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?CTR=84544 | work=Artist Biography | publisher=[[Barnes and Noble]] | location=New York City | access-date=May 9, 2009 | archive-date=June 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041837/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?CTR=84544 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and eight [[Emmy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web | title=Nancy Walker Biography | url=http://www.biography.com/articles/Walker-Nancy-222427 | publisher=A&E Television Networks/Biography.com | year=2007 | access-date=2009-05-09 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610130322/http://www.biography.com/articles/Walker-Nancy-222427 | archive-date=June 10, 2011 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Walker had guest starred as Rhoda's mother [[List of other characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show|Ida Morgenstern]] in several episodes of ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' and continued that role in its [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] ''[[Rhoda]]''. After establishing the character, Walker directed some episodes of both series, along with episodes of other sitcoms. ''Can't Stop the Music'' was her lone effort at theatrical film direction.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Masterworks Broadway]]|title=Nancy Walker|url=https://masterworksbroadway.com/artist/nancy-walker/}}</ref>

===Casting===
The film's supporting cast includes Tammy Grimes, [[Russell Nype]], [[June Havoc]], [[Altovise Davis]], [[Jack Weston]] and [[Leigh Taylor-Young]]. Chita Rivera and Pat Ast were initially cast but dropped out of the film's production.<ref name="disco"/>

''Can't Stop the Music'' was Caitlyn Jenner's film debut (as Bruce Jenner), after becoming famous for three world record-setting performances in the [[Decathlon]], and a [[Gold medal]] win at the 1976 [[Olympic Games]]. Jenner's record stood from 1975 until shortly before this film's 1980 release. Jenner did not appear in another film until [[Adam Sandler]]'s ''[[Jack and Jill (2011 film)|Jack and Jill]]'' (2011), which, like ''Can't Stop the Music'', won the [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture]]. Carr said, "Jenner is going to be the [[Robert Redford]] of the 80s, and this film will do for Valerie what ''[[Carnal Knowledge (film)|Carnal Knowledge]]'' did for [[Ann-Margret]]."<ref name="disco"/>

The Village People auditionees depicted in the film included [[Blackie Lawless]] (a member of the [[Glam rock|glam]]-[[Punk rock|punk]] group [[New York Dolls]] and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] group [[W.A.S.P. (band)|W.A.S.P.]]) and James Marcel (who would later find greater success with the name [[James Wilder (actor)|James Wilder]]). Background dancers included Perri Lister, girlfriend of [[Billy Idol]] and mother to his son, and Peter Tramm, who would go on to appear in dozens of [[music video]]s and double for [[Kevin Bacon]] in ''[[Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose]]''.

Ray Simpson's role was originally intended for [[Victor Willis]], the original lead singer of the Village People who left the group during pre-production of this film. Morali had hired Willis' then-wife, [[Phylicia Rashad|Phylicia Ayers-Allen]], to portray his girlfriend. When Willis left the group, Ayers-Allen quit the movie and was replaced by Altovise Davis.

"This movie's a revolution," said Carr. "I mean this movie is launching whole new careers and we need new stars today. Warren and Ryan and Redford - these people are way over 40."<ref>{{cite news|first=Sally Ogle|last=Davis|title=Carr wants to put the tinsel back into Tinseltown|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=21 June 1980|page=E 7}}</ref>

Carr had attempted to cast [[Olivia Newton-John]] in this film as Samantha, but after discussions between her producer, [[John Farrar]], and Morali over who would write Newton-John's numbers, Newton-John instead signed on to play the lead in ''[[Xanadu (film)|Xanadu]]''.<ref name="PartyAnimals">{{cite book|first=Robert|last=Hofler|title=Party Animals: A Hollywood Tale of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Starring the Fabulous Allan Carr|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|location=New York City|date=2010|isbn=978-0306816550|pages=105–118}}</ref> "It wasn't only money," said Carr, "it was creative control and other demands."<ref name="disco"/> Newton-John has said in interviews since, she didn't understand Carr's statement, since her only "demand" was that Farrar write two songs for her to sing in the film, which was the same "demand" she made in ''Grease''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

===Filming===
The schedule of the film was 11 weeks: eight in Los Angeles, two in New York and one in San Francisco. A proposed week of filming on [[Fire Island]] was scrapped due to fear of the weather.<ref name="disco"/> Carr was coming off a massive worldwide hit with the pop musical ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]'' when [[Principal photography|shooting]] took place between May and July 1979 at the height of the disco craze. Carr took a hands-on role with the production, and personally directed and cast the male athlete extras for the "[[Y.M.C.A. (song)|Y.M.C.A.]]" musical sequence.<ref name="PartyAnimals" />

Shooting took place at [[Sony Pictures Studios|MGM Studios]] in [[Culver City, California]], with location shooting in [[New York City]] and [[San Francisco]]. Location shooting in New York was somewhat complicated by adjacent protests by gay activists over the [[William Friedkin]] film ''[[Cruising (film)|Cruising]]'' (starring [[Al Pacino]]), which was filming on location nearby.<ref name="PartyAnimals" /> The two productions were mistaken for each other more than once, with protestors disrupting the ''Can't Stop the Music'' location shoots when they had intended to halt production of ''Cruising''.<ref name="PartyAnimals" /> A few weeks prior to release, Jenner and Perrine hosted a TV special, ''Allan Carr's Magic Night'', to promote the film.

Tensions between Walker and Perrine rose on the set to the point that Walker would not be present for scenes featuring Perrine, leaving director of cinematography [[Bill Butler (cinematographer)|Bill Butler]] to direct in her place.<ref name="PartyAnimals" /> Additionally, Perrine was reportedly unhappy that a dance number in which she performed was cut from the film.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stacey|last=Peck|title=Home Q&A: Valerie Perrine: Hers is a Peaceful Life, Filled with Animals, Plants and Projects |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=30 November 1980|page=S 70}}</ref>

Carr said he decided to change the title during filming because, as the music score included older ballads and Broadway numbers, it would be inaccurate to call it ''Discoland''.<ref name="disco"/> However, the decision was made shortly after [[Disco Demolition Night]], which effectively ended the popularity of the genre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmsite.org/greatestflops7.html|title = Greatest Box-Office Bombs, Disasters and Flops|website=Filmsite}}</ref> During filming, sales for the Village People's albums started to decline and disco became increasingly unfashionable. "They'll still be hot," said Carr of the Village People. "If not I will resurrect them."<ref name="disco"/> Two of the band's three biggest hits, "[[In the Navy]]" and "[[Macho Man (song)|Macho Man]]," do not appear in the film, though Perrine wears a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Macho Woman" as she jogs through the men's locker room at the YMCA. Another reference to one of the band's songs, "[[San Francisco (You've Got Me)]]," appears in the opening credits, as Jack passes a group of three women with the words "San Francisco" printed on their T-shirts.

The band's silver and white costumes in the "Milkshake" sequence and red costumes in the finale sequences were designed by [[Theoni V. Aldredge]].

===Music===
# "The Sound of the City" - [[Dennis Frederiksen|David London]]
# "Samantha" - David London
# "I Love You to Death" - Village People
# "Sophistication" - [[The Ritchie Family]]
# "Give Me a Break" - The Ritchie Family
# "Liberation" - Village People
# "[[Can't Stop the Music (album)|Magic Night]]" - Village People
# "[[Y.M.C.A. (song)|Y.M.C.A.]]" - Village People
# "Milkshake" - Village People
# "[[Can't Stop the Music (song)|Can't Stop the Music]]" - Village People

Jack's song "Samantha" is credited in the film as being sung by David London, a [[pseudonym]] for rock singer [[Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen]], who was the lead singer for several popular rock bands during the 1980s whose biggest success came as one of the lead singers on [[Toto (band)|Toto]]'s ''[[Isolation (Toto album)|Isolation]]'' album, released in 1984. London/Frederiksen also sings a second song on the soundtrack, "The Sound of the City".<ref>{{cite web | title=Fergie Frederiksen Discography | url=http://www.toto99.com/disco/fergiedisco.shtml | publisher=Official Toto Website | date= 2005-12-05 | access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref>

While the film's [[Can't Stop the Music (album)|soundtrack album]] contains the 10 songs from the film, the incidental score by Morali and Belolo was released on LP only in Australia.<ref name="discogs.com">[https://www.discogs.com/Jacques-Morali-Henri-Belolo-Cant-Stop-The-Music-The-Original-Score-Album/release/12368661 Jacques Morali – Can't Stop The Music - The Original Score Album (1980, Vinyl|Discogs]</ref> One of the songs in the film's background score is the instrumental backing track of "Like an Eagle," a hit song by another [[Casablanca Records]] artist, [[Wade Nichols|Dennis Parker]].<ref name="discogs.com"/>

==Release==
By the time of the film's release during the summer of 1980, the disco genre had not only peaked in the United States but also was experiencing a backlash there. As a result, the film received scathing reviews from critics and performed poorly at the box office. At a cost estimated at $20 million, the film was a [[Box-office bomb|colossal failure financially]], bringing in only a tenth of that in gross revenue,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080492/business|title=Can't Stop the Music (1980) - Box office / business|work=IMDb|access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> and is considered one of the reasons for the downfall of AFD. "Our timing was wrong, and in this business, timing is everything," wrote [[Lew Grade]], who invested in the movie.<ref name="grade">{{cite book|first=Lew|last=Grade|authorlink=Lew Grade|title=Still Dancing: My Story|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|location=New York City|date=1988|isbn=978-0006372707|page=252}}</ref> The soundtrack album was better received, and while it reached only No. 49 in the U.S. (the first Village People album not to go Gold), it reached No. 9 in the UK and No. 1 in Australia. The film itself also performed well in Australia, where the world premiere preview was shown at the Paramount Theatre, Sydney on June 1, 1980, with the after party held at Maxy's. The [[BBC]] bought the film for two showings for $3.5 million, which caused much controversy at the time,<ref>{{cite news|first=Roderick|last=Mann|title=Heston to Shoot Up for Holmes: Movie News|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 27, 1980|page=H 1}}</ref> while ABC in America paid $6 million.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Fishbein|title=Dying at the box office? Who cares?|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=10 January 1981|page=E 3}}</ref>

Carr's next film, ''[[Grease 2]]'', brought in more than twice as much on its opening weekend as this film grossed in its entire run. Even though it was considered a failure, ''Grease 2'' nearly made back its investment in its U.S. gross alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084021/business|title=Grease 2 (1982) - Box office / business|work=IMDb|access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref>

[[Baskin-Robbins|Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream]] sold a flavor called "Can't Stop the Nuts" as part of the promotion of the film.<ref name="PartyAnimals" />

==Reception and legacy==
''Can't Stop the Music'' received generally negative reviews from critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] it has an approval rating of 21% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 3.1/10.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cant_stop_the_music/ |title=Can't Stop the Music|date=January 1, 1980|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>
''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film a scathing review, calling it "thoroughly homogenized".<ref>{{cite news |first=Janet |last=Maslin |author-link=Janet Maslin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/20/archives/cant-stop-the-music.html |title='Can't Stop the Music' |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 20, 1980 |access-date=February 17, 2022 }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine felt likewise, writing "The Village People, along with ex-Olympic decathlon champion [Caitlyn] Jenner, have a long way to go in the acting stakes."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Variety Staff |title=Can't Stop the Music |url=https://variety.com/review/VE1117789688 |website=Variety |date=1 January 1980}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] and [[Roger Ebert]] selected the film as one of their "dogs of the year" in a 1980 episode of ''[[Sneak Previews]]''. They commented that while the musical sequences are decent, even a musical film needs a decent narrative, which in the case of ''Can't Stop the Music'' was crowded out by an overabundance of unrelated characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siskelandebert.org/video/K67XHXKYBXU4/Worst-of-1980|title=Siskel & Ebert org - Worst of 1980|work=siskelandebert.org|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108010735/http://siskelandebert.org/video/K67XHXKYBXU4/Worst-of-1980|archive-date=January 8, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rex Reed gave the film 3 (out of 4) stars, writing, "The big surprise is that although ''Can't Stop the Music'' is certainly one of the silliest movies ever made, it is also a vibrant and uplifting musical whose energy succeeded in both confusing and entertaining me so completely that I'm not sure I can even begin to assess it rationally. All I can tell you is that it is worth seeing twice, and from me that is rare praise indeed."<ref>{{cite book |last=Reed |first=Tex |title=Rex Reed's Guide to Movies on TV & Video |date=1992 |publisher=Warner Books |isbn=0446362069}}</ref>

The film contributed to the collapse of EMI Films as a strong moviemaking force in Hollywood.<ref name="five">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-moguls-nat-cohen-part-five-1971-1988/|access-date=5 February 2025|date=5 February 2025|title=Forgotten British film moguls – Nat Cohen: Part Five (1971-1988)}}</ref>

===Accolades===
''Can't Stop the Music'' was the [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|first winner of the Worst Picture Golden Raspberry Award]], for it was a [[double feature]] of this and ''[[Xanadu (film)|Xanadu]]'' that inspired [[John J. B. Wilson]] to start the Razzies.<ref name="germain">{{cite news|last=Germain|first=David ([[Associated Press]])|title=25 Years of Razzing Hollywood's Stinkers|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|page=7 D|publisher=Sun-Sentinel Company|date=February 26, 2005}}</ref> The film is listed in Wilson's book ''The Official Razzie Movie Guide'' as one of "The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made".<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=978-0-446-69334-9}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[1st Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards {{small|(1980)}}]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]
| [[Allan Carr]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
| [[Nancy Walker]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]]
| [[Caitlyn Jenner]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]]
| [[Valerie Perrine]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress|Worst Supporting Actress]]
| [[Marilyn Sokol]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]]
| [[Bronte Woodard]] and Allan Carr
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song|Worst Original Song]]
| "[[Can't Stop the Music (song)|(You) Can't Stop the Music]]" – [[Jacques Morali]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[25th Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards {{small|(2005)}}]]
| colspan="2"| Worst "Musical" of Our First 25 Years
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[1980 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards|Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]
| Worst Picture{{efn|The film was nominated for Worst Picture both back in the original 1980 ballot (which only used Worst Picture) and in the expanded ballot released in 2006 (which used all the other categories seen here). Both times, it lost to ''[[Popeye (film)|Popeye]]''.}}
| Allan Carr, [[Henri Belolo]] and Jacques Morali
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Director
| Nancy Walker
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Actor
| [[Steve Guttenberg]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Worst Supporting Actor
| Caitlyn Jenner
| {{won}}
|-
| Worst Screenplay
| Bronte Woodard and Allan Carr
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or Its End Credits
| "Milkshake" – [[Village People]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2nd Youth in Film Awards|Young Artist Awards]]
| Best Family Music Album
| ''[[Can't Stop the Music (album)|Can't Stop the Music]]''
| {{nom}}
|}

==Home media==
''Can't Stop the Music'' was released on Region 1 [[DVD]] by [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]], under license from StudioCanal on April 16, 2002. [[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]] released a [[Blu-ray]] edition on June 11, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]]|date=April 19, 2019|url=https://shoutfactory.com/blogs/blog/shout-factory-celebrates-pride-month-with-four-definitive-home-entertainment-releases-to-wong-foo-thanks-for-everything-julie-newmar-boom-jeffrey-can-t-stop-the-music|title=Shout! Factory Celebrates Pride Month With Four Definitive Home Entertainment Releases: TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR - BOOM! - JEFFREY - CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|1970s|1980s
}}

* ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' (1977)
* ''[[FM (film)|FM]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Thank God It's Friday (film)|Thank God It's Friday]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Skatetown, U.S.A.]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Roller Boogie]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Xanadu (film)|Xanadu]]'' (1980)
* ''[[The Apple (1980 film)|The Apple]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Fame (1980 film)|Fame]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Get Rollin' (film)|Get Rollin'<nowiki/>]]'' (1980), [[roller disco]] documentary

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|collapsible=true}}
* {{IMDb title|0080492|Can't Stop the Music}}
* {{TCMDb title|70192|Can't Stop the Music}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqeQWYwVFo0 Official Trailer]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060219200649/http://www.jabootu.com/cantstopmusic.htm Detailed review of the film]

{{S-start}} {{s-ach|aw}}
{{S-new|award}}
{{S-ttl | title = [[Razzie Award for Worst Picture]] | years = [[1st Golden Raspberry Awards]]}}
{{s-aft | after = ''[[Mommie Dearest (film)|Mommie Dearest]]''}}
{{S-end}}

{{Village People}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Can't Stop the Music''
|list =
{{Razzie Award for Worst Picture}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 1980–2000}}
}}

{{Portal bar|Comedy|Film|LGBTQ|Music|United States|1980s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Can't Stop The Music}}
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:1980 comedy films]]
[[Category:1980 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1980 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:1980 musical films]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s musical comedy films]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:American musical comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Allan Carr]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films set in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
[[Category:Films shot in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Gay-related films]]
[[Category:Jukebox musical films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related musical comedy films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Allan Carr]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Bronte Woodard]]
[[Category:Village People]]
[[Category:EMI Films films]]
[[Category:Disco films]]
[[Category:Golden Raspberry Award–winning films]]