In 1981, a flashy disco musical became famous, but not for the reasons its creators hoped. The film Can't Stop the Music took home two of the very first Golden Raspberry Awards, winning Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay.
Today, 45 years later, it remains one of Hollywood’s most talked-about flops and a surprising cult favorite.
Released in June 1980, the movie tried to capture the magic of the disco era. Instead, it arrived just as disco music was fading fast. Critics were harsh, audiences stayed away, and the film quickly became a box office failure. But its legacy didn’t end there, it helped inspire the creation of the Razzies, an award show that still “honors” the worst films every year.
Directed by Nancy Walker, the film told a fictional story about how the disco group Village People came together. It starred Steve Guttenberg and Valerie Perrine and marked the film debut of Caitlyn Jenner.
The story follows a young songwriter trying to make it big in New York, with help from friends who form a singing group. Packed with musical numbers like “Y.M.C.A.” and “Milkshake,” the film aimed to be a fun, feel-good spectacle.
Producer Allan Carr had high hopes. He even described it as “Singing in the Rain for the disco crowd.” But by the time the movie hit theaters, disco was no longer popular. What was meant to feel fresh instead felt outdated.
Critics didn’t hold back. According to The New York Times, one review described the film as “thoroughly homogenized,” while others said the story lacked focus and energy. Even famous reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert named it among the worst films of the year.
Despite its big budget, estimated at around $20 million, the film earned only a fraction of that back. It became one of the most notable flops of its time and even contributed to the decline of its distributor.
But its failure had an unexpected impact. After watching the film alongside another poorly received musical, a viewer named John Wilson created a parody award show to call out bad movies, per Remind Magazine. That idea became the Golden Raspberry Awards.
At the very first ceremony in 1981, Can’t Stop the Music won two major titles, making history as one of the original Razzie winners.
Still, not everything about the film was a failure. Its soundtrack performed better than the movie itself, reaching the Top 10 in several countries and even hitting No. 1 in Australia. Over time, the film gained a new life as a “campy” favorite, something people enjoy for its over-the-top style and fun energy.
Today, the film is remembered as both a cautionary tale and a time capsule of the disco era. In Australia, it has even become a quirky New Year’s Eve tradition, showing just how far its reputation has come.
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