The iconic musical film, released in 1978, is packed with unforgettable moments and classic songs that remain instantly recognizable to this day.
Starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John, the story follows two young people who fall in love over the summer, believing they’ll never cross paths again — only to unexpectedly reunite as classmates when the school year begins.
The film was a massive hit upon its release, earning an estimated $396 million worldwide on a modest $6 million budget. Over the years, it has cemented its status as a beloved cult classic and has even been preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
Yet, more than four decades later, some viewers revisiting the movie have pointed out aspects they now consider ‘problematic’ by today’s standards.
Taking to social media, viewers have shared their views on Grease.
One person pens: “Sorry I loved Grease when I was a kid, however, it’s just too problematic these days.”
Another explains: “I used to watch this movie so much growing up and it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and it’s all I remember it to be and more […] and by that, I mean misogynistic, homophobic, and just a gross culture of toxic masculinity, r*** culture, and p****hilia.”
“Grease singing ‘Did she put up a fight?’ pretty much ruins the whole movie for me now aside from all the other problematic stuff,” comments a third.
Someone else adds: “I loved Grease as a teenager, now I see it as a pile of misogynistic c***.”
A fifth viewer says: “Not offended by Grease, nor do I want it ‘canceled’ or ‘banned’ but watching it now I see problematic scenes that make me cringe when I watch it.”
It has been well known that several members of the cast were much older than their on-screen characters – for example, Newton-John was 29 when she started filming Grease, even though her character was supposedly only 17/18.
Meanwhile Betty Rizzo – the leader of the Pink Ladies – was 17, but was played by 33-year-old Stockard Channing.
But upon recent watches, people have noticed some issues with the film that they believe do not hold up today.
For starters, some have said they feel uncomfortable with the lyric ‘Did she put up a fight’ in the song ‘Summer Nights’ – as it suggests that Danny might have forced himself upon Sandy.
Others reference scenes including one of the T-Birds looking up a girl’s dress, the drive-in movie scene where Johnny ‘pretty much’ forces himself on Sandy and a distinct lack of racial diversity in the film.
However, some have defended the movie, including Newton-John herself.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2020, the late star addressed the claims that people were making about Grease.
“It’s a movie,” she responded. “It’s a story from the 50s where things were different. Everyone forgets that, in the end, he changes for her, too.
“There’s nothing deep in there about the #MeToo movement. It’s just a girl who loves a guy, and she thinks if she does that, he’ll like her.
“And he thinks if he does that, she’ll like him. I think that’s pretty real. People do that for each other. It was a fun love story.”
