The Poster Memorabilia blog

The Icons Who Ruled 1994

Twenty-eight years of waiting, one Oscars carpet, and the diner dance done one more time.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

If you asked me who ruled the 90s, I'd say John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman. Pulp Fiction truly was a big deal when it came out in 1994. Trust me, I was there. I've been following movies for decades now, but I've yet to find a film with the same impact on cinema and pop culture as this one.

These three actors benefited from all that buzz. The movie famously revitalized John Travolta's waning career at the time and solidified his status as a screen icon. While Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman finally got their big break with this movie. It essentially introduced them to the general public.

I think I'm more grateful to Pulp Fiction for giving us these movie stars than its impact on cinema as a whole. All three really gave some of their best performances in the film, and it catapulted them to superstardom, where they went on to make even more amazing work.

As big a fan as I was back then, it's crazy it took me 28 years to finally get their autographs. I've seen them in real life countless times before, but I always found it difficult to go up to them and ask them to sign something.

Ironically, I didn't have that problem with other people in the movie, including Tarantino himself. I got his, Ving Rhames', and Harvey Keitel's autographs fairly early through the 2010s, almost a decade before I got the main trio's. And at least I got them at all! I never met Bruce Willis, and now that he's retired from acting, I doubt I ever will.

This makes me even more grateful I got to meet the three, even if it almost took me 30 years. And it was at the Oscars, no less! I heard from the grapevine that all three would be attending the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, so I got myself a spot in the fan bleachers and brought my Pulp Fiction poster to get signed.

My poster is special because it's one of the first I acquired. It's also a unique version that only features Travolta and Jackson as Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield. I don't think there are many copies of it since the one with Thurman as Mia Wallace is the iconic version.

✦ ✦ ✦

Finally meeting them was an absolute joy. It was everything I thought it'd be and more. Thurman still looked gorgeous, and I instantly knew that her white shirt and black skirt outfit was a nod to her costume in the film. Travolta also looked good, and he was bald. I gotta say, he didn't look bad. Very different, but not bad.

Jackson was as smooth as ever, too. He looked the dapperest of the older men on the red carpet. I feel like the older he gets, the better he dresses. I definitely wish I looked half as good, and we're near the same age. He's a bit older, but he looks way younger than me.

“It was TV gold!”

Remembering that night, I'm not sure which moments I enjoyed more. Seeing them in person and finally getting an autograph was amazing, but I don't think they trump the trio's reunion on stage. Especially with Thurman and Travolta doing their iconic dance while Jackson stood at the lectern, pretending to be exasperated with the both of them. It was TV gold!

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

Guaranteed authentic for life • 90-day returns, any reason