John Travolta reveals why he wore viral berets throughout Cannes debut
The Hollywood icon said his viral Cannes berets were inspired by legendary filmmakers of the past
John Travolta is embracing his director era in style — and the internet can thank a series of carefully chosen berets for it.
The 72-year-old actor revealed that his now-viral headwear at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival was intentionally inspired by classic filmmakers as he celebrated the premiere of his directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach.
Speaking to CNN in an interview published Monday, Travolta explained that the repeated beret looks were part of a deliberate homage to “old school” directors.
“The old school directors wore berets and the glasses. And I thought, that's what I'm doing,” Travolta said.
The actor arrived in Cannes in dramatic fashion on May 15, piloting his own plane ahead of the premiere and sharing the moment on Instagram with the caption, “Big day, big night in Cannes.
Stay tuned!” For the occasion, he sported a navy blue beret before later changing into a classic suit paired with an ivory beret for the film’s red carpet debut.
Travolta was joined by his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, 26, who stars in the film as a flight attendant.
The father-daughter appearance marked a rare public Cannes moment for the pair, more than three decades after Travolta previously attended the festival alongside late wife Kelly Preston in 1994.
The Grease star said the fashion choice was also meant to help distinguish this milestone from the many premieres and industry events he has attended throughout his decades-long career.
“I've been around for over 50 years doing movies, but I can't tell, when I look back, the difference between the events,” he told CNN.
Travolta said he wanted this particular chapter of his career to stand apart visually.
“And I said, ‘I'm a director this time. You're an actor, play the part of a director. Look like an old school director,’” he explained, adding that he researched images of legendary filmmakers before settling on the look.
He continued the beret theme during a May 16 photocall for Propeller One-Way Night Coach, telling CNN that the wardrobe choice was intended as “an homage to being a director.”
“So I'm gonna play the part of being a director and then when I look back, I'll know, ‘Oh, that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach, that was Cannes, that was when I won the Palme d'Or,’” Travolta said. “And I will have vividness of it.”
The actor also celebrated receiving an Honorary Palme d'Or during the festival, calling the recognition deeply meaningful in an Instagram post.
“I've never been more proud to win an award!” Travolta wrote. “To me the Cannes Palme d'Or award has always represented art at its finest. It is beyond a humbling experience.”
Propeller One-Way Night Coach, executive produced by Mark Marraccini, follows a young aviation enthusiast named Jeff and his mother on a transformative cross-country journey to Hollywood. The project is adapted from Travolta’s 1997 children’s book of the same name and is set to begin streaming globally on Apple TV+ on May 29.
