The film was a worldwide success, with its popularity extending across Southern and Central Asia, Eastern and Western Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Turkey and Soviet Union. It was one of the most successful Indian films in the Soviet Union, drawing an audience of 40 to 63 million viewers there.
The song "Yaad Aa Raha Hai" has been described as a synthesized, minimalist, high-tempo, electronic disco song. Geeta Dayal described it as a "disco anthem for the ages, and one of the best songs Bappi Lahiri ever did." It has been cited as a possible influence on the 1982 prototypical acid house album Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat by Charanjit Singh.
In Soviet Union Anil (Mithun Chakraborty) was renamed to Jimmy.
The song " Koi Yahaan Nache Nache" was sampled from " Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles.
Disco Dancer established Mithun as a household name in Southern Asia and the Soviet Union. In China, the soundtrack was a success and received an award.