The 1970s proved to be Hollywood’s heyday, a time marked by shifting filmmaking ideas and the rise of newer, powerful storytelling. In a decade full of tremendous change, as American society was grappling with the shocking Watergate scandal and the ongoing Vietnam War, it was when films greatly reflected the thoughts of the time, and delivered truly captivating classics that continue to move and thrill us. Many of them still greatly inspire us today.
The following are ten of the most entertaining movies released in the glorious 1970s.Compelling, moving, and unforgettable, these classics represent some of the best of this decade and are so thrilling that they’re truly timeless. From Best Picture-winning epics and blockbuster masterpieces to even some of the scariest classics ever made,these ten defined the decadeand proved the ’70s were a pivotal point in cinematic history.
10’Rocky' (1976)
Directed by John G. Avildsen
Inspiring countless sports moviesand generations of cinemagoers,Rockyis a captivating sports drama that continues to have a positive influence on pop culture. It’s a fascinating tale of determination and perseverance, following a down-on-his-luck boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), as he’s given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to box against a heavyweight champion and prove his greatness not only to the world but to himself.
Winner of three major Academy Awards, including the prestigious Best Picture win, what originally started as a low-budget passion project for writer/actor Sylvester Stallone greatly turned into one of the acclaimed and celebrated classics of all time, not just the ’70s.Rockyis a marvelous tale with timeless themes and a touching message about never giving up.It gives some of the most recognizable movie moments of the decade and continues to be so loved and enjoyed by many. Truly, it’s a rewatchable classic that never feels boring.
9’Enter the Dragon' (1973)
Directed by Robert Clouse
Enter the Dragonis undoubtedly the most essential martial arts movie in history. It’s an undisputed masterpiece that not only defined the subgenre but helped solidify the legacy of the late greatBruce Lee. An inspiring classic that helped bring these movies more to the mainstream, it sees Lee in his iconic role as a vengeful martial arts expert who infiltrates the island fortress to bring down a notorious drug kingpin.
It’s hailed asone of the greatest action movies of all timefor its thrilling sequences and groundbreaking fight choreography. As mentioned above,Enter the Dragontruly pushed martial arts movies more into the spotlight, and today it continues to shine brightly as an inspiring and enduring classic that still feels as entertaining as ever.
Enter the Dragon
8’Monty Python and the Holy Grail' (1975)
Directed by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
The 1970s saw the rise of major classics in many different genres, especially the comedy genre. There were so many gut-busting films from this time, fromAnimal HouseandAnnie Hallto the revered works of parody kingMel Brooks, likeBlazing SaddlesandYoung Frankenstein. But, the champion of them all has to beMonty Python and the Holy Grail, a film often regarded asone of the funniest movies of all time. A non-stop laugh-riot that spoofs the classic tale of King Arthur, it follows the British comedy trope, Monty Python, playing the Knights of the Round Table on a bumbling adventure in search of the Holy Grail.
Monty Python and the Holy Grailhas some of the funniest, most unforgettable comedic moments in the genre’s history, and is endlessly rewatchable.Every scene will have you dying on the floor laughing, and it’s got some of themost quotable lines of all time.It’ll have you in stitches from start to finish and stands as the all-time greatest comedic masterpiece of the 1970s.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
7’Alien' (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Turning now to horror, comesone of the scariest, most epic monster moviesever made,Alien, a sci-fi horror film by the greatSir Ridley Scott. Coming out at the end of the ’70s, this timeless creature feature has left a considerable mark on horror history, a terrifying masterpiece with jaw-dropping visuals, flawless acting, and a chillingly iconic villain. StarringSigourney Weaverand the lateJohn Hurt, it follows astronauts aboard a towing cargo ship who battle a nightmarish alien stowaway.
This incredible sci-fi terror is a masterclass when it comes to suspense and dread.It constantly has the viewers on the edges of their seats with anticipation of what will happen next and when the monster will appear. It’s so incredibly thrilling and nail-biting that it’s often seen as one of the most terrifying films ever released, and can still scare the pants off of anyone even now.
6’Halloween' (1978)
Directed by John Carpenter
The horror genre thrived in the 1970s thanks to a string of game-changing classics that are still terrifying and memorable to this day. One of the biggest things to come out this time was the booming slasher craze, which horrified audiences with its thrilling tales of mask-wearing killers going around slashing victims one by one. While there are so many notable masterpieces, this next spot has to go toHalloween, the slasher-defining classic by horror filmmaking legendJohn Carpenter. It follows a babysitter on Halloween night as she’s stalked by an escaped mask-wearing mental patient.
It’s perhaps themost recognizable slasher film of all time, and continues to have a direct influence on the slashers that come out today. It’s dark and deeply unsettling, featuring nail-biting suspense and an eerie villain, Michael Myers (Nick Castle), whose appearance continues to make him a recognizable horror icon.Halloweenis a fascinating horror film of the 1970s that’s chilling and oh-so entertaining. It’s worth all the rewatches.
5’Apocalypse Now' (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
The 1970s were a decade mostly defined by the incredible works of award-winning filmmakerFrancis Ford Coppola. From his crime epics to thrillers, this decade saw him in his prime, and he’s responsible for making some of the most captivating films in cinematic history. Take, for instance, his compelling contribution to the war genre,Apocalypse Now, a thrilling psychological tale centering around a U.S. Special Forces captain (Martin Sheen) as he traverses the war-torn rivers of Vietnam to find and eliminate a rogue colonel (Marlon Brando).
This intense,thought-provoking anti-war masterpieceis a spectacular standout of the decade, and is still constantly watched and debated to this day.Everything from the lines and characters to the epic military scenes has made this a bona fide war classic that only gets better with age. It’s thrilling throughout and always keeps the audience’s attention. The ’70s would never have been the same without it.
Apocalypse Now
4’The Exorcist' (1973)
Directed by William Friedkin
As mentioned before, the 1970s were a decade of compelling horror. There’s no better example of this than with what iswidely considered the scariest movie of all time,William Friedkin’sThe Exorcist. It follows two unique priests of different backgrounds as they must work together to save a poor young girl who’s suffering from a demonic possession.
This brilliantly told and epically suspenseful supernatural thriller has some of the most legendary moments in horror, making it an unforgettable classic that can still chill viewers to the bone.The Exorcist is undeniably terrifying and well worth multiple viewings, as it’s so scary and memorable that it’s too hard not to experience it at least once. It’s a horror masterpiece that’s become an essential part of ’70s cinema, and will continue to scare generations of movie lovers.
The Exorcist
3’The Godfather' (1972)
Back to Coppola, of course, we can’t talk about ’70s cinema without praising his greatest cinematic masterpiece,The Godfather. This Best Picture-winning crime epic is an all-time great and one of the most important pictures in entertainment history. It sees two-time Academy Award-winner Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, a powerful, respected crime boss who struggles to keep his family safe during a changing time while also reluctantly preparing his young son, Michael (Al Pacino), to take over his business once he’s gone.
Featuring compelling dialogue, iconic imagery,and fabulous acting,The Godfatheris truly a perfect movie. Its popularity has grown tremendously over the years, and it is endlessly watched and praised for its incredible storytelling and flawless performances. It’s a necessary watch for any cinema buff and is sure to leave anyone satisfied. Even its equally masterful sequel,The Godfather Part II, released in 1974, could easily appear next to this one when mentioning the greatest films of the 1970s.
The Godfather
2’Jaws' (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The truly talentedSteven Spielberghas left an incredible mark on cinema, having his hand in creating some of the most entertaining movies across multiple decades, especially the 1970s. In 1975, in one of his first major mainstream productions, he createdJaws, an incredible monster horror classic that’s just as thrilling now as it was fifty years ago. Featuring chilling suspense, a legendary John Williams soundtrack, and epic scares, it follows a police chief, a marine biologist, and a salty ship captain as they head out into the open ocean to kill a giant great white shark.
Grossing over $400 millionand holding the number one spot at the box office for fourteen weeks straight,Jawsultimately defined the summer blockbuster.It’s one of the most fun movie-watching experiences of all time, being a blast of entertainment that only gets scarier and more enjoyable with every viewing. It’s an enduring, beloved classic that greatly represents ’70s cinema.
1’Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
Finally, at the end of it all, there was nothing more entertaining from this decade than the sci-fi space epic that started it all.George Lucas’sStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hopeis truly one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, a groundbreaking sci-fi adventure classic that spawned a long-running, successful franchise that’s become a massive influence on pop culture. Telling a classic hero’s journey, it follows a farmboy from a desert planet as he joins a magical warrior and a colorful band of heroes to rescue a princess and save the galaxy from a tyrannical empire.
It’s not only the highest-grossing film of this decade, but it’s one of the most successful andiconic blockbusters of all time.It’s timeless and highly enjoyable, featuring legendary characters, moments, and endlessly quotable lines, making it an unforgettable masterpiece. A New Hope showcased the power of cinema in the ’70s and remains the most entertaining and essential film to ever come out of that time.
