In 2024, movies are bursting with the latest special effects and CGI, and all the hype seems to center around the next best thing. Well, new doesn’t always mean good, and nowhere is this sentiment more true than in the film world.
Some of the best movies of all time were made decades ago, and the 1970s, in particular, saw an explosion of talented acting and directing within the film industry. A great storyline and good casting will always stand the test of time.
Here we look at some of the best movies that were made in the 1970s.
Apocalypse Now
Praised as a masterpiece of cinema, this movie was unlike anything else ever made. Set in 1970, it depicts the rollercoaster ride of a military mission during the Vietnam War.
Controversial, Revolutionary and Shocking
Acclaimed as a revolutionary turning point in filmmaking, this movie has had a ripple effect on every Director and actor who is serious about their craft since its release.
Apocalypse Now deals with profound and complex themes such as the horrors of war, its damaging psychological effects, and the darker side of humanity.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film sparked massive controversy for the fact that a lot of the cast were reportedly heavily abusing drugs while filming.
This movie has a rawness to it that is unlike any other film ever made; with a stellar cast including Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Laurence Fishburne, Charlie Sheen, and Dennis Hooper, this is absolutely one of the best movies that was made in the 1970s.
Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope
One of the most famous films of all time, documenting an adventure across space and time and the eternal battle of good versus evil, Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope made its debut in 1977.
Darth Vader, Jedi Knights and Princess Leia
George Lucas, the Director, was able to establish solid characters that audiences instantly connected with and who became legends and heroes to fans worldwide.
The storyline follows Luke Skywalker’s thrilling adventure as he joins forces with a Jedi Knight, some androids, and a Wookie to battle an evil empire to save the Galaxy.
Everyone needs to see this epic 1970s movie at least once, even if it’s just for cultural reference.
Superman
This movie is the iconic O.G. of Superman movies, and everything about it is fantastic.
Nostalgic Technicolor
Starring Christopher Reeves as Superman and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Superman’s nemesis, this film is a Hollywood icon all by itself. The cheesy costumes and cartoon-esque colors give the entire film a nostalgic feel.
Praised as one of the best Superman movies of all time, it tells the story of an alien orphan who is sent to Earth to escape its dying planet. As the child grows up, it becomes clear that he has superpowers and that he is, indeed, Superman.
Taxi Driver
The famous Robert De Niro line, “Are you talking to me?”, was delivered in this movie, in which he plays a New York City (NYC) cab driver who starts to lose touch with reality.
Iconic and Provocative
De Niro depicts the life of a disturbed ex-Marine Vietnam vet (Travis Bickle) who is now a cab driver in New York City (NYC). Travis drives around NYC as he struggles with insomnia, and we start to see darker sides of him emerge.
De Niro isn’t the only big name in this film; Jodie Foster also plays a 12-year-old prostitute whom Travis (De Niro) is obsessed with.
If you haven’t seen this iconic movie from the 1970s, why not?
The Wicker Man
A folk horror/mystery movie set on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle, the Guardian called it a “satirical masterpiece,” and it developed a massive cult following around the time of its release. Although you might not have heard of this film before, it has developed a massive cult following.
Pagan Rituals and Sorcery
Sergeant Howie, a devout Christian, is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a child who has gone missing on an isolated Scottish island. However, the Sergeant begins to discover that the island’s residents partake in some strange Pagan rituals and frivolous sexual practices.
This movie has an eerie feeling, and audiences are kept in suspense as they watch Sergeant Howie battle the temptation of what appears to be magical forces.
This film was ahead of its time and has been celebrated for its powerful ability to provoke fear and suspense in audiences to this day.
Rocky
The first installment of the Rocky franchise, this movie has been cited as the best of all Rocky films.
A Classic Knockout
Written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, the first Rocky movie is a must-see. If you have not seen it, you are not living, my friend.
Known as one of the most inspirational movies ever made, Rocky Balboa is inside everyone, just waiting to take their shot at life. Following the ups and downs of a struggling boxer trying to make it big, audiences go on an emotional journey of tears to triumph in this movie.
Rocky 1, as some call it, was and still is an iconic movie for its time. It was the highest-grossing movie of 1976, making $117 million at the box office, and it also won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Jaws
Made in 1975, this movie still has an IMDB rating of 8.1 because it’s just such a classic. Class doesn’t depreciate over time; it only appreciates. So maybe it’s time you started appreciating this iconic, epic adventure/ horror from the 1970s.
Brilliantly Scary
By capitalizing on the innate human fear of giant monsters swimming in the deep water beneath us, Jaws manages to evoke fear and suspense in audiences like not many movies have before.
Be prepared for lots of fake blood and a giant shark to leap out of the water at any moment as you listen on the edge of your seat to that famous one-string on the violin playing insidiously in the background.
A classic piece of cinematic history. A must-see.
Saturday Night Fever
Tight flares and chest hair defined the era of Saturday Night Fever, which became a roaring success in the 1970s.
Glitter Balls and Rites of Passage
John Travolta (Tony Manero) plays a young man who feels trapped by the monotony of life. Tony lives for the weekends when he leaves behind his dull 9-5 job and dances the night away at his local nightclub.
When a dance competition comes to town, Tony (John Travolta) manages to persuade an attractive female dancer to be his partner. During rehearsals, the two start to fall in love.
The plot of this movie resonates on a deeper level with audiences as most of us go about our day-to-day functions while dreaming of something more exciting.
John Travolta’s signature moves and the Bee Gee’s famous track “Staying Alive” epitomized this movie genre in people’s minds.
Beneath Planet of the Apes
This is the second installment of the original Planet of the Apes series. It takes us underground to a city run by a society of telepathic humans.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
The premise of the Planet of the Apes series sees a space traveler from Earth (Charles Heston) crash land on an unknown planet where apes are in charge. This movie is the sequel to the first film that was released in 1968, and it follows a similar premise, with a few other strange twists and turns.
There have been several remakes of Planet of the Apes, with a brand new version, The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, due out in May 2024; but the original series sets the standard for the franchise.
Beneath Planet of the Apes is an iconic piece of cinema history that inspires new movies to be made in its name today.
Deliverance
Filmed in 1972, this adventure/thriller still has an IMDB rating of 7.7 for a reason.
Intriguing and Brutal
Widely acclaimed as a landmark movie of the 1970s, this movie takes audiences to uncomfortable and provoking places.
It follows a group of men who embark upon a canoeing trip in rural Georgia but find that they are not welcomed by the locals, who stalk them and eventually attack them in the woods.
Famous for its theme tune of a “country boy” playing the banjo, and a brutal rape scene, this movie deals with some deeply disturbing themes.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Written and Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie holds a special place in sci-fi history.
Emotional, Fun and Fantastical
An ordinary electrician, Roy Dreary (Richard Dreyfuss), has an encounter with a UFO that sees him embark upon a search for answers, during which he experiences an encounter of the third kind, and Roy makes contact with an alien life force.
This movie has some iconic scenes, like when an alien spaceship descends on Earth and begins to communicate with humans via music.
The film has a beautiful storyline and great special effects that have stood the test of time. This, coupled with good acting and some amazing Directing from the one and only Mr. Spielberg himself, makes this film a timeless classic from the 1970s; watch it now.
