24 Best 70s Movies: Gritty Realism and 1970s Cinema Revolution

Best 70s movies still feel startlingly alive on screen. The decade gave us moral paranoia, raw urban grit, and the first true summer blockbusters. From The Godfather to Taxi Driver and Star Wars, filmmakers rewired what mainstream cinema could look and sound like. Studios took risks. Directors seized control. Antiheroes replaced clean-cut idols, and endings grew ambiguous. Violence felt heavier, humor darker, emotions less polished. It was a hinge moment in film history.

This guide to the greatest films of the 1970s moves across paranoia thrillers, psychological horror, character studies, and space operas. Each entry includes year, director, tone, suitability, and verified IMDb rating to help you choose wisely. Whether you lean toward New Hollywood realism or large-scale spectacle, the decade offers both extremes. Some nights call for Jaws-level suspense, others for the quiet ache of Kramer vs. Kramer. Watch by mood. Watch by craft. These are movies people return to.

How we picked Best 70s movies

We balanced auteur-driven dramas, crime epics, horror landmarks, and early blockbusters to reflect the decade’s full range. Only films with an IMDb rating of 6.5/10 or above were considered, with the list ordered from lowest qualifying rating to highest. Cultural impact, craft innovation, and rewatch value shaped the final ranking. All IMDb ratings in this article were verified on 18 February 2026.

24. Superman (1978)

• Actors: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
• Director: Richard Donner
• Genre: superhero, adventure
• Tone: earnest, uplifting
• Suitable for: teens, families
• IMDb rating: 7.4/10

An alien child grows into Earth’s unlikely guardian. Clark Kent balances mild-mannered reporter life with extraordinary power. The film treats heroism with sincerity rather than irony. Romance and hope anchor the spectacle. It moves at a confident, classical pace. The tone is bright and reassuring. It laid the groundwork for modern comic-book cinema. Best for family movie nights craving optimism.

23. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

• Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Genre: sci-fi, drama
• Tone: wondrous, obsessive
• Suitable for: teens, adults
• IMDb rating: 7.6/10

A working-class man becomes consumed by visions of something cosmic. Strange lights in the sky unsettle families and authorities alike. Awe replaces fear. Curiosity replaces certainty. The pacing builds patiently toward revelation. Spielberg favors light, sound, and human faces. It stands among the Best 70s movies for turning extraterrestrial contact into spiritual longing. Ideal for reflective sci-fi evenings.

22. Dirty Harry (1971)

• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino
• Director: Don Siegel
• Genre: crime, thriller
• Tone: tough, confrontational
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 7.7/10

A San Francisco cop hunts a ruthless sniper. His methods strain legal and moral boundaries. The film explores vigilantism and frustration with bureaucracy. Urban anxiety hangs in every frame. It feels lean and direct. Dialogue is sharp. This gritty crime drama helped define 1970s cinema’s antihero streak. Best for viewers who prefer hard-edged thrillers.

21. Halloween (1978)

• Actors: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence
• Director: John Carpenter
• Genre: horror, slasher
• Tone: tense, minimalist
• Suitable for: older teens, adults
• IMDb rating: 7.7/10

An escaped killer returns to his hometown on Halloween night. Babysitters become targets. Fear grows from silence. Carpenter uses simple framing and music to amplify dread. The pacing is measured. Suspense tightens gradually. It remains one of the Best 70s movies in horror for proving less can terrify more. Ideal for controlled, nerve-rattling scares.

20. The French Connection (1971)

• Actors: Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider
• Director: William Friedkin
• Genre: crime, thriller
• Tone: gritty, procedural
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 7.7/10

Two New York detectives pursue an international drug ring. The case stretches patience and ethics. Real locations give it documentary texture. Moral clarity is elusive. The chase sequence is legendary. Editing feels urgent. Its realism anchors it among the Best 70s movies of law enforcement drama. Best for fans of procedural intensity.

19. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

• Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep
• Director: Robert Benton
• Genre: drama
• Tone: intimate, emotional
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 7.8/10

A marriage collapses, leaving a father to raise his son alone. Custody becomes a legal and emotional battleground. The film examines gender roles shifting in the 1970s. Performances are raw and vulnerable. Scenes breathe quietly. Arguments feel painfully real. It stands as one of the Best 70s movies about family upheaval. Best for viewers ready for emotional honesty.

18. All the President’s Men (1976)

• Actors: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman
• Director: Alan J. Pakula
• Genre: political thriller
• Tone: investigative, restrained
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 7.9/10

Two reporters follow a trail of clues after a break-in. Small details expose larger corruption. Journalism becomes heroism. The tone is measured and procedural. Dialogue carries the suspense. Offices and parking garages feel ominous. Its Watergate focus cements it among the Best 70s movies of political paranoia. Perfect for thoughtful, dialogue-driven nights.

Did you know that the most famous Best 70s movies movie is:

The Godfather (1972) is widely considered the most famous film of the decade. It has sold tens of millions of tickets worldwide, with its global box-office gross exceeding $250 million during original and subsequent releases. These figures are widely reported by major industry trackers and studio records. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, it reshaped the gangster genre. The story follows the Corleone family as power shifts from father to son. It is famous for redefining cinematic crime drama with operatic scale and moral complexity. Internationally, it became a cultural touchstone and influenced filmmakers across continents. Critics frequently rank it among the greatest films ever made. It is available on major rental platforms and often rotates through premium streamers. A towering benchmark of cinema.

The Best 70s movies is mostly famous for:

The decade is known for moral ambiguity and character-driven storytelling. Performances felt less polished and more combustible. Early in the era, studios loosened control, allowing directors unprecedented freedom. The New Hollywood movement shifted focus toward realism and flawed protagonists. Crime, war, and psychological horror thrived. International festivals amplified American auteurs. Language became rawer and themes riskier. Funding models fluctuated as blockbusters like Jaws changed economics. Today, streaming revivals introduce younger audiences to these classics. The next stretch of films shows just how wide the range became.

17. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

• Actors: Al Pacino, John Cazale
• Director: Sidney Lumet
• Genre: crime, drama
• Tone: tense, tragicomic
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.0/10

A bank robbery spirals out of control on a hot afternoon. Crowds gather. Media swarms. The film explores desperation and identity. Humor flickers amid chaos. The pacing stays urgent. Pacino’s performance is electric. It earns its place among the Best 70s movies for humanizing criminal missteps. Best for viewers who value character over spectacle.

16. Rocky (1976)

• Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire
• Director: John G. Avildsen
• Genre: sports, drama
• Tone: inspirational, grounded
• Suitable for: families, teens
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

A small-time boxer gets a shot at the heavyweight champion. Training becomes redemption. The story celebrates grit over glamour. Philadelphia feels lived-in and cold. The pace builds steadily toward the climactic fight. Emotions swell without cynicism. It remains one of the Best 70s movies about underdogs. Great for motivational rewatches.

15. The Exorcist (1973)

• Actors: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow
• Director: William Friedkin
• Genre: horror
• Tone: disturbing, intense
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

A young girl exhibits terrifying behavior. Her mother seeks medical and spiritual answers. Faith and doubt collide. The film probes belief under pressure. Scenes are deliberately unsettling. Silence heightens dread. It stands tall among the Best 70s movies of supernatural horror. Content is extreme and graphic.

14. Jaws (1975)

• Actors: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Genre: thriller, adventure
• Tone: suspenseful, crowd-pleasing
• Suitable for: teens, adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

A seaside town faces a deadly shark. Officials debate closing the beaches. Fear spreads quickly. Character dynamics drive the hunt. The pacing balances quiet tension with explosive action. John Williams’ score does half the work. It helped invent the summer blockbuster. Ideal for suspense lovers.

13. Chinatown (1974)

• Actors: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway
• Director: Roman Polanski
• Genre: neo-noir, mystery
• Tone: cynical, intricate
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

A private detective uncovers corruption in 1930s Los Angeles. Water rights mask deeper rot. The narrative tightens like a vise. Moral compromise defines every choice. Shadows dominate the visuals. The ending devastates. It remains essential within the Best 70s movies canon. Best for noir devotees.

12. The Deer Hunter (1978)

• Actors: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken
• Director: Michael Cimino
• Genre: war, drama
• Tone: somber, epic
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Friends from Pennsylvania enlist for Vietnam. War reshapes their bonds. The film examines trauma and masculinity. Small-town rituals contrast battlefield horror. It moves deliberately. Emotional weight lingers. Among the Best 70s movies, it captures war’s psychological toll. Best for patient, serious viewers.

11. Network (1976)

• Actors: Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway
• Director: Sidney Lumet
• Genre: satire, drama
• Tone: biting, prophetic
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

A news anchor spirals on live television. Ratings surge. Media ethics erode. The satire feels alarmingly current. Speeches crackle with anger. The pace is theatrical yet urgent. It earns its place among the Best 70s movies for predicting infotainment culture. Ideal for sharp political satire fans.

10. Barry Lyndon (1975)

• Actors: Ryan O’Neal, Marisa Berenson
• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• Genre: period drama
• Tone: measured, painterly
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.1/10

An Irish rogue climbs European aristocracy. Ambition drives betrayal. Kubrick composes frames like oil paintings. Themes of vanity and fate unfold slowly. The pacing is deliberate. Visuals mesmerize. It stands among the Best 70s movies for visual craftsmanship. Best for contemplative viewing.

9. Taxi Driver (1976)

• Actors: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Genre: psychological drama
• Tone: bleak, intense
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.2/10

A lonely cab driver roams New York nights. Isolation curdles into obsession. The film explores alienation and violence. City lights glow sickly. Tension simmers throughout. Bernard Herrmann’s score unsettles. It is central to the Best 70s movies conversation. Content is disturbing.

8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

• Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese
• Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
• Genre: comedy
• Tone: absurd, irreverent
• Suitable for: teens, adults
• IMDb rating: 8.2/10

King Arthur embarks on a ludicrous quest. Knights argue over coconuts. Medieval legend becomes satire. Sketch humor drives the narrative. The pace is brisk. Jokes arrive relentlessly. It remains one of the Best 70s movies for pure comedic anarchy. Perfect for lighthearted rewatches.

7. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

• Actors: Malcolm McDowell
• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• Genre: sci-fi, crime
• Tone: provocative, stylized
• Suitable for: adults only
• IMDb rating: 8.3/10

A violent youth undergoes experimental conditioning. Free will is questioned. The film confronts morality and state control. Visual style is bold. Music contrasts brutality. The pacing alternates shock and satire. It is one of the Best 70s movies for daring social commentary. Content is graphic.

6. Apocalypse Now (1979)

• Actors: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Genre: war, epic
• Tone: hallucinatory, intense
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.4/10

A captain journeys upriver to confront a rogue colonel. War becomes nightmare. The film probes madness and imperialism. Visuals feel feverish. Sound design overwhelms. The runtime is immersive. It ranks high among the Best 70s movies for ambition. Best for immersive war epics.

5. Alien (1979)

• Actors: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt
• Director: Ridley Scott
• Genre: sci-fi, horror
• Tone: claustrophobic, suspenseful
• Suitable for: older teens, adults
• IMDb rating: 8.5/10

A commercial spaceship intercepts a distress signal. Something lethal boards the vessel. Corporate indifference underpins survival horror. The production design feels industrial. Pacing is slow-burn. Terror erupts suddenly. It stands among the Best 70s movies for genre fusion. Ideal for tense sci-fi nights.

4. Star Wars (1977)

• Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
• Director: George Lucas
• Genre: space opera, adventure
• Tone: heroic, escapist
• Suitable for: families
• IMDb rating: 8.6/10

A farm boy joins a rebellion against a galactic empire. Mythic structure shapes the adventure. The film revived classical storytelling. Special effects dazzled audiences. The pace is brisk. Humor balances peril. It transformed blockbuster culture forever. Perfect for multigenerational viewing.

3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

• Actors: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher
• Director: Miloš Forman
• Genre: drama
• Tone: rebellious, tragic
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 8.7/10

A convict fakes insanity to avoid prison labor. He clashes with a rigid nurse. The film explores authority and freedom. Performances feel explosive. Humor offsets despair. The institution feels suffocating. It remains a pillar of the Best 70s movies era. Emotional impact is lasting.

2. The Godfather Part II (1974)

• Actors: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Genre: crime, drama
• Tone: epic, tragic
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 9.0/10

The Corleone saga expands across generations. Parallel timelines deepen tragedy. Power isolates Michael further. The film studies corruption intimately. Scenes unfold deliberately. Violence feels consequential. It strengthens the legacy of the Best 70s movies crime canon. Best for epic storytelling fans.

1. The Godfather (1972)

• Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Genre: crime, drama
• Tone: operatic, grave
• Suitable for: adults
• IMDb rating: 9.2/10

The aging head of a crime family prepares his reluctant son to succeed him. Loyalty and betrayal intertwine. The film blends intimacy with epic scale. Dialogue became iconic. Pacing is measured and confident. Violence shocks without excess. It crowns the Best 70s movies list for influence and craft. Ideal for serious cinephiles.

Conclusion: revisiting Best 70s movies

The decade rewards slow immersion and bold choices. You can approach these films by tone—paranoia, satire, horror, or mythic adventure—or by following key directors who shaped New Hollywood. Revisiting them reveals how modern cinema borrowed their visual language and narrative risks. For deeper academic context, explore the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board. Cultural analysis and retrospectives are regularly featured in the New York Times Movies section.

FAQ about Best 70s movies