10 Most Entertaining Movies of the 1970s, Ranked

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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 decade and proved the ’70s were a pivotal point in cinematic history.

10

‘Rocky’ (1976)

Directed by John G. Avildsen

Image via United Artists

Inspiring countless sports movies and generations of cinemagoers, Rocky is 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. Rocky is 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.


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Rocky

Release Date

November 21, 1976

Runtime

120 Minutes




9

‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973)

Directed by Robert Clouse

Bruce Lee as Lee in Enter the Dragon

Image via Warner Bros. 

Enter the Dragon is 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 great Bruce 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 as one of the greatest action movies of all time for its thrilling sequences and groundbreaking fight choreography. As mentioned above, Enter the Dragon truly 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.

8

‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ (1975)

Directed by Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam

Arthur (Graham Chapman) leading his army in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'

Image via EMI Films

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, from Animal House and Annie Hall to the revered works of parody king Mel Brooks, like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. But, the champion of them all has to be Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a film often regarded as one 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 Grail has 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 the most 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.

7

‘Alien’ (1979)

Directed by Ridley Scott

A xenomorph jumps out at Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in 'Alien'

Image via 20th Century Studios

Turning now to horror, comes one of the scariest, most epic monster movies ever made, Alien, a sci-fi horror film by the great Sir 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. Starring Sigourney Weaver and the late John 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.


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Alien

Release Date

June 22, 1979

Runtime

117 Minutes




6

‘Halloween’ (1978)

Directed by John Carpenter

Michael Myers looking down from the stairs balcony holding a knife Halloween (1978)

Image via Compass International Pictures

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 to Halloween, the slasher-defining classic by horror filmmaking legend John Carpenter. It follows a babysitter on Halloween night as she’s stalked by an escaped mask-wearing mental patient.

It’s perhaps the most 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. Halloween is a fascinating horror film of the 1970s that’s chilling and oh-so entertaining. It’s worth all the rewatches.


Halloween 1978 Movie Poster

Halloween

Release Date

October 27, 1978

Runtime

91 Minutes




5

‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore kneeling shirtless and looking to his right in Apocalypse Now

Image via United Artists

The 1970s were a decade mostly defined by the incredible works of award-winning filmmaker Francis 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 masterpiece is 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.

4

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

Directed by William Friedkin

Linda Blair as a possessed Regan MacNeil in 'The Exorcist'

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

As mentioned before, the 1970s were a decade of compelling horror. There’s no better example of this than with what is widely considered the scariest movie of all time, William Friedkin‘s The 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.


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The Exorcist

Release Date

December 26, 1973

Runtime

122 minutes




3

‘The Godfather’ (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather

Image via Paramount Pictures

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 Godfather is 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.

2

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw in 'Jaws' as the shark launches out of the water

Image via Universal Pictures

The truly talented Steven Spielberg has 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 created Jaws, 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 million and holding the number one spot at the box office for fourteen weeks straight, Jaws ultimately 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.


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Jaws

Release Date

June 20, 1975

Runtime

124 minutes


  • Cast Placeholder Image

  • Cast Placeholder Image



1

‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977)

Directed by George Lucas

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) looking to the distance in the desert planet of Tatooine in Star Wars A New Hope

Image via Lucasfilm

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‘s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is 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 and iconic 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.

NEXT: The 10 Most Entertaining Movies of the 1990s, Ranked

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