The Top 20 Films of The 1970's

The 1970’s is such a deep trove of what modern cinema, and in turn modern zeitgeist is modelled off of. It seems that so many of the deeply ingrained references and idioms in everyday culture come from this era of filmmaking. The start of the modern Hollywood system and sensibilities, the creation of the modern slasher, the summer blockbuster, the big sequels. The 1970’s kicked off some of the biggest stars in the world, their works transcendent through the coming decades. In this list I’ll be showcasing my 20 favourite films of the 1970’s, briefly explaining exactly why I love them all so much.

20. Dawn of The Dead (1978)

George A. Romero’s zombie takedown of the capitalist systems engulfing America is an atmospheric, iconic exploration of new territory in both horror as a vehicle, and the effectiveness of the zombie subgenre. Helicopters and biker gangs accentuate the pervading message that has been threaded through so much of modern zombie media: the real threats in an undead dsystopia are the living.

19. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

My personal favourite Bond film before the Daniel Craig era, an excellent theme song, a charming villain (Come, Come, Mr. Bond), and beautiful vistas all tie this together into a perfect spy movie. Roger Moore is at his peak here, his performance in the final showdown is hilarious yet perfectly encapsulates what made his Bond so charming.

18. House (1977)

A wild time from the word go, an absolute overload on the senses from what can only be described as the most inventive effects work I’ve ever seen in a film. Demon cats, Banana Men, and Melon Heads all come together to cement this Japanese essential as a classic. Obayashi’s use of colour is beautiful when paired with the nostalgic compositional effects of the 70’s. This film has electricity running through every frame.

17. Halloween (1978)

The original all-American slasher. Watching this for the first time, for some reason I wasn’t hooked. Revisiting it last year, however, I wonder how I could’ve ever thought anything like that. The creepy, almost claustrophobic neighbourhood of Haddonfield is the perfect setting for one of the most iconic characters in cinema history, Michael Myers.

16. The Conversation (1974)

Gene Hackman is such a solid actor, truly believable in every role he immerses himself in, perhaps none more deeply as in The Conversation. That being said, the Coppola’s paranoid direction and editing really ties this entire package together so well. Although it’s worth checking out just to see John Cazale in one of his five insanely strong feature films.

15. Star Wars (1977)

The original Star Wars (regardless of whether you’re a fan of what came afterwards) as a stand alone story of Good vs. Evil, is absolutely incredible. Thrown into a limitless fantasy world, we instantly connect with so many interesting characters. It’s credit to the strength of this original entry that Star Wars has been an essential part of the culture since the very day it came out.

14. All The President’s Men (1976)

I think Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford’s dynamic in this film is one of the best character interactions in cinema. Fuelled by passion, pride, annoyance, fear, hate, intrigue, everything here lands so consistently. For a film that is primarily people sitting around, talking, and writing on typewriters, it is such a well constructed political thriller.

13. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Jack Nicholson during the 70’s and 80’s was an absolute force to be reckoned with, every choice he made on screen seemed so obvious and yet completely revolutionary in the best way. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest's ability to so easily control the emotions of the audience is indicative of the strength of every aspect both in front of, and behind the camera.

12. The Exorcist (1973)

I can’t claim to have been particularly scared by this film, I don’t scare very easily at all unfortunately. That did, however, allow me to be completely taken in by the unholy transformation at the heart of the film. Such a dirty, vile piece of character design - so effective on both a visual and audible level. The Pazuzu voicework is such a key feature of the magic of The Exorcist.

11. Apocalypse Now (1979)

One of the biggest, most impressive films ever made. The constant barrage of death and destruction in the first half, only to be enraptured by Brando’s one of a kind, haunting performance in the second is such strong structure. Every shot is beautiful, and impossible, you hear stories about the nightmare of a production and wonder how something this well-refined managed to emerge.

10. Taxi Driver (1976)

Not Robert De Niro’s only appearance on this list but perhaps his most iconic, the Travis Bickle character has permeated through generations thanks to both De Niro’s performance, as well as Scorcese’s vision. The shots of streetlights through rain on the cab windows perfectly accentuate Bickle’s New York - a location and tone decision that seems much more impressive and pointedly destitute when watching Scorcese’s depiction of the city in ‘After Hours’.

9. Rocky (1976)

Rocky Balboa! Common-man hero to everybody, everywhere. You may have never watched a single second of any Rocky film, and yet, you know exactly who Rocky is. You know his grit, determination, his victory. Only Sylvester Stallone could’ve played Rocky with such passion, his own desire to be a big player in the world of movie making is so clear throughout the entirety of this film, he gives his absolute all to this character, and it paid off a hundred times over.

8. The Godfather (1972)

Perhaps the biggest culprit for a film that I kept putting off watching because I was too intimidated by it’s reputation. But one too many “You’ve never watched The Godfather?!”’s forced my hand into seeing one of the most elegant ‘mobster’ movies ever made. Marlon Brando’s larger than life Don Vito commands so much of the film, helping deliver a classic parable on the effects of America and it’s inner systems.

7. The Godfather Part II (1974)

Ranked just one higher than the original, The Godfather Part II is simply a perfect expansion of the Corleone Saga. The comparable timelines spearheaded so well by De Niro, and Pacino are both fantastic stories in their own right, let alone when combined into the same narrative. The aesthetic and tone of complete dread, men who think they’re in control of destiny, is a testament to Coppola’s craft.

6. Serpico (1973)

Al Pacino’s turn as good cop Serpico is one of the greatest police dramas I’ve ever seen, his complete ability to capture the moral and ethical dilemma and pressure of fighting the good fight is fantastic. His explosions of rage in the face of a corrupt system are some of the best acting of his entire career. The film is a perfect example of the kind of gritty, cop story that I love.

5. Alien (1979)

A masterclass in how to build tension, every element in Alien is engineered to create the most effective entrance possible for the titular Xenomorph. The set design, costumes, score, visual effects all combine to create the perfect environment for one of the most enthralling movie creatures ever made. Another example of a film so brilliant, the culture has adapted around the film itself.

4. Jaws (1975)

The original summer blockbuster, truly one of the tensest films ever made. The fact that the film almost singlehandedly created a fear of sharks just speaks not only to the creative talents of Steven Spielberg but also what a sensation the film was when it released, and ultimately has remained. `

3. Rocky II (1979)

While Rocky is secretly one of the greatest romance movies ever made, Rocky II is just one of, if not, the best sports films ever made. An absolute triumph of human spirit, Rocky II feels like Sylvester Stallone in his element, setting up the foundations of a franchise that continues to spawn amazing entries, all due to the insane fight scenes - so real you forget your not watching an actual match - and the heart of the man in the centre of it all.

2. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Watching Dog Day Afternoon in the 2020’s; it is insane how progressive, and ahead of it’s time it seems to be, and yet it is never really praised for it’s tackling of such deep issues as transgender rights, sexuality, and police brutality. All these messages are anchored by such a deep, profound, human portrayal by Al Pacino. So layered in a way that many characters couldn’t be if they were given ten times the amount of screentime, it’s a credit to Pacino, his co-star the great John Cazale (who has appeared 4 times in this list), and Sidney Lumet, one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema.

1. Three Days of The Condor (1975)

Robert Redford is so charismatic, and vulnerable in one of the most suspenseful films I’ve ever seen. Literally, at every corner there could be a new threat, someone waiting in the wings to strike. It could be the only film where I’ve actually subconsciously tried to move my head so I can try and see what is just out of frame. That’s the beauty of this film, it really does feel like the next big reveal or twist or set piece is breathing down Redford’s neck. The pace. It's tense, and it's intelligent, in a way that I don't think many films are these days. It doesn't play down to it's audience, it plays around it, and the results are magnificent.