Top Ten Movies of the Seventies

What are your top ten favorite movies from the 70s?

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By: Beth Frauenhoffer
  • 10. Rocky Horror Picture Show
    I never knew that Tim Curry could look that good in a pair of fishnet hose and a corset...besides the horrible acting, at least everyone learned how to do the Time Warp!
  • 9. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    on this list for the only good reason i can think of...campy, vampy, and it destroyed perfectly good careers
  • 8. M*A*S*H
    Robert Altman's film was funny, but nothing compares to the TV show...long live Hawkeye!
  • 7. Tora, Tora, Tora
    A good reason why we should never forget Pearl Harbor
  • 6. Apocolypse Now
    "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" gave people a new look at the Vietnam war in all of its ugliness
  • 5. Jaws
    I still hate sharks, and i always will
  • 4. Grease
    who knew John Travolta could sing?
  • 3. Saturday Night Fever
    "I spend all day on my hair and he hits it; he hits my hair!" The funniest line in the whole film
  • 2. Star Wars
    Reinvented the sci-fi genre
  • 1. The China Syndrome
    Arguably the best acting job Jane Fonda ever had
nope
By: chad
  • 10. Chinatown
    Great crime movie.
  • 9. Animal House
    I don't know if this movie was made in the '70s, but it's fucking hilarious!
  • 8. The Deer Hunter
    Great movie.
  • 7. The French Connection
    Great acting and even better car chasing scene, that makes the movie "Fast and the Furious" look like the big pussy it is.
  • 6. Assault On Precicnt 13
    One of John Carpenter's first films-I believe it was made just years before Halloween. Great action movie, some of the acting is shaky, but still has a cool action climax; where gang bangers are breaking into the precicnt to take it down once and for all, but first they have to go through the teamed up cops and criminals.
  • 5. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    Funny without trying to be. Jack Nickelous(or nickelson) is brilliant and hilarious in this classic.
  • 4. A Clockwork Orange
    This was suprisingly good. I think Stanley was on crack when he made it, because this is a wierd movie. But, don't get me wrong, it is a fantastic movie. In some of the parts of this movie, you have to ask, is this directer insane or are his pants to tight.
  • 3. Apocalypse Now
    Best war movie ever. Great acting and directing. By the end of this suspence masterpiece, I was so into the the movie, that my temperature had rose and I was sweating.
  • 2. Taxi Driver
    Awesome movie with great acting. The showdown between Travis Bickle(Robert De Niro)and the "pimps" is one of the most violent and bloody I've ever seen. And of course, the famous line, "Are you talking to me". Jodie Foster was kinda hot in this movie.
  • 1. Halloween
    First horror movie I saw....It scared the shit out of me. It still kinda scares me at the age of 15, even after seeing it at least 10 times. Not only was it a "trend setter" for horror movies to come, but also just a really, really great movie. Best and scariest musical score ever. Like someone else on this site once said, this music raises the hairs on your neck.
I feel I'm leaving something out.
By: Carrie
  • 10. Grease
    I've done so many productions of this play,how could I not include it?!
  • 9. Exorcist
    Ooooh!very scary as a child being forced to watch it by my mean big brother!
  • 8. Godfather
    the movie speaks for itself!
  • 7. Taxi Driver
    the best performance of Robert Di Niros career.
  • 6. Apocolypse Now
    mindblowing, but the redux is even better!
  • 5. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    Even though it stole the oscar from Jaws, it's still a very good and funny movie.
  • 4. Clockwork Orange
    Stanley Kubrick-need I say more!
  • 3. Tommy-the Movie
    Superb movie along with an excelent soundtrack.
  • 2. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
    Yet another Spielberg masterpiece(kind of a theme going on here!)
  • 1. JAWS!!
    one of the best Spielberg films ever!and responsible to my now huge fascination with sharks!

By: Dave
  • 10. Alien
  • 9. Saturday Night Fever
  • 8. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
  • 7. Jaws
  • 6. Dawn Of The Dead
  • 5. The Omen
  • 4. Halloween
  • 3. The Exorcist
  • 2. Star Wars
  • 1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

By: Michael
  • 10. Fingers (1978)
    Harvey Keitel gives his best performance and James Toback directs his first film with amazing intensity. The film is raw in every sense of the word. It has a growing following and deserves to be acknowledged as one of the 1970s most original films.
  • 9. All That Jazz (1979)
    Bob Fosse made three classics in the 1970s. All That Jazz was deservedly the third nominated for best picture and has only grown in the years after its successful release. It savagely looks at the artist, as he magically creates and tragically destroys both himself and the women around him. Fosse at his best.
  • 8. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
    John Travolta, the Bee Gees music, John Badham's kinetic direction, and a brutally honest script by Norman Wexler make this the best of all coming of age films. In addition, no film has married music to images any better.
  • 7. Star Wars (1977)
    No big budget adventure film has reached the excitement or depth of George Lucas' masterwork.
  • 6. Annie Hall (1977)
    The best romantic comedy ever made because it studies our relationships in both a comedic and dramatic way.
  • 5. The Conversation (1974)
    Coppola dominates on my list. There are so many films to choose, however, his four works cannot be ignored. The Conversation creates one of the most memorable leading characters with Harry Caul. This film is paranoid, intense, and ultimately very sad. The musical score only heightens the drama. Outstanding.
  • 4. Apocalypse Now (1979)
    Coppola's nightmare film in more ways than one. Most praise every sequence except the last with Brando. The reason the film is a masterpiece is because of that final sequence. Brando is superb and his dialogue forms the backbone of this artistic triumph. The critics should listen more carefully.
  • 3. Taxi Driver (1976)
    Martin Scorcese's best film and one of the most important films ever made. Travis Bickle is a horrific character that, sadly, never stops making the headlines. Scorcese and Schrader's study vividly depicts the life of these individuals that will do anything to be heard.
  • 2. The Godfather & The Godfather, Part II ('72 & '74)
    The greatest of its genre. Coppola compared the mafia to any other large corporation and did it in a brilliant, operatic style. The last scene of Pacino sitting alone is one of the great endings in all of cinema.
  • 1. Nashville (1975)
    In my opinion, the greatest film of all time. No other film has juggled so many characters so realistically. This movie lets you make up your own mind and lets your perception dominate. Unforgettable.
So many others it is impossible to name them all. This is the greatest decade in film history. Also, the year 1979 deserves extra praise. In my opinion, no other film year compares. A person could make a 10 best list of the decade just from that year. Some honorable mention: Five Easy Pieces, A Clockwork Orange, The Candidate, Heavy Traffic, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Network, Rocky, Looking For Mr. Goodbar, Julia, Blue Collar, The China Syndrome, Being There, and North Dallas Forty. An unforgettable era.
By: Staci Lane
  • 10. Blazing Saddles
  • 9. The Godfather
  • 8. Halloween
  • 7. Urban Cowboy
  • 6. Saturday Night Fever
  • 5. Rocky
  • 4. Grease
  • 3. Animal House
  • 2. Ice Castles
  • 1. Monty Python And The Holy Grail

By: Ian Griffin
  • 10. Alien
    Killer Muppets are funny and scary...
  • 9. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
  • 8. Star Wars
    Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
  • 7. Shaft
    I pitty the fool...
  • 6. Jaws
    We're gonna need a bigger boat.
  • 5. Enter The Dragon
    Bruce Lee Kicks ass!!!!!
  • 4. Lord of the Rings
    Frodo of the nine fingers and the ring of doom.
  • 3. A Clockwork Orange
    It was me, that is Alex and my three druges, that is Pete, Gorgey, and Dim.
  • 2. Monty Python And The Holy Grail
    Now go away or we shall taunt you second time.
  • 1. Rocky Horror Picture Show
    ROCKY!!!!!!

By: steven kennedy
  • 10. Rocky
    Who could be a better champion of the world?
  • 9. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    Brilliantly acted by old jack.
  • 8. A Clockwork Orange
    dimensionally frustrating,a great film for forward thinkers.
  • 7. M*A*S*H
    humour to a new generation
  • 6. The Deerhunter
    with actors such as de niro and walken amongst others where could it possibly be at fault.
  • 5. Badlands
    martin sheen again on top form
  • 4. Godfather Pt2
    not as good as #1 still amazingly addictively made.
  • 3. Godfather Pt1
    brilliant all round performance excellent direction.
  • 2. Taxi Driver
    jody foster was just gagging for it.
  • 1. Apocalypse Now
    quality direction, beautifully made film ahead of it's time.
I personally can't stand Raging Bull,it is boring and drags on. The Rocky films are spiritually uplifting.
By: JOSH DAMIEN
  • 10. The Rose
  • 9. California Suite
  • 8. Lipstick
  • 7. Taxi Driver
  • 6. The Boys In The Band
  • 5. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
  • 4. Looking For Mr. Goodbar
  • 3. Shampoo
  • 2. Coming Home
  • 1. Nashville

By: Greg Mastin
  • 10. 1. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
    Fun, fun, fun. Start to finish action. Is there a better villain than Nazi's? Definitely a personal favorite and has been since I saw it in the theater. "Asps. Very dangerous. You go first."
  • 9. 2. Empire Strikes Back
    Easily my favorite of the trilogy. Darth Vader really shines in this one. Maybe its the overall darker tone of the movie than Star Wars and Return that makes it my favorite, and the fact that the ending is not of the hollywood variety. "Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father"
  • 8. 3. This Is Spinal Tap
    Being as familiar with the metal/rock scene as I am, this movie is just so right on so many levels. I can watch it once a week and still laugh at all the jokes. Its also a fun cameo movie. A ton of small roles filled by people who went on to bigger things. "As long as you've got the sex and the drugs, you can do without the rock and roll"
  • 7. 4. The Blues Brothers
    This film is mostly remembered for Belushi and Ayckroyd, and rightfully so, but I like it as much for the performances of so many great, great aging performers. This really stands the test of time. "Oh, that Night Train's a mean wine"
  • 6. 5. A Christmas Story
    If you watch a movie every holiday season at least ten times, well, it has to be pretty good. Best modern christmas movie. "What is, the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse? Uh..Victor"
  • 5. 6. The Terminator
    Another film where Arnold steals the show. It looks a little dated now because of tech advances, but the story and flashbacks to the future (does that make sense?) are outstanding. "I'll be back"
  • 4. 7. Conan The Barbarian
    The extra footage on the DVD makes this movie even better. The ending makes more sense and is more complete. Upon doing the running commentary for the DVD, Arnold and director John Milius were so impressed they decided on the spot to do a true sequel. "Conan, what is best in life?"
  • 3. 8. Aliens
    I loved the action in this movie, and the cast of characters was excellent. The tension is kept high and the ending was top-notch. "Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?"
  • 2. 9. Caddyshack
    It's a commentary on how many good movies there were in this decade when Caddyshack is so low. Many a boring hour has been relieved with friends reciting lines from this classic comedy. "Big hitter the Llama....long!"
  • 1. 10. Planes, Trains And Automobiles
    I watch this one several times a year. Funny from start to finish and a great memory of John Candy, I get teary when they freeze his face at the end, knowing he died way too soon. "Oh, my dogs are barking today!"
This is the toughest decade to do. So many good movies. Honorable mention John Woo's The Killer and Hard Boiled, Return of the Jedi, Indy and the Last Crusade, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Shining, Trading Places, 48 Hrs. the list could go on for a while.

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