The 1970s were a long time ago, but many of the decade’s best movies are still just as powerful as ever. The ’70s saw the rise of New Hollywood, as studios handed more power over to directors with an interest in expanding the boundaries of the medium. Modern cinema can trace its roots back to this movement.
Some movies from the ’70s seem incredibly dated now, and not just in terms of their practical effects. Shifting cultural attitudes and philosophies can mean that a movie can fall out of fashion over the years. However, the great masterpieces of the ’70s speak to timeless truths that can still affect audiences on a deep level.
The Exorciststill feels surprisingly modern in many ways, partly because the horror genre has taken so much inspiration from William Friedkin’s classic. Countless horror movies sinceThe Exorcisthave tried to replicate its patient worldbuilding and bursts of shocking violence, among other things.
One ofThe Exorcist’s lasting legacies comes from its intelligent thematic use of religious symbolism.
One ofThe Exorcist’s lasting legacies comes from its intelligent thematic use of religious symbolism. It isn’t just vaunted aesthetics, though, sinceThe Exorcistlinks biblical ideas of good, evil and corruption into the fabric of its story. The way that it reflects these themes through the lens of its domestic family drama remains evergreen.
Sports movies are often denied the kind of critical acclaim that other dramas are accustomed to, butRockybroke through this barrier, winning the Oscar for Best Picture.Rockyis a character-driven drama first and foremost, with long stretches that pay no attention to boxing.
TheRockyfranchisehas struggled to recreate the brilliance of the original.Creedonly succeeded by returning to the key ideas that madeRockygreat to begin with, namely that a story about boxing can be a story about hardship, self-actualization and American society.
Alien’s dark, horror-infused story helped carve the landscape of modern sci-fi. Its pessimistic view of humanity’s true nature is something that still resonates with audiences, especially the way thatAlienuses new technologies and sci-fi concepts to enhance its themes.
From the chestburster scene to the harsh, mazy corridors of the Nostromo,Alienis loaded with iconic imagery, but it’s only so memorable because everything that Ridley Scott does is tied to the slasher story that propels the narrative. WhiletheAlienfranchisehas changed a lot over the years, the original is hard to beat.
The Stingachieved the rare feat for a comedy movie of winning the Oscar for Best Picture, and it’s still an uplifting and enjoyable experience over 50 years later. It’s a glorious crime caper starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two con artists who team up to swindle a violent gangster.
The Stingis known for Newman and Redford’s lovable dynamic, its period setting and the triumphant feeling of its finale. There are still very few movies that can leave audiences with smiles on their faces quite likeThe Sting.It remains one of thegreat crime comedies.
Dog Day Afternoonis one of thebest heist moviesever, although it’s based on a true story. Al Pacino plays a New York City bank robber who finds himself in way over his head as the police and a swarm of media surround him on all sides. The four walls of the bank gradually become a pressure cooker.
Pacino’s performance inDog Day Afternoonis remarkable. He carries Sidney Lumet’s movie through its big tonal shift from farcical crime caper to anxiety-inducing thriller.Dog Day Afternoonhas a way of sneaking up on its audience, suddenly feeling urgent and nerve-wracking after a first half loaded with dark punch lines.
Bruce Lee passed away just beforeEnter the Dragonwas released, and this launched the movie to mythical status. Fortunately, it lives up to this impossible standard, and it serves as Lee’s defining masterpiece in an illustrious career.
AlthoughEnter the Dragonhas introduced plenty of westerners to martial arts movies, it wouldn’t be the same without its western influencers. It often resembles aJames Bondmovie, with Lee playing a highly skilled agent tasked with infiltrating the exotic compound of an eccentric villain.The fight scenes are a cut above what most studios have been able to conjure before or since.
6The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s Crime Classic Is As Powerful As Ever
The operatic, grandiose tone ofThe Godfatherhas given it a timeless quality that has allowed it to weather the changing trends and attitudes in cinema over the years. Its supreme self-confidence means that it has never been far from the conversation over thebest movies ever.
One key element toThe Godfather’s lasting success is its outstanding ensemble cast, one of the best ever assembled. Marlon Brando’s performance may be the most eye-catching, butThe Godfathercould be considered the high point of many great careers. Its brilliant sequel only added to its legend.
Jawsis often credited with creating the concept of the summer blockbuster. If more summer blockbusters were as thoughtful or as viscerally powerful, then the landscape of modern cinema would be in a much better place. Not many filmmakers can do what Steven Spielberg does.
Jawsis a masterclass in suspense, with long stretches spent waiting for the shark to rise to the surface. What setsJawsapart from so many other monster movies and horror flicks is that these scenes are just as exciting as the attacks. The dynamic between the three central characters is so compelling that their quiet conversations offer different kinds of thrills.
Many people who haven’t even seenCarriewill be aware of the broad strokes of its story. The moment that Carrie gets a bucket of pig’s blood dumped on her is so iconic that audiences spend the first part of the movie waiting for it to come, but that doesn’t make it any less effective.
What people might not know aboutCarrieuntil they see it is that Brian De Palma’s direction is so tight and stylish that he elevates a straightforward revenge story into a deep psychological thriller. The supernatural elements feel almost like obvious extensions of Carrie’s very being, which makes the movie one of thegreat Stephen King adaptations. There are a few distinct changes, but De Palma keeps the essence of King’s work intact.
Monty Python’s moviesshowcase their unique brand of surreal comedy. The British sketch troupe developed a style of their own which has consistently defied times and trends. There are no specific cultural references that could rootMonty Python and the Holy Grailin the ’70s, since it was already an absurdist oddity to begin with.
Monty Python and the Holy Grailresembles a series of interconnected sketches. The story vaguely points toward a grand showdown outside the walls of a fiercely-protected castle, but Monty Python have no interest in delivering on the promise of this set-up. The anticlimactic ending is one final joke that underlines the group’s habit of thumbing their nose at any and all conventions.
