The 1970s is a decade to be remembered both politically and cinematically. 1974, in particular, gave the world iconic slashers, pop samurai films, and psychedelic rock musicals, but also playful hangout comedies, unlikely buddy movies, and classic whodunits.
This dazzling spectrum of cinematic choices shouldn't be a surprise for a decade often characterized as a Golden Age for filmmakers. A number of films from the 1970s appear on Sight & Sound's prestigious "Greatest Films of All Time" list from 2022, including "The Godfather" from 1972, "Taxi Driver" from 1976, and "Apocalypse Now" from 1979. However, other '70s movies that didn't make Sight & Sound's list are equally pivotal, with their impact recognized decades on. For example, in December 2024, the American Genre Film Archive is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1974 horror film "Black Christmas" with a series of theatrical screenings and special posters for moviegoers.
Even now, filmmakers find inspiration in the 1970s, sometimes going so far as to make sure that the movie not only feels set in the era but made during that tumultuous time. In director Alexander Payne's Academy Award Best Picture nominee "The Holdovers," for example, not only did the filmmakers refer to movies from the period like Hal Ashby's "The Last Detail" and Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation," but they used specific camera lenses to produce a vintage look typical of movies from the '70s.
One of the reasons 1970s cinema has such a hold on contemporary audiences and filmmakers is because the decade saw unprecedented changes in politics, technology, and the kind of stories audiences gravitate toward. It was a time of upheaval both culturally and politically with issues like the Civil Rights Movement, gender roles, and the war in Vietnam tackled at kitchen tables and political conventions. The issues of the day whetted audience appetites for darker, grittier narratives, some featuring anti-heroes and complicated lead characters.
Technology was also quickly advancing. Cameras became far more portable and more accessible, which allowed filmmakers to take to the streets and innovate outside of Hollywood's studio system.
To celebrate this distinct cinematic era, Stacker looked at data on all movies turning 50 in 2024, meaning the films themselves were released theatrically in 1974 and encapsulated the exciting energy of '70s cinema. The films on this list are ranked in the top 50 by IMDb user ratings, with ties broken by the number of IMDb user votes. In order to qualify, each film had to have at least 2,500 user votes and be released theatrically in 1974. Metacritic scores are provided for critical context.
