The 1970s was a pivotal decade for cinema, marked by the raw maturity of the medium. This era has been extensively covered and revisited, with recommendations for '70s movies that everyone should watch at least once. However, a handful of films stand out as the best from the decade, according to professional critics' reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. These range from foreign films and arthouse projects to major Hollywood blockbusters that redefined what was possible from a big studio movie.
Here are the top 15 best movies of the '70s, according to Rotten Tomatoes:
Stalker (1979) - A perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Stalker is a surreal sci-fi masterpiece by Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. It follows a protagonist, known only as a stalker, who guides clients through a forbidden zone filled with otherworldly threats. The movie is a philosophical journey that transcends genre, with a hypnotic pull that draws viewers deeper into its enigmatic adventure.
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974) - With a perfect 100% score, this West German film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder is an intimate melodrama about love in the face of adversity. It tells the story of an older widow and a younger Moroccan man, exploring the challenges they face due to constant prejudice and ostracization.
Chinatown (1974) - Roman Polanski's neo-noir thriller is a dark and stylish masterpiece, with a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It stars Jack Nicholson as a private investigator who uncovers a conspiracy involving the city's water supply in 1930s Los Angeles.
The Last Picture Show (1971) - This coming-of-age drama, set in small-town Texas, has a 98% score. It's an essential movie about high school, with a deeply melancholy tone and black-and-white cinematography. The story follows teenagers preparing to finish high school, facing the complexities of their relationships and the decaying prospects of their community.
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1970) - Directed by Luis Buñuel, this French film has a 98% score. It's a darkly funny satire of the disaffected rich, exploring marital unrest and midlife malaise in a fictional South American country.
Killer of Sheep (1978) - Charles Burnett's film, a set of vignettes from the impoverished Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, has a 98% score. It depicts poverty with a haunting and evocative presentation, focusing on a slaughterhouse worker and his family's struggles.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) - This heist movie, directed by Sidney Lumet, has a 98% score. It stars Walter Matthau as a New York City transit police officer who learns a subway car has been hijacked. The film is a taut and intense crime classic, with a contemporary review praising Matthau's performance.
The Conformist (1970) - Bernardo Bertolucci's atmospheric meditation on complicity, set during the fascists' control of Italy, has a 98% score. It's a visually stunning film with a complex message, exploring the motives behind moral and political cowardice.
Day for Night (1973) - François Truffaut's dramedy, originally titled 'La Nuit Americaine', has a 98% score. It depicts the chaotic production of a melodrama, with a film-within-a-film narrative and a mix of romantic drama and metatextual comedy.
Jaws (1975) - Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster, a sun-soaked horror movie, has a 97% score. It reshaped the box office and is known for its groundbreaking camera work, balancing aquatic suspense with slice-of-life domesticity.
The Godfather (1972) - Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic, an adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel, has a 97% score. It charts the rise of mobster Michael Corleone, with a landmark film that spawned a sequel and defined Coppola's career.
Halloween (1978) - John Carpenter's slasher movie, introducing the iconic Michael Myers, has a 97% score. It set the mold for cinematic slashers and is considered the quintessential popcorn horror film.
The French Connection (1971) - William Friedkin's action-packed crime film, starring Gene Hackman, has a 97% score. It became the first R-rated film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, known for its gritty portrayal of the genre.
Annie Hall (1977) - Woody Allen's romantic comedy, with a 97% score, is considered one of his best works. It's a deeply autobiographical film, exploring the break-up of a promising romance through the eyes of the protagonist, Alvy Singer.
Badlands (1973) - Terence Malick's debut feature, a proto 'Natural Born Killers' tale, has a 97% score. It stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek as a couple on the run from the law, with a unique storytelling style and sweeping shots that let the landscapes do much of the talking.
These films showcase the singularly noteworthy cinematic achievements of the 1970s, blending critical acclaim with enduring cultural impact.
