25 Favorite Films of the 1970s

This film is still so cool and groundbreaking. Kids love it. Adults love it. There's not much else to say. I never get tired of watching this film.

This is my favorite sports movie of all time. There's not a better underdog story than this. This is a film that appeals to people who don't like boxing. It's about the characters and the relationship between Rocky and Adrian. Unlike many of the over-the-top sequels, this film is much more realistic.

Jack Nicholson is one of my all-time favorite actors, and he gives one of his greatest performances here. In fact, there are many great performances in this film. The mental institution is a metaphor for our government and society. The ending sequence involving "Chief" is brilliant and emotional.

This is another great sports film. It's about friendship and the tough transition that young people go through after high school. The film also says a lot about class in our society. The final bike race at the end is very dramatic and inspiring.

I don't love the Godfather films as much as some people do. These films will rank much higher on a lot of people's lists, but I do admire them greatly. These films are nearly flawless and clearly deserve their place amongst the greatest films of all time. I really enjoy watching the performances of Brando and Pacino.

This is one of the greatest sequels of all-time and arguably better than the original. The most fascinating thing to me is the evolution of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone. He starts out as a "normal" guy with whom we all can identify. Then, we cheer him on as he takes steps to protect his family and assumes the role of godfather. By the end of the film, we are horrified to find that he has become an evil character. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Martin Scorsese is one of my all-time favorite directors. This is one of his many masterpieces. Robert DeNiro gives one of the greatest performances here. The film brilliantly takes the perspective of a mentally ill person, who can't fit in with society and ultimately takes violent measures.

This is one of the most fun-to-watch films I have ever seen. It's a caper film set during the Great Depression. The performances of Newman and Redford are outstanding, as these two have undeniable chemistry when working together. The film has a memorable score and lots of twists and turns.

I strongly prefer 1970s horror films to those from the 1980s, because the former were much more serious. 1980s horror tended to be very campy. The horror in this film is brutal and stays with you.

This is one of my favorite war films. It's not the most realistic of its genre (nor is it trying to be), but it illustrates the madness of war. It's an adaptation of "Heart of Darkness," which was set in colonial Africa, and tells the story during the Vietnam War.

This is a film that I enjoy more with each viewing. It's very violent, but it's a work of art with its bright colors and eerie score. I also enjoy the "faerie tale" quality of the film.

This is probably Woody Allen's most famous film and it is very good and funny. It sets the bar for intellectual "relationship humor" that we will see later in other films and TV shows such as Seinfeld. Woody is at his best here.

This and Night of the Living Dead are the greatest zombie films of all time. There would be no The Walking Dead without this. You can take the best two episodes of that series and they still don't hold a candle to this film.

Wow, was the 1970s a great decade for horror films, or what?! This is arguably the most influential horror film since Psycho. Unfortunately, it spawned many bad sequels and rip-offs.

This is a great and perhaps underrated horror classic. The idea of a loved one being possessed by a demon (or something worse) is very horrifying. This film presents that in a realistic setting.

This is one of the great superior science fiction films, along with 2001 and Solaris. The film is very philosophical and challenges the viewer to be patient and use his imagination.

And the horror film trend continues! This is a film that probably not as many people have seen. We're never exactly sure what is driving the killer, but the pieces of info we get are disturbing.

I'm a fan of the original Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. This film is a great parody and homage for those classics. I think that this is the best film by Mel Brooks. The "Puttin of the Ritz" scene leaves me in stitches.

The is a hilarious story, involving Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis, in which one thing goes wrong after another on a job interview to New York City. This film was ahead of its time and some of the humor influenced Seinfeld another others.

Solaris moves slowly, but it is a deep and thought-provoking science fiction film. It's one that stayed with me long after I first saw it, and it has influenced great films since.

Part mystery and part horror film, Deep Red is a fun ride. Argento has a unique style of filmmaking. You have to pay attention in this one. If you blink, you could miss the clues.

This is a great film that was well ahead of its time. It examines the "sensationalist" media and takes it to the extreme. The film is prophetic, as the line between media and entertainment has continued to blur over time.

This is a foreign language film by the brilliant Luis Bunuel. It's an absurd comedy that makes fun of the class system that exists in society. This film made me laugh and think at the same time. Pretty much anything I've seen by this director has been really good.

This film that made us all afraid to swim in the ocean! This was perhaps the first great summer blockbuster. Avoid the sequels and enjoy the original.