The 1970s was a pivotal decade for cinema, marked by a significant elevation in 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 top-rated by professional critics on Rotten Tomatoes, showcasing the decade's enduring cinematic classics. These films range from foreign and arthouse projects to major Hollywood blockbusters that redefined what was possible from a big studio movie.
Here's a list of the 15 best movies of the '70s, according to Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on the highest professional critic scores and the number of favorable ratings:
- Stalker (1979) - Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, this Soviet sci-fi masterpiece carries a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews. It's a philosophical journey through a forbidden zone, blending surrealism with existential themes.
- Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974) - A West German film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, it also boasts a perfect 100% score from 42 reviews. It's an intimate melodrama about love and adversity, with a commitment to emotional honesty.
- Chinatown (1974) - Roman Polanski's neo-noir thriller, starring Jack Nicholson, holds a 98% score from 143 reviews. It's a dark, stylish, and socially alert exploration of corruption and power.
- The Last Picture Show (1971) - An adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel, this coming-of-age story set in small-town Texas has a 98% score from 115 reviews. It's a deeply melancholy, black-and-white masterpiece.
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1970) - Directed by Luis Buñuel, this French film holds a 98% score from 59 reviews. It's a darkly funny satire of the disaffected rich, with a deadpan tone.
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) - A heist movie starring Walter Matthau, it has a 98% score from 45 reviews. It's a taut and intense crime classic.
- The Conformist (1970) - Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, this Italian film holds a 98% score from 59 reviews. It's an atmospheric meditation on complicity and moral cowardice.
- Day for Night (1973) - Directed by François Truffaut, this French dramedy has a 98% score from 40 reviews. It's a romantic and humorous exploration of a film production's chaotic behind-the-scenes.
- Jaws (1975) - Steven Spielberg's blockbuster, blending horror and suspense, has a 97% score from 178 reviews. It reshaped the box office and taught audiences how to watch films.
- The Godfather (1972) - Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic, starring Al Pacino, has a 97% score from 155 reviews. It's a landmark film that defined Coppola's career.
- Halloween (1978) - John Carpenter's slasher movie, introducing Michael Myers, has a 97% score from 92 reviews. It's a quintessential horror film, setting the mold for cinematic slashers.
- The French Connection (1971) - A crime thriller directed by William Friedkin, starring Gene Hackman, it has a 97% score from 93 reviews. It's a gritty and authentic portrayal of law enforcement.
- Annie Hall (1977) - Woody Allen's romantic comedy, with Diane Keaton, has a 97% score from 130 reviews. It's a funny and autobiographical exploration of a relationship.
- Badlands (1973) - Directed by Terence Malick, this neo-noir crime film stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, with a 97% score from 61 reviews. It's a dark and accessible tale of a rebellious couple.
- Killer of Sheep (1978) - Directed by Charles Burnett, this film about life in the Watts neighborhood has a 98% score from 85 reviews. It's a haunting and evocative portrayal of poverty and struggle.
These films represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement in the 1970s, each offering a unique and powerful perspective on human experience and storytelling.
