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The Best Movies of the 1970s

The 1970s ranked by our composite score across 20+ authoritative lists, awards and polls — not one critic's opinion, but the weight of the whole canon.

The Godfather (1972) leads with a composite score of 9.75. Top 100 of 779 films in our library.

  1. 1
    The Godfather1972 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States / Italy · crime, drama, thriller
    9.75

    Empire 500 (2008) #1 · Oscar Best Picture winner 1972 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #3

  2. 2
    Apocalypse Now1979 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · war, action, drama
    6.84

    Palme d'Or winner 1979 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #18 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #19

  3. 3
    Taxi Driver1976 · Martin Scorsese · United States · film-noir, drama, crime
    6.25

    Palme d'Or winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1976 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #12

  4. 4
    Annie Hall1977 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    5.55

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1977 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1978 · Siskel's annual top 10 1977 #1

  5. 5
    The Godfather Part II1974 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · drama, crime, thriller
    5.37

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1974 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #26 · Letterboxd Top 250 #8

  6. 6
    Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles1975 · Chantal Akerman · Belgium / France · drama
    5.26

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #4 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1978 #1

  7. 7
    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest1975 · Miloš Forman · United States · comedy, drama
    4.63

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1975 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1977 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1976 #2

  8. 8
    Chinatown1974 · Roman Polanski · United States · film-noir, mystery, thriller
    4.33

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1974 · AFI 100 (2007) #21

  9. 9
    MASH1970 · Robert Altman · United States · comedy, drama, war
    4.25

    Palme d'Or winner 1970 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1970 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1970 #5

  10. 10
    The Deer Hunter1978 · Michael Cimino · United States · war, drama
    4.15

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1978 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211

  11. 11
    Barry Lyndon1975 · Stanley Kubrick · United States / United Kingdom · drama, war, adventure
    3.95

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #12 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #45 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975

  12. 12
    The Conversation1974 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · thriller, drama, mystery
    3.76

    Palme d'Or winner 1974 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1974

  13. 13
    Rocky1976 · John G. Avildsen · United States · drama, action
    3.65

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #1 · AFI 100 (2007) #57

  14. 14
    Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope1977 · George Lucas · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    3.58

    AFI 100 (2007) #13 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1977 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #225

  15. 15
    Jaws1975 · Steven Spielberg · United States · thriller, horror, adventure
    3.52

    Empire 500 (2008) #5 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #62 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975

  16. 16
    The French Connection1971 · William Friedkin · United States · crime, action, thriller
    3.44

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1971 · AFI 100 (2007) #93 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #10

  17. 17
    Nashville1975 · Robert Altman · United States · comedy, drama, musical
    3.41

    Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1975 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975

  18. 18
    Network1976 · Sidney Lumet · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.39

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1976 · AFI 100 (2007) #64

  19. 19
    The Last Picture Show1971 · Peter Bogdanovich · United States · drama
    3.35

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1971

  20. 20
    All That Jazz1979 · Bob Fosse · United States · musical, drama, biography
    3.28

    Palme d'Or winner 1980 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #8

  21. 21
    Day for Night1973 · François Truffaut · France / Italy · drama, comedy
    3.25

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1974 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #1

  22. 22
    Kramer vs. Kramer1979 · Robert Benton · United States · drama
    3.17

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #1

  23. 23
    The Tree of Wooden Clogs1978 · Ermanno Olmi · Italy · drama
    3.14

    Palme d'Or winner 1978 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #2 · Empire 500 (2008) #108

  24. 24
    A Clockwork Orange1971 · Stanley Kubrick · United Kingdom / United States · drama, crime, thriller
    3.06

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1971 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #4 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243

  25. 25
    The Tin Drum1979 · Volker Schlöndorff · France / Germany / Poland · war, drama
    2.99

    Palme d'Or winner 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1981 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  26. 26
    Cabaret1972 · Bob Fosse · United States · musical, drama
    2.98

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1973 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1972 · AFI 100 (2007) #63

  27. 27
    The Spirit of the Beehive1973 · Víctor Erice · Spain · drama, fantasy
    2.94

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1973 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #85

  28. 28
    Manhattan1979 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.77

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1980 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #5 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #2

  29. 29
    A Woman Under the Influence1974 · John Cassavetes · United States · drama
    2.65

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #18 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #114 · Kehr's annual top 10 1975 #3

  30. 30
    Cries and Whispers1972 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden · drama
    2.64

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 1973 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1973

  31. 31
    All the President's Men1976 · Alan J. Pakula · United States · crime, drama, thriller
    2.60

    Siskel's annual top 10 1976 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1976 · AFI 100 (2007) #77

  32. 32
    The Mother and the Whore1973 · Jean Eustache · France · comedy, drama
    2.58

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1973 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #104

  33. 33
    Scarecrow1973 · Jerry Schatzberg · United States · drama
    2.50

    Palme d'Or winner 1973 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1973 #1

  34. 34
    Patton1970 · Franklin J. Schaffner · United States · biography, war, drama
    2.47

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1970 · AFI 100 (1998) #89 · National Film Registry (inducted 2003)

  35. 35
    Days of Heaven1978 · Terrence Malick · United States · drama, romance
    2.45

    Kehr's annual top 10 1978 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #152 · Ebert's annual top 10 1978 #2

  36. 36
    Amarcord1973 · Federico Fellini · France / Italy · comedy, drama
    2.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #157 · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #3

  37. 37
    Stalker1979 · Andrei Tarkovsky · Soviet Union · sci-fi, drama
    2.42

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #14 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #43 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1981 #7

  38. 38
    The Sting1973 · George Roy Hill · United States · crime, comedy, drama
    2.37

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1973 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #4 · National Film Registry (inducted 2005)

  39. 39
    The Ascent1977 · Larisa Shepitko · Soviet Union · drama, war
    2.36

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1977 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #128

  40. 40
    Five Easy Pieces1970 · Bob Rafelson · United States · drama
    2.28

    Ebert's annual top 10 1970 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1970 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1971 #8

  41. 41
    Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore1974 · Martin Scorsese · United States · romance, drama, comedy
    2.19

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1975 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #3

  42. 42
    Ali: Fear Eats the Soul1974 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder · Germany · drama, romance
    2.17

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #52 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · Kehr's annual top 10 1974 #2

  43. 43
    The Mirror1975 · Andrei Tarkovsky · Soviet Union · drama, biography
    2.17

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #8 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #31 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1983 #3

  44. 44
    Claire's Knee1970 · Éric Rohmer · France · drama, romance, comedy
    2.14

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1971 · Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1971 #2

  45. 45
    Sunday, Bloody Sunday1971 · John Schlesinger · United Kingdom · drama
    2.14

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1972 · BFI Top 100 British films #65 · Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #5

  46. 46
    Padre Padrone1977 · Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani · Italy · drama
    2.12

    Palme d'Or winner 1977 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1982 #10 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

  47. 47
    Julia1977 · Fred Zinnemann · United States / United Kingdom · drama, biography
    2.08

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1978 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1977

  48. 48
    Don't Look Now1973 · Nicolas Roeg · United Kingdom / Italy · horror, drama
    2.06

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #46 · BFI Top 100 British films #8 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #114

  49. 49
    Vengeance Is Mine1979 · Shohei Imamura · Japan · drama, crime
    2.04

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1979 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1980 · Criterion Collection spine #384

  50. 50
    Dog Day Afternoon1975 · Sidney Lumet · United States · crime, action, drama
    2.04

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1976 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2009)

  51. 51
    The Mattei Affair1972 · Francesco Rosi · Italy · drama
    2.03

    Palme d'Or winner 1972 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #8 · Sarris's annual top 10 1973 #4

  52. 52
    American Graffiti1973 · George Lucas · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.03

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1973 · AFI 100 (2007) #62 · AFI 100 (1998) #77

  53. 53
    Tess1979 · Roman Polanski · United Kingdom / France · drama
    2.01

    César Best Film winner 1980 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1980 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #7

  54. 54
    Lacombe, Lucien1974 · Louis Malle · France / Italy · drama, war, romance
    1.99

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1975 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1975 #7 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  55. 55
    An Unmarried Woman1978 · Paul Mazursky · United States · comedy, drama
    1.94

    Ebert's annual top 10 1978 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1978 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1978

  56. 56
    The Go-Between1971 · Joseph Losey · United Kingdom · romance, drama
    1.92

    Palme d'Or winner 1971 · BFI Top 100 British films #57 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  57. 57
    Scenes from a Marriage1974 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden · drama
    1.92

    Ebert's annual top 10 1974 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1981 #8 · Sarris's annual top 10 1974 #3

  58. 58
    Aguirre, the Wrath of God1972 · Werner Herzog · Germany / Mexico / Peru · drama, adventure
    1.92

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #118 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1983 #9 · TIME All-TIME 100

  59. 59
    Being There1979 · Hal Ashby · United States · comedy, drama
    1.91

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1981 #7 · National Film Registry (inducted 2015) · Ebert's annual top 10 1980 #4

  60. 60
    Solaris1972 · Andrei Tarkovsky · Soviet Union · sci-fi, adventure, drama
    1.90

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1972 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #285

  61. 61
    The Exorcist1973 · William Friedkin · United States · horror, mystery, drama
    1.87

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1973 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #10 · Siskel's annual top 10 1973 #3

  62. 62
    Badlands1973 · Terrence Malick · United States · drama, crime
    1.87

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1974 · National Film Registry (inducted 1993) · Empire 500 (2008) #155

  63. 63
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, adventure, drama
    1.83

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1978 #4 · Empire 500 (2008) #59 · AFI 100 (1998) #64

  64. 64
    The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972 · Luis Buñuel · France / Italy / Spain · drama, comedy, fantasy
    1.80

    Sarris's annual top 10 1972 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #6 · TIME All-TIME 100

  65. 65
    The Yellow Handkerchief1977 · Yōji Yamada · Japan · comedy, drama
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1977 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1978

  66. 66
    McCabe & Mrs. Miller1971 · Robert Altman · United States · western, drama
    1.71

    Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2010)

  67. 67
    Killer of Sheep1977 · Charles Burnett · United States · drama
    1.71

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #43 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #6 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990)

  68. 68
    The Marriage of Maria Braun1979 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder · Germany · drama
    1.69

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #6 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #3 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films

  69. 69
    That Obscure Object of Desire1977 · Luis Buñuel · France / Spain · comedy, drama
    1.66

    Sarris's annual top 10 1977 #1 · Kehr's annual top 10 1978 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1984 #10

  70. 70
    Providence1977 · Alain Resnais · France / Switzerland · drama
    1.64

    César Best Film winner 1978 · Ebert's annual top 10 1977 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #10

  71. 71
    Johnny Got His Gun1971 · Dalton Trumbo · United States · war, drama, biography
    1.56

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1971 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1973 #2 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

  72. 72
    Autumn Sonata1978 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden / France / Germany · drama
    1.50

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1981 #2 · Letterboxd Top 250 #24 · Ebert's annual top 10 1978 #5

  73. 73
    The Working Class Goes to Heaven1971 · Elio Petri · Italy · drama
    1.50

    Palme d'Or winner 1972

  74. 74
    The Hireling1973 · Alan Bridges · United Kingdom · romance, drama
    1.50

    Palme d'Or winner 1973

  75. 75
    Chronicle of the Years of Fire1975 · Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina · Algeria · drama
    1.50

    Palme d'Or winner 1975

  76. 76
    Wanda1970 · Barbara Loden · United States · crime, drama
    1.49

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #48 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · National Film Registry (inducted 2017)

  77. 77
    The Day of the Jackal1973 · Fred Zinnemann · France / United Kingdom / United States · drama, thriller
    1.38

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1973 #4 · BFI Top 100 British films #74 · Siskel's annual top 10 1973 #5

  78. 78
    Alien1979 · Ridley Scott · United States / United Kingdom · horror, sci-fi, thriller
    1.37

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #146 · Empire 500 (2008) #33 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  79. 79
    The Emigrants1971 · Jan Troell · Sweden · drama
    1.36

    Siskel's annual top 10 1973 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1972 · Ebert's annual top 10 1973 #3

  80. 80
    Heartland1979 · Richard Pearce · United States · drama
    1.36

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1980 · Ebert's annual top 10 1981 #5 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  81. 81
    The Butcher1970 · Claude Chabrol · France / Italy · thriller, drama
    1.35

    Ebert's annual top 10 1972 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1972 #3 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films

  82. 82
    The Garden of the Finzi-Continis1970 · Vittorio De Sica · Italy / West Germany / France · drama
    1.33

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1971 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Ebert's annual top 10 1972 #7

  83. 83
    Eraserhead1977 · David Lynch · United States · horror, thriller, drama
    1.33

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004) · Empire 500 (2008) #192

  84. 84
    Last Tango in Paris1972 · Bernardo Bertolucci · France / Italy · drama, romance
    1.33

    Ebert's annual top 10 1973 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1973 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1973 #10

  85. 85
    Death in Venice1971 · Luchino Visconti · France / Italy / United States · drama
    1.33

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1971 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #962

  86. 86
    Mean Streets1973 · Martin Scorsese · United States · drama, crime, thriller
    1.33

    National Film Registry (inducted 1997) · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #377

  87. 87
    Harry and Tonto1974 · Paul Mazursky · United States · comedy, drama
    1.32

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1975 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #8

  88. 88
    Breaking Away1979 · Peter Yates · United States · comedy, drama
    1.31

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1979 · Ebert's annual top 10 1979 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1979 #4

  89. 89
    The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser1974 · Werner Herzog · Germany · biography, drama
    1.28

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1975 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films · Empire 500 (2008) #428

  90. 90
    Touki Bouki1973 · Djibril Diop Mambéty · Senegal · drama
    1.25

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #66 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Criterion Collection spine #685

  91. 91
    The Phantom of Liberty1974 · Luis Buñuel · France / Italy · comedy, drama
    1.24

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #5 · Kehr's annual top 10 1974 #7

  92. 92
    The Black Stallion1979 · Carroll Ballard · United States · adventure
    1.22

    Ebert's annual top 10 1980 #1 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002) · Kehr's annual top 10 1980 #7

  93. 93
    Little Big Man1970 · Arthur Penn · United States · comedy, drama, western
    1.22

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1971 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2014) · Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #4

  94. 94
    Small Change1976 · François Truffaut · France · comedy, drama
    1.22

    Ebert's annual top 10 1976 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1976 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1976 #4

  95. 95
    The Marquise of O1976 · Éric Rohmer · France / Germany · drama
    1.22

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1976 · Kehr's annual top 10 1977 #3 · Sarris's annual top 10 1976 #4

  96. 96
    Taking Off1971 · Miloš Forman · United States · comedy, drama, musical
    1.18

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1971 · Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #6 · Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #10

  97. 97
    The Incident1978 · Yoshitarō Nomura · Japan · drama
    1.18

    Japan Academy Prize winner 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1978 #4

  98. 98
    Conversation Piece1974 · Luchino Visconti · Italy / France · drama
    1.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1978 #1 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

  99. 99
    Sandakan No. 81974 · Kei Kumai · Japan · drama
    1.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1974 #1 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

  100. 100
    The Travelling Players1975 · Thodoros Angelopoulos · Greece · drama
    1.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #1 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

New Hollywood's high tide

No decade is more heavily represented at the top of all-time lists than the 1970s, and the reason is structural, not nostalgic. The studio system's financial collapse at the end of the 1960s left executives genuinely unsure what audiences wanted, and for roughly a decade they resolved that uncertainty by betting on directors. The result was an American cinema of unusual autonomy: Coppola making a three-hour crime epic with unhurried pacing and murky lighting (The Godfather, 1972), then somehow exceeding it with a sequel; Polanski and Robert Towne perfecting the noir screenplay in Chinatown; Scorsese putting an unwatchable-in-theory character study (Taxi Driver) into theaters with a Palme d'Or attached; Forman sweeping the Oscars with an anti-institutional parable (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975 — the first film in four decades to win all five major Academy Awards).

The other engine of the decade was the arrival of the film-school generation and its double invention: the modern blockbuster. Jaws (1975) created the wide-release summer event film; Star Wars (1977) industrialized it. It's fashionable to blame those two films for ending New Hollywood, but the canon treats them as part of it — they are director-driven, formally precise films that happened to be enormous. The decade closes with Apocalypse Now (1979), a production so unhinged it functions as the era's own myth: total directorial freedom pursued to the edge of catastrophe, and one more Palme d'Or to show for it.

Beyond the American story

The 1970s canon is American-heavy but not American-only. Kubrick, working from England, produced A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon — the latter dismissed by many in 1975 and now among his highest-ranked films in critics' polls, one of the clearest examples of how canonical standing shifts over decades. Spain, in the last years of Franco, produced Víctor Erice's The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), an allegory so delicate the censors missed it, now a fixture of the international polls. German cinema was rebuilding through Herzog, Fassbinder and Wenders; the canon's memory of that movement mostly lands in lists just outside this page's cutoff.

Reading the composite scores, notice how the decade's top films dominate multiple source families at once — big on critics' polls and institutional canons and awards. That triple consensus is rare (most decades split their memory between the academies and the critics), and it is why, in any cross-list measurement, the 1970s reads as the deepest bench in film history.