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Best movies of the 1970s

The 1970s: all 501 films TOPICAL scores from these years, best first. The top three are The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). The last column is each film's rank among all 6,624 films.

RankFilmYearScoreAll-time rank
1The Godfather1972100.01
2The Godfather Part II197498.64
3One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest197597.97
4Star Wars197797.59
5Apocalypse Now197997.410
6Taxi Driver197696.814
7Chinatown197494.139
8The Deer Hunter197893.350
9Alien197993.152
10The Sting197393.054
11Annie Hall197791.871
12All the President's Men197691.379
13The French Connection197190.888
14Network197690.790
15The Exorcist197389.3115
16Dog Day Afternoon197588.6129
17A Clockwork Orange197188.4132
18Jaws197588.3135
19Rocky197688.1139
20Patton197087.1161
21The Conversation197486.4176
22Kramer vs. Kramer197986.4177
23Barry Lyndon197586.4178
24The Last Picture Show197185.2207
25Cabaret197284.3230
26Manhattan197983.7245
27Solaris197283.0266
28Close Encounters of the Third Kind197782.9268
29Being There197982.5280
30Days of Heaven197881.8299
31My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown197980.9328
32Halloween197880.8332
33Young Frankenstein197480.7334
34Superman197880.4344
35Nashville197580.3348
36American Graffiti197380.2351
37A Woman Under the Influence197479.5372
38All That Jazz197978.3413
39Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion197077.6439
40Cries and Whispers197277.2452
41The Man Who Would Be King197577.0458
42Monty Python and the Holy Grail197576.2488
43M*A*S*H197076.0496
44Five Easy Pieces197075.9499
45The Texas Chain Saw Massacre197475.9501
46Deliverance197275.6512
47Day for Night197374.5553
48The Conformist197074.0572
49Carrie197673.9579
50Badlands197373.7585
51The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie197273.5592
52A Special Day197773.0614
53Amarcord197372.7626
54Stalker197972.4637
55Little Big Man197071.3686
56Paper Moon197371.2690
57Serpico197370.1737
58Eraserhead197769.9746
59Autumn Sonata197869.9747
60Mirror197569.6759
61Mean Streets197369.6763
62Midnight Express197869.5766
63The Rocky Horror Picture Show197569.3777
64Woodstock197069.2779
65The Last Detail197368.8796
66Aguirre, the Wrath of God197268.8797
67Coming Home197868.7802
68Life of Brian197968.0834
69Murder on the Orient Express197467.8846
70Dersu Uzala197567.7851
71Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory197167.3871
72That Obscure Object of Desire197767.2873
73Dirty Harry197166.7898
74Enter the Dragon197366.6905
75The China Syndrome197966.1928
76McCabe & Mrs. Miller197165.9936
77The Tree of Wooden Clogs197865.6954
78Tess197965.5960
79Fiddler on the Roof197165.3966
80Breaking Away197965.1979
81The Poseidon Adventure197264.9990
82Blazing Saddles197464.61,002
83The Spirit of the Beehive197364.31,021
84Sleuth197264.11,029
85Klute197163.81,047
86Dawn of the Dead197863.71,049
87The Towering Inferno197463.51,063
88Three Days of the Condor197563.21,079
89The Outlaw Josey Wales197663.01,089
90Scarecrow197362.61,109
91Saturday Night Fever197762.41,118
92The Emigrants197162.11,137
93Love Story197061.71,156
94Heaven Can Wait197861.61,166
95Julia197761.41,174
96Harold and Maude197161.31,182
97Last Tango in Paris197261.01,196
98The Tin Drum197960.61,218
99The Omen197660.51,223
100Tristana197060.31,235
101Grease197860.31,237
102Ali: Fear Eats the Soul197460.11,247
103Love and Death197559.91,261
104Norma Rae197958.91,314
105Don't Look Now197358.71,329
106The Long Goodbye197358.61,333
107Marathon Man197658.51,342
108The Go-Between197158.31,350
109Frenzy197258.11,366
110The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser197458.01,372
111Duel197157.61,391
112The Passenger197557.41,404
113Papillon197357.31,410
114Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore197457.11,420
115The Shootist197656.51,461
116The Hospital197156.11,486
117Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles197555.81,501
118Lenny197455.71,508
119The Garden of the Finzi-Continis197055.61,514
120The Last Waltz197855.01,551
121Sounder197254.91,558
122Sleeper197354.81,563
123Assault on Precinct 13197654.31,597
124The Castle of Cagliostro197954.01,617
125The Warriors197953.61,644
126Death on the Nile197853.21,666
127The Wicker Man197353.11,674
128Le Cercle Rouge197053.01,679
129Picnic at Hanging Rock197553.01,681
130The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh197752.81,692
131Escape from Alcatraz197952.81,695
132The Black Stallion197952.71,702
133Suspiria197752.31,722
134The Day of the Jackal197352.31,724
135Tora! Tora! Tora!197051.81,757
136Duck, You Sucker197151.61,769
137I Never Sang for My Father197051.51,781
138Mad Max197951.41,787
139The Tenant197651.31,792
1401900197650.51,846
141The New Land197250.31,857
142The Goodbye Girl197749.81,893
143Harlan County U.S.A.197648.91,953
144Straw Dogs197148.91,955
145The Candidate197248.41,988
146La Cage aux Folles197848.31,999
147Animal House197848.32,000
148The Boys from Brazil197847.82,035
149Nosferatu the Vampyre197947.62,045
150The Way We Were197347.02,088
151Hearts and Minds197447.02,089
152Harry and Tonto197446.82,102
153Padre Padrone197746.72,109
154Two-Lane Blacktop197146.52,122
155Lacombe, Lucien197446.52,127
156...And Justice for All197945.82,176
157Rocky II197945.82,179
158The Turning Point197745.52,199
159Save the Tiger197344.72,258
160Seven Beauties197543.92,314
161Grey Gardens197543.62,338
162Bedknobs and Broomsticks197143.62,340
163A New Leaf197143.42,356
164They Call Me Trinity197043.32,360
165A Bridge Too Far197743.12,379
166Sunday Bloody Sunday197142.82,399
167Fat City197242.82,401
168The Muppet Movie197942.72,409
169Pink Flamingos197242.52,421
170Scent of a Woman197442.52,422
171Kelly's Heroes197042.52,424
172The Decameron197142.42,428
173Sholay197542.32,435
174Black and White in Color197642.32,437
175Soylent Green197342.02,461
176Nicholas and Alexandra197141.62,495
177Airport197041.52,500
178Sometimes a Great Notion197141.32,516
179Cousin, Cousine197541.12,531
180The Rescuers197741.02,538
181Get Out Your Handkerchiefs197841.02,539
182The Story of Adèle H.197541.02,541
183The Aristocats197040.82,554
184The Holy Mountain197340.72,565
185The Marriage of Maria Braun197940.52,580
186Ryan's Daughter197040.42,586
187High Plains Drifter197340.32,596
188Turkish Delight197340.12,613
189Carnal Knowledge197139.82,630
190Phantom of the Paradise197439.72,644
191Pretty Baby197839.42,662
192Death in Venice197139.22,680
193Interiors197839.22,681
194Bound for Glory197639.22,684
195Shaft197139.02,694
196Johnny Got His Gun197139.02,697
197Drunken Master197839.02,699
198Sorcerer197738.92,709
199The Great Santini197938.82,714
200Charlotte's Web197338.62,730
201The Spy Who Loved Me197738.52,737
202Thunderbolt and Lightfoot197438.42,746
203La Grande Bouffe197338.12,773
204My Brilliant Career197938.02,775
205An Unmarried Woman197837.72,803
206The Way of the Dragon197237.62,814
207The Phantom of Liberty197437.62,815
208Shampoo197537.52,818
209Summer of '42197137.52,822
210Murmur of the Heart197137.42,827
211Sunflower197037.32,838
212Madame Rosa197737.12,852
213Jesus Christ Superstar197337.02,858
214A Touch of Class197336.92,867
215The Buddy Holly Story197836.82,875
216Waterloo197036.82,880
217Murder by Death197636.62,893
218Family Plot197636.62,894
219Fist of Fury197236.62,895
220Robin Hood197336.52,906
221Two Mules for Sister Sara197036.42,910
222The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz197436.12,932
223Westworld197336.02,942
224The Eagle Has Landed197635.62,975
225The Paper Chase197335.62,977
226Farewell, My Lovely197535.62,979
227California Suite197835.52,984
228The Message197635.52,988
229Office Romance197735.42,991
230The Sunshine Boys197535.33,000
231Killer of Sheep197734.83,046
232Face to Face197634.73,052
233The Front Page197434.53,073
234Wanda197033.93,120
235In the Realm of the Senses197633.83,126
236Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession197333.83,130
237Diamonds Are Forever197133.53,158
238Magnum Force197333.33,174
239The Getaway197233.23,179
240The Ruling Class197232.93,209
241Smokey and the Bandit197732.93,210
242Marjoe197232.73,222
243Let It Be197032.73,224
244A Little Romance197932.53,240
245The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob197332.43,248
246Hair197932.43,250
247Bananas197132.33,258
248Robin and Marian197632.23,272
249Bang the Drum Slowly197332.03,287
250King Kong197631.93,294
251Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask197231.73,310
252Scrooge197031.53,330
253The Rose197931.43,341
254Play Misty for Me197131.33,350
255Avanti!197231.23,361
256The Three Musketeers197331.03,374
257The Heartbreak Kid197231.03,376
258The Seven-Per-Cent Solution197631.03,379
259The Return of the Pink Panther197530.93,381
260And Now for Something Completely Different197130.83,389
261The Day of the Locust197530.73,403
262Equus197730.73,405
263The Dawns Here Are Quiet197230.63,406
264Dodes'ka-den197030.53,420
265Best Boy197930.33,436
266The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!197630.23,447
267New York, New York197730.13,459
268The Magic Flute197530.03,463
269Cross of Iron197729.93,470
270The Last Tycoon197629.93,476
271The Sugarland Express197429.93,477
272Bed and Board197029.83,480
273Black Christmas197429.63,497
274Bite the Bullet197529.53,506
275THX 1138197129.53,511
276The Andromeda Strain197129.33,525
277Fellini's Casanova197629.33,528
278Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom197529.33,531
279Three Wishes for Cinderella197329.23,534
280Hester Street197528.63,590
281Mary, Queen of Scots197128.63,595
282Obsession197628.53,597
283Comes a Horseman197828.43,609
284Butterflies Are Free197228.33,622
285The Front197628.23,627
286The Big Boss197128.23,630
287Girlfriends197828.23,631
288Bugsy Malone197628.23,632
289The Late Show197728.03,646
290The Longest Yard197427.93,656
291Earthquake197427.43,704
292Tommy197527.23,717
293The Great Gatsby197426.93,744
294Give 'em Hell, Harry!197526.83,756
295Mimino197726.83,757
296Logan's Run197626.63,774
297Silent Running197226.63,777
298Borsalino197026.03,830
299Zabriskie Point197026.03,832
300Lovers and Other Strangers197025.83,851
301Lady Sings the Blues197225.23,905
302White Bim Black Ear197724.73,955
303The New Monsters197724.63,964
304Voyage of the Damned197624.53,979
305Live and Let Die197324.43,983
306The Hot Rock197224.43,986
307Kotch197124.04,022
308The Molly Maguires197023.94,030
309Agatha197923.94,036
310Deep Throat197223.84,041
311Starting Over197923.74,047
312Death Race 2000197523.74,050
313The Promised Land197523.54,070
314Pete 'n' Tillie197223.54,073
315Chulas Fronteras197623.34,088
316The Wind and the Lion197523.34,094
317Cromwell197023.24,101
318The Boy Friend197123.14,113
319Gentlemen of Fortune197122.94,132
320Looking for Mr. Goodbar197722.94,134
321The Champ197922.74,145
322The Enforcer197622.54,170
323Man of La Mancha197222.24,194
324The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe197222.14,204
325The Four Musketeers197422.04,222
326Capricorn One197721.64,256
327The Eiger Sanction197521.64,257
328Death Wish197421.54,270
329Moonraker197921.54,271
330The Deluge197421.44,281
331Richard Pryor: Live in Concert197921.34,288
332Joe197021.34,289
333The Golden Voyage of Sinbad197321.34,290
334Tchaikovsky197021.24,297
335The Hellstrom Chronicle197121.24,300
336Travels with My Aunt197221.14,311
337The Night Porter197420.94,329
338Love on the Run197920.84,335
339Same Time, Next Year197820.44,379
340The Electric Horseman197920.24,397
341Diary of a Mad Housewife197020.04,416
342Young Winston197219.74,447
343Ludwig197319.54,471
344Images197219.24,500
34510197919.24,501
346The Man with the Golden Gun197419.04,518
347The Gypsy Camp Vanishes Into the Blue197618.94,526
348Star Trek: The Motion Picture197918.94,528
349The Landlord197018.74,546
350Oh, God!197718.54,567
351Iphigenia197718.54,568
352Cinderella Liberty197318.44,578
353Claudine197418.44,580
354The Great White Hope197018.24,597
355Escape from the Planet of the Apes197117.94,630
356Once Is Not Enough197517.84,634
357Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song197117.64,659
3581776197217.64,660
359Pete's Dragon197717.64,662
360Wattstax197317.64,663
361Brother Sun, Sister Moon197217.54,673
362Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams197316.94,730
363The Little Prince197416.84,743
364Dark Star197416.54,777
365Two-Minute Warning197616.44,780
366The Omega Man197116.24,802
367Daisy Miller197416.04,822
368The Man Who Skied Down Everest197515.74,861
369Letters from Marusia197615.64,863
370The Lord of the Rings197815.64,872
371The Truce197415.14,919
372A Star Is Born197615.14,920
373Operation Thunderbolt197715.14,923
374A Simple Story197814.94,943
375Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?197114.94,944
376The Pedestrian197314.74,965
377Silver Streak197614.64,968
378The Cassandra Crossing197614.25,013
379Scared Straight!197814.25,018
380The Europeans197914.25,019
381Nights and Days197514.15,021
382Napoleon and Samantha197214.05,032
383Mama Turns 100197913.95,046
384Hedda197513.95,048
385My Dearest Senorita197213.85,059
386Funny Lady197513.85,061
387The Maids of Wilko197913.75,072
388The Hindenburg197513.55,087
389The Man in the Glass Booth197513.45,102
390Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?197713.35,113
391Cooley High197513.35,114
392First Love197013.25,118
393The Policeman197013.15,130
394The Day of the Dolphin197312.95,150
395The Other Side of Midnight197712.85,166
396The Spook Who Sat by the Door197312.75,174
397Airport '77197712.65,183
398When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth197012.35,217
399Jaws 2197812.35,221
400The Last House on the Left197212.35,223
401The Brink's Job197812.25,225
402Sandakan No. 8197412.15,244
403Game of Death197812.15,245
404Caligula197911.95,267
405Emmanuelle197411.75,280
406On Any Sunday197111.45,316
407I Never Promised You a Rose Garden197711.45,319
408Chariots of the Gods197011.35,329
409The Great American Cowboy197311.25,338
410The Deep197711.25,339
4111941197911.25,341
412The Wiz197811.15,353
413To Forget Venice197910.95,376
414The Slipper and the Rose197610.85,384
415The Invitation197310.75,395
416Chapter Two197910.65,404
417And Now My Love197410.55,416
418Beneath the Planet of the Apes197010.45,429
419Hooper197810.45,431
420King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis197010.35,432
421Boulevard Nights197910.15,461
422Islands in the Stream19779.85,492
423Caravans19789.75,503
424The House on Chelouche Street19739.65,519
425Bloodbrothers19789.55,525
426Lies My Father Told Me19759.45,534
427The Amityville Horror19799.25,557
428Conquest of the Planet of the Apes19729.25,558
429The Black Hole19799.05,578
430The Bamboo Incident19708.55,635
431The Glass Cell19788.45,649
432Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman19748.35,655
433Hungarians19788.35,661
434The Hawaiians19707.95,702
435Darling Lili19707.85,713
436The Murder of Fred Hampton19717.65,739
437Cat's Play19727.55,755
438A Little Night Music19777.45,759
439The Island at the Top of the World19747.45,760
440Manson19736.95,814
441I Love You Rosa19726.75,842
442Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania19726.45,874
443Hospital19706.35,885
444Peace in the Fields19705.55,975
445The Baby Maker19705.55,977
446Raoni19785.35,997
447Malcolm X19725.06,033
448The Children of Theatre Street19774.86,055
449What's the Matter with Helen?19714.76,068
450Meteor19794.36,117
451Butch and Sundance: The Early Days19794.36,118
452Battle for the Planet of the Apes19734.26,130
453The Ra Expeditions19714.16,145
454Shanks19743.76,184
455The Swarm19783.76,189
456Mysterious Castles of Clay19783.46,216
457People of the Wind19763.46,221
458Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographer19753.36,236
459The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man19753.26,241
460Jack Johnson19703.26,246
461The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art19743.16,260
462The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir19753.16,261
463Ape and Super-Ape19723.06,270
464The Passover Plot19762.86,286
465Jonathan Livingston Seagull19732.76,306
466The California Reich19752.66,316
467The War at Home19792.66,319
468The Lovers' Wind19782.56,323
469Before the Mountain Was Moved19702.56,324
470Battle of Berlin19732.46,339
471Growing Up Female19712.26,363
472Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love19772.16,369
473Hollywood on Trial19762.16,370
474Union Maids19762.06,389
475Film Portrait19721.96,400
476With Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade19791.86,411
477The Incredible Sarah19761.76,422
478Walls of Fire19711.76,427
479The Killing Ground19791.66,437
480Brandy in the Wilderness19711.56,448
481Birds Do It, Bees Do It19741.56,450
482Journey to the Outer Limits19731.46,452
483The 81st Blow19741.46,459
484The Wobblies19791.36,474
485Say Goodbye19711.26,486
486The Incredible Machine19751.16,490
487Fighting for Our Lives19751.06,506
488The Wild and the Brave19741.06,509
489Off the Edge19760.86,526
490High Grass Circus19760.86,527
491Going the Distance19790.76,536
492Chicana19790.66,551
493Requiem 2919700.66,553
494Alaska Wilderness Lake19710.56,565
495Other Voices19700.56,570
496Generation on the Wind19790.46,573
497Always a New Beginning19740.46,575
498Hercules in New York19700.46,576
499Please, Don't Bury Me Alive!19760.26,595
500Time and Dreams19760.16,614
501Lives of Performers19720.06,619