5 Films That Defined the 70s

The 1970s was a pivotal decade for the film industry. This is a time when everything started to change shape. The modern “blockbuster” was born, and larger-than-life pictures started to be developed. Classics like On the Waterfront or Casablanca are much smaller in scale than the pictures that would follow in the 1970s. Everything was bigger, and directors pushed their projects to the limit to deliver unforgettable moments. These are five films that defined the 1970s. 

California Split (1974)

California Split is a comedy-drama starring Bill Denny (George Segal) and Charlie Waters (Elliott Gould) who bond over their love of the gaming and casino world. They go through their share of ups and downs before chasing after their one big score in the end. The plot has all the elements of winning against the odds that make for a sincere story.

The lead actor George Segal possessed an “everyman” quality that made him uncannily relatable and there is no better example of this than in California Split. Every professional poker player or Las Vegas attendee sees a part of themselves in the main character Bill Denny. This film managed to capture a certain feeling and time period that hasn’t been replicated since. 

Jaws (1975)

Jaws has become one of Steven Spielberg’s most recognizable works. It also has been credited numerous times with starting the trend of massive blockbuster films, something that would be followed by directors like Michael Bay with films like Armageddon and Transformers. 

This tale of a massive, vengeful shark terrorizing a coastal town terrified beachgoers for decades, while simultaneously becoming the first film to return over $100 million dollars, making it the top grossing film of all time. That is of course before Star Wars released two years later. 

Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars is the most famous and highest-grossing sci-fi franchise of all time. Countless films, video games, and merchandise have been created and it is all traced back to this one film that became the biggest hit of the 1970s. Something about this tale of warring space factions and super-powered Jedis has hit home with audiences, allowing the series to persevere for decades. 

Allegedly, 20th Century Fox and even director George Lucas himself had little faith in the success of the film. However, when it was released, it became a cultural phenomenon. Everything changed in Hollywood once Star Wars started breaking sales records. 

Rocky (1976)

1976’s Rocky was written by and stars Sylvester Stallone. This film is credited with creating a genre in film, the story of the underdog who will chase his dreams despite any challenges. Through the course of this film, we follow the character Rocky Balboa through his life in Philadelphia as he, an unknown and unproven boxer, gets the opportunity to face off against the boxing world champion. His perseverance and grit are what keeps him waking up every day for the extensive training, and eventually he gets his one shot at greatness. 

There is so much real emotion that was injected into this film, and this comes from Stallone’s real life. At the time, he was a down and out actor with no money or successful credits to his name and Rocky was his last chance at making it. Of course, the film was a massive hit and created a franchise. It is widely considered one of the best boxing films of all time. 

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is a certified classic that all film buffs need to see, and luckily it can be found on one of these great streaming services. While there may have been some lesser-known mob movies that came before The Godfather, this film set the standard for not only the American-crime drama, but American made dramas in general. The Godfather was the recipient of tons of well-deserved praise and acclaim, and launched the enormously successful career of Al Pacino. 

At over three hours long, The Godfather is certainly a journey to get through, but every scene is filled with gorgeous cinematography and atmosphere. This slow-burning epic crafted some of the best scenes in cinema history that have stuck with viewers for decades. According to Time magazine, the American Film Institute and numerous others, it’s the greatest film ever made. After its release, it won three Oscar Awards, most notably for best picture.