1970s were a magical time for movies, with a whole new crop of stars and directors becoming household names, from Robert Redford and Al Pacino to Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen. After the tumultuous Sixties that included the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, and the Vietnam War, America was a different place, and Hollywood reflected the changing culture like a cinematic mirror. Films started exploring new ground with changing gender roles, political mistrust, and more subversive forms of comedy. The result was a new era, both in American cinema and around the world.

1. HALLOWEEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just the mention of this horror film can trigger the menacing theme music in someone’s head. Jamie Lee Curtis was the breakout star of “Halloween,” a horror movie classic about an escaped killer who returns home to continue his murderous ways. More than 10 additional “Halloween” movies have been made since the franchise’s inception, including sequels, reboots, and sequels of reboots.

2. THE STING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Newman and Robert Redford reunited with their “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” director George Roy Hill in this heist film about a pair of con men trying to run a grift on a mob boss (Robert Shaw). “The Sting” won Best Picture at the Oscars in 1974 and hauled a total of eight Academy Awards. Producer Julia Phillips made Oscar history as the first female producer to win a Best Picture statuette

3. THE PASSENGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Passenger,” Jack Nicholson stars as a desperate journalist who steals another man’s identity, not knowing that he’s rebirthed himself as a wanted arms dealer. For years after its initial release, the film was unavailable to the public, as Nicholson (who owns the rights) kept it under lock and key until 2005, when it was re-released in theaters and on DVD, much to the delight of fans

4. THE DEER HUNTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meryl Streep’s first Oscar nomination came for her work in “The Deer Hunter,” which also won Best Picture, Best Director, and a number of other awards. The film made the after-effects of the Vietnam War real for audiences everywhere, with a story about three friends (Robert De Niro, John Savage, and Christopher Walken) who go off to war and return as broken

5. JAWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Spielberg scored the first big hit of his career with this tale of a great white shark haunting a New England beach town. “Jaws” was a massive success, and basically created the notion of a summer blockbuster, earning $100 million in less than 60 days after its release. Its impact was so large that people are still afraid to go swimming in the ocean.

6. BREAKING AWAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In “Breaking Away,” Dennis Christopher stars as Dave, a working-class kid from Bloomington, Indiana, who is so obsessed with the Italian cycling team that he “transforms” himself into an Italian exchange student and diligently trains for an upcoming race against his idols. The sunny, feel-good flick was nominated for several Academy Awards (taking home the trophy for Best Original Screenplay) as well as several Golden Globes (winning Best Film)

7. AMERICAN GRAFFITI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Lucas’ second feature film, “American Graffiti” is a coming-of-age story told through a series of vignettes set in Lucas’ hometown of Modesto, California. Over the course of one evening, four teenagers cruise around town, engaging in one last night of revelry, before making decisions that will forever alter the course of their lives. The movie was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar at the 1974 Academy Awards.

8. APOCALYPSE NOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1970s, it appeared that Francis Ford Coppola could do no wrong. “Apocalypse Now” is another example of that. Adapted from Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” the 1979 film updates the setting from the Congo to the Vietnam War and focuses on a rogue American military officer who tries to become a god to a Southeast Asian village. Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, and Robert Duvall starred in the Best picture nominees.

9. THE GODFATHER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most popular film of the 1970s is also one of the greatest crime movies of all time. “The Godfather” tracks New York’s Corleone crime family as Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) cedes power to his son, played by Al Pacino. In 1973, the film was named Best Picture and its impact went far beyond awards season. The movie has created its own subculture, with university classes, books, and more all following the massive success of the mob movie.

10. THE GODFATHER PART 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mafia sequel based on Mario Puzo’s book went back in time to show a younger Don Vito Corleone—with Robert De Niro playing the role Marlon Brando made famous—back in Italy, while his son Michael (Al Pacino) tightened his grip on his family in the present. The film is the rare sequel to earn the same level of accolades as the original, with an astounding six Academy Awards going to Coppola’s film, including Best Picture.

 

We hope this list will definitely give you some nostalgia. So why don’t you pick your favorite one and watch on the movie night!