America went through a monumental cultural shift throughout the 1960s. 1960 looked very different from 1969, and this trajectory carried well into the 1970s. This shift in culture was mirrored in the movies that were created at the time. Gone were the feel-good musicals, replaced largely by dark, dingy, depressing, and dirty movies filled with violence and trauma.
Most of this, of course, had to do with the Vietnam War - a subject that was continuously brought up in films throughout the '70s. The decade is often considered one of, if not the best in movie history, and this is mirrored in the incredible IMDb ratings.
The French Connection (1971) - 7.7
Often considered one of the most influential movies ever made, The French Connection was a dirty action-thriller about heroin smuggling. It certainly signaled the arrival of the more dreary and violent decade to follow. The movie obviously isn't a big hit with general audiences, as evident by the "good not great" 7.7 IMDb score.
However, it was a huge hit at the 44th Academy Awards, earning eight nominations and a night-high five wins. These included Best Film Editing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Actor for Gene Hackman, Director for William Friedkin, and Best Picture.
Cabaret (1972) - 7.8
One of the most famous musicals of all time, Cabaret was released on February 13, 1972, to wide acclaim and a strong box office performance. The movie made Liza Minnelli a star, and it signaled a stellar comeback for director Bob Fosse, whose prior movie - Sweet Charity - bombed horribly at the box office.
The movie earned eight wins at the 45th Academy Awards - Best Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Scoring - Adaptation, ing Actor for Joel Grey, Actress for Minnelli, and Director for Fosse. Best Picture went to The Godfather (which only won three awards), making Cabaret the most awarded movie in Academy history not to win Best Picture.
Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979) - 7.8
Personal dramas like Kramer vs. Kramer can prove tricky, as general audiences tend to view them as boring Oscar bait. However, Kramer vs. Kramer managed to toe the line, earning both widespread critical acclaim and a receptive general audience.
The movie represented the changing cultural norms of the '70s, grossed a very respectable $106 million (about $380 million today) and earned five Academy Awards - Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, ing Actress for Meryl Streep (her first win), Actor for Dustin Hoffman, Director for Robert Benton, and Best Picture.
Patton (1970) - 7.9
By 1970, World War II was still fresh in the minds of the nation, having ended just 25 years earlier. Patton is a World War II biopic about General George S. Patton, who played a major role in the Mediterranean theater. The Academy are suckers for a good biopic (especially one concerning wars), and Patton was no different.
The movie earned seven awards at the 43rd Academy Awards - Best Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Screenplay Based on Factual Material, Actor for George C. Scott, Director for Franklin J. Schaffner, and Best Picture.
All The President's Men (1976) - 8.0
It was only a matter of time before a movie was made regarding the Watergate scandal, and All the President's Men proves the definitive movie of the infamous case. The movie stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two investigative reporters for The Washington Post who famously broke the Watergate scandal.
The movie grossed $70 million ($320 million today) and earned four Academy Awards - Best Art Direction, Sound, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, and ing Actor for Jason Robards.
The Deer Hunter (1978) - 8.1
Perhaps the definitive movie on the horrors of the Vietnam War, The Deer Hunter perfectly, and horrifically, encapsulated the dirty frustration of the 1970s. Concerning a group of working-class adults who are changed forever by their experiences in Vietnam, The Deer Hunter is widely credited as one of the greatest movies ever made.
It made a respectable $49 million (about $175 million today) and earned five Academy Awards - Best Film Editing, Sound, ing Actor for Christopher Walken, Director for Michael Cimino, and Best Picture.
The Sting (1973) - 8.3
Serving as a reunion of director George Roy Hill and actors Paul Newman and Robert Redford (all of whom worked together on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), The Sting concerns two con men attempting to con a notorious mob boss. The movie was a huge hit, grossing just under $160 million - $940 million today!
The movie also enjoyed ten nominations and seven wins at the 46th Academy Awards - Best Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Scoring - Adaptation, Screenplay Based on Factual Material, Director for George Roy Hill, and Best Picture. The latter win made Julia Phillips the first female producer to win Best Picture.
Star Wars (1977) - 8.6
George Lucas changed cinema forever in 1977 with the release of and influential movies ever made.
In just six months, it dethroned Jaws as the highest-grossing movie in domestic history, eventually making the equivalent of $928 million in its original theatrical run. Its technical accomplishments also earned the movie six wins at the 50th Academy Awards - Best Film Editing, Visual Effects, Costume Design, Art Direction, Sound, and Original Score.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - 8.7
Premiering on November 19, 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest proved an immediate commercial and critical success. The movie grossed $163 million worldwide - the equivalent of about $750 million today. It's an astounding feat for a drama. What's perhaps even more astounding is the movie's legendary nature.
It took home the coveted Big Five - Screenplay, Actor, Actress, Director, and Picture - making it just the second movie in history to accomplish the feat after It Happened One Night did so in 1935. It would be over fifteen years before The Silence of the Lambs became the third and most recent.
The Godfather Part II (1974) - 9.0
The Godfather is often considered one of the greatest movies ever made, and The Godfather Part II the best sequel. Funnily enough, Part II won more awards than the original - an exceptionally rare occurrence. Whereas the first took home just three awards, Part II doubled that with six.
At the 47th Academy Awards, the movie took home Best Art Direction, Original Dramatic Score, Screenplay Adapted from Other Material, The Shawshank Redemption (9.2).
