The 14 Best '70s Movies According to the Tuesday Night Movie Night Community

A community-curated watchlist.

Written by Drew Levy
Updated March 8, 2026

It’s '70s week here at tnmn, and the community reminded us why the 1970s was such a great decade for film. I'll just go ahead and get this out of the way: yes, I know that Jaws and The Godfather are missing from this list. As are Taxi Driver, The Exorcist, and Alien, and a whole bunch of other movies. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. Before your head explodes with a thought like "how can you make a best movies of the '70s list and leave [INSERT GOOD '70s MOVIE HERE] off?!", remember that this list was community sourced, and everyone had just one pick. I almost went through a personal crisis trying to decide whether I wanted to submit The Muppet Movie or The Warriors as my pick. Although I guess by writing this here I'm having my cake and eating it too. Perks of being in charge of the community watchlist, I guess. What I'm really saying is, if you're blowing up at one of us over the incompleteness of this list, you're blowing up at all of us! Isn't that right, very much appreciated members of the tnmn community? Subscribe here if you want the opportunity to share blame for obvious, glaring omissions from future community-curated movie watchlists, structured around a decided-by-me theme each week (along with one good movie recommendation each week from two brothers who like watching movies and whatever else my brother, Blake, wants to write about). Below are the rankings according to your votes.

Richard Donner's Superman (1978)

ActionAdventuresci-fi

Recommended by Ashley P.

An alien child is sent to Earth by his parents, where he must protect the planet using his superhuman abilities.

Ashley P. says:"Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman make a great combo for us that grew up with them as Superman and Lex Luthor!"

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John Landis's National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)

Comedy

Recommended by Matt B.

A rowdy fraternity in 1962 must defy the Dean's plans to expel them.

Matt B. says:"Seven years of college down the drain!"

Rent Movie JustWatch IMDb

Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

HorrorComedyMusical

Recommended by Kelly F.

A newly engaged couple encounter the eerie mansion of the Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Kelly F. says:"Releasing in 1975, sparking one of the biggest cult followings a movie could spark, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the greatest, campiest, sci-fi-est musical movies to ever exist."

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John G. Avildsen's Rocky (1976)

SportDrama

Recommended by Caye J.

A small-time Philadelphia boxer challenges the heavyweight champion.

Caye J. says:"A riveting story of perseverance and love, of challenge, fairness, and grit--that led to a great career!"

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Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused (1993)

ComedyDrama

Recommended by Andrew C.

A group of Texas teens navigate the last day of school in 1976.

Andrew C. says:"90's take on the cultural zeitgeist of the 70's"

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Hal Needham's Smokey and The Bandit (1977)

ActionComedy

Recommended by Cary C. & Christina L.

Bo "The Bandit" Darville must illegally deliver beer across state lines while being pursued by a Texas Sheriff.

Cary C. says:"Nothing says 1970's like Burt Reynolds and this is the most Burt Reynolds movie to ever Burt Reynolds."

Christina L. says:"The style, the language, the action, everything screams 70's. And they're so fun to watch."

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Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

sci-fiPsychological Horror

Recommended by Nick C.

A San Francisco health inspector and his colleague discover that humans are being replaced by alien duplicates.

Nick C. says:"Anchored by an incredible performance from Donald Sutherland, Invasion of the Body Snatchers becomes a chilling meditation on whether individuality is what makes us truly alive."

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Miloš Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Psychological Comedy-Drama

Recommended by Brent T.

A criminal sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation leads his fellow patients against the oppressive head nurse.

Brent T. says:"Milos Forman’s best, most important and most profound film, winning him an Oscar for best film and directing, with a killer cast of so many “that guy from that movie” actors, plus Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher Oscar-winning performances; a film that will never fully leave your mind."

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James Frawley's The Muppet Movie (1979)

MusicalComedy

Recommended by Drew L.

Kermit and friends journey to Hollywood pursuing their big break.

Drew L. says, "I owe a not insignificant part of my sense of humor to watching this movie and its sequels as a kid. Watching my kids laugh while watching it has proven how well it holds up. The movie, that is, not my sense of humor."

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Arthur Penn's Night Moves (1975)

Neo-NoirThriller

Recommended by Alec L.

A private investigator must track down his client's runaway teenage daughter.

Alec L. says:"To me no film captured the cynicism and disillusionment of post-Watergate America better than NIGHT MOVES, and no character better embodied those traits better than Gene Hackman’s Harry Moseby."

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William Friedkin's Sorcerer (1977)

ActionThriller

Recommended by Chris H.

4 men must drive a large amount of unstable explosives across South American jungle.

Chris H. says:"Criminally overlooked at the time as it was up against Star Wars and the title led fans to expect something else, a loose remake of The Wages of Fear that actually trumps the original. The scenes of the truck on the rope bridge are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Brilliant!"

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George Lucas's Star Wars (1977)

sci-fiAdventure

Recommended by Adam B.

A young farm boy goes on an adventure through space to rescue a princess and save the galaxy.

Adam B. says:"Show me a movie more '70's, yet more timeless, than Star Wars! Data Tapes! Lapels! Bushy Mustaches! The Hair in GENERAL!"

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Dario Argento's Suspiria (1977)

Supernatural Horror

Recommended by Blake L.

An American ballet student encounters strange and sinster events at a prestigious German dance academy.

Blake L. says, "This film was my introduction to Giallo horror and the remake obviously did not do it justice."

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Vincent McEveety's Herbie goes to Monte Carlo (1977)

ComedyAdventureFamily

Recommended by Laurie K.

Herbie the Love Bug and his driver Jim must outwit thieves who have hidden diamonds in Herbie's gas tank.

Laurie K. says:"Contrived car race and jewel theft with Don Knotts mugging for laughs and Dean Jones being all earnest amid the lush background of Paris for family fun viewing."

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© Tuesday Night Movie Night

Tuesday Night Movie Night is your free newsletter for one movie recommendation every week, created by two brothers who love film.

Tuesday Night Movie Night is your free newsletter for one movie recommendation every week, created by two brothers who love film.

© Tuesday Night Movie NightTuesday Night Movie Night™ is a trademark of Tuesday Night LLC.

© Tuesday Night Movie Night
Tuesday Night Movie Night™ is a trademark of Tuesday Night LLC.