The 50 Best ’70s Movies to Stream Right Now
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It’s safe to say that the ’70s was one of the greatest decades in cinema history. Apart from introducing us to the notorious Michael Corleone from The Godfather, the film industry ushered in a new era of fantasy storytelling, thanks to iconic titles like Star Wars and Superman. Plus, we got to see refreshing new takes on gender norms with movies like Kramer vs. Kramer. Not to mention, the new wave of Black-led films, like Coffy and Shaft, that pioneered diversity on the big screen.
So, to celebrate the historic decade, we rounded up 50 of the best ’70s movies you can stream right now, from comedy flicks to crime dramas.
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1. ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)
Inspired by the true story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who reported on one of America’s biggest political scandals, the film follows two rival journalists as they investigate a burglary at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Complex. Both Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman deliver stellar performances.
2. ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ (1975)
Al Pacino stars as Sonny, a criminal who teams up with his dim-witted sidekick, Sal (John Cazale), to rob a Brooklyn bank on a hot summer day. But when their plan goes horribly wrong, a hostage situation ensues, leading to a media circus that involves the FBI. The film scored an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and earned Al Pacino the British Academy Film Award for Best Actor.
3. ‘Shaft’ (1971)
Not only did it highlight Black representation in cinema, but it also gave us Richard Roundtree, the ultimate cool and suave Black detective. Roundtree stars as the street-smart private eye John Shaft, who gets hired by a notorious Harlem mobster to find his kidnapped daughter. We dare you to get through the entire movie without humming along to Isaac Hayes’ iconic "Theme from Shaft."
4. ‘Jaws’ (1975)
It’s the summer blockbuster that turned Steven Spielberg into a household name and made people think twice before swimming in the ocean. Jaws follows a police chief and his team as they attempt to hunt down a man-eating shark that has targeted beach goers. It won three Academy Awards and grossed a record $21 million within just 10 days of its release.
5. ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ (1975)
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s novella of the same name, The Man Who Would Be King follows two former military officers, played by Michael Caine and Sean Connery, as they embark on a new adventure. The two men travel to the remote land of Kafiristan, where everyone treats them like royalty and, eventually, believes that one of them is a god. What could go wrong?
6. ‘A Touch of Zen’ (1971)
When Ku Shen Chai (Chun Shih), an artist living with his mother, discovers a beautiful woman named Yang Hui-ching (Feng Hsu) in an abandoned fort, he learns that she’s on the run from a group of corrupt government officials. But with the help of skilled monks, both Ku and Yang fight multiple battles to keep her alive. Although the film was pretty progressive, it only ran for a single week and flopped at the box office because of its feminist themes.
7. ‘Star Wars’ (1977)
When Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) gets captured by Imperial Forces, all thanks to the evil Darth Vader (David Prowse), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue her, with the help of Obi-Wan (Alec Guinness) and a smuggler named Han Solo. The groundbreaking sci-fi flick introduced a whole new world and has since grown into a pop culture phenomenon.
8. ‘Mean Streets’ (1973)
Think The Godfather, but with a little less flashy glamour and a lot more grit. Mean Streets takes viewers on an intense journey as Charlie (Harvey Keitel), an Italian-American gangster, attempts to help his friend and reckless gambler, Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro), get out of trouble with multiple loan sharks.
9. 'Coffy' (1973)
The fabulous Pam Grier is Coffy, a nurse-turned-vigilante who targets drug dealers when she learns that her sister has become a heroin addict. But as she goes on her killing spree under the guise of a drug-addicted prostitute, she uncovers a very dark secret that involves her politician boyfriend.
10. ‘The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie’ (1972)
Clue meets The Exterminating Angel in Luis Buñuel’s surreal fantasy, where a group of six well-off friends repeatedly try (and fail) to gather for a special dinner. Considered Buñuel’s most successful work, the film earned two Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Foreign Language Film.
11. ‘Dirty Harry’ (1971)
We can thank this franchise for paving the way for countless other police films. This first installment follows Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) as he pursues a psychopathic killer named Scorpio (Andy Robinson) and attempts to save a kidnapped girl. FYI, did you know that Dirty Harry drew inspiration from the real-life Zodiac Killer?
12. ‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Arguably the greatest gangster film ever made, The Godfather offers an in-depth look at the mafia and Italian-American culture. We follow the transformation of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the youngest son of crime boss Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), as he joins the Mafia and follows in his father’s footsteps. Not surprisingly, the film broke several box office records and won three Academy awards, including Best Picture.
13. ‘The Godfather: Part II’ (1974)
In this equally compelling follow-up, we continue to follow Michael’s troubled journey as he tries to grow his family’s empire—only this time, it’s paralleled with his father’s intriguing backstory. The Godfather: Part II wound up with six Academy Award wins, making history as the first sequel to win an Oscar for Best Picture.
14. ‘Alien’ (1979)
Not only did it launch Sigourney Weaver's acting career, but it also blossomed into a massive franchise that would include sequels, crossovers, video games and more. Set in outer space, the film follows the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo, who are terrified to discover that a deadly extraterrestrial is roaming free on their ship. Can they survive the journey home?
15. ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ (1975)
Equal parts brilliant and bizarre, Monty Python and the Holy Grail parodies the famous legend of King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail. As King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table embark on their journey, however, they’re forced to deal with several challenges, from a killer rabbit to a three-headed giant. (Fun fact: Elvis Presley was a huge Monty Python fan, and according to cast member Eric Idle, the rock ‘n roll singer saw this particular installment four times in theaters.)
16. ‘Rocky’ (1976)
Revisit the inspiring story of the Italian Stallion, who goes from being a small-time fighter and debt collector to a well-known heavyweight boxer. The movie spawned a whopping eight sequels and, to this day, it’s impossible to hear Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” without thinking of Rocky Balboa.
17. ‘Superman’ (1978)
It’s a bird! It's a plane! It’s...Superman! Christopher Reeves embodies the beloved DC Comics character in this classic superhero film, which chronicles Clark Kent’s upbringing in Smallville and his journey to becoming the fearless Man of Steel. No disrespect to Dean Cain or Henry Cavill, but Reeves is (and will always be) the ultimate Superman.
18. ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)
Set during the Vietnam War, Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) sets out to complete one of his toughest missions yet: assassinate an Army Special Forces officer who has apparently gone rogue. Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall and Laurence Fishburne all star in this gripping film, which earned two Academy Awards.
19. ‘Taxi Driver’ (1976)
Taxi Driver follows the life of Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), an unstable cab driver and veteran who works night shifts in New York City. As he crosses paths with a campaign volunteer and a child prostitute, he feels compelled to save them—except his attempts only seem to make things worse.
20. ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971)
It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but its stellar cast and fascinating premise are bound to reel you in. Malcolm McDowell stars as the reckless delinquent, Alex, who leads a gang of criminals and commits unspeakable crimes. But his life takes a rather interesting turn when he gets captured and undergoes aversion therapy.
21. ‘Don’t Look Now’ (1973)
When John (Donald Sutherland) and Laura Baxter (Julie Christie) head to Italy following the death of their daughter, they meet two mysterious sisters who claim they can contact the couple’s deceased child. John dismisses their claims, but he starts to have second thoughts when he catches a glimpse of what appears to be his little girl.
22. ‘Kramer Vs. Kramer’ (1979)
Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman), a successful advertising executive, is stunned to learn that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him to raise their son on his own. The landmark film was one of the first to explore the impact of divorce on children and challenge gender norms, proving that fathers can also be single parents.
23. ‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973)
On a mission to avenge the death of his sister, a skilled martial arts fighter enters a kung fu competition in hopes of catching the drug dealer who’s responsible. The action film, which grossed over 400 times its budget, led to a huge increase in the popularity of the genre, inspiring TV shows, fighting games and more.
24. ‘American Graffiti’ (1973)
Told through a series of vignettes, the Oscar-nominated coming-of-age film follows a group of teenagers as they spend their final night together after high school graduation in 1962.
25. ‘Halloween’ (1978)
Need more spooky options for movie night during Halloween season? Look no further. In this classic slasher film, we follow Michael Myers (Nick Castle), a mental patient who was found guilty of murdering his teenage sister on Halloween night. When he escapes the sanitarium more than a decade later, he sets his eyes on a new target.
26. ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ (1974)
After noticing his wife’s increasingly erratic behavior, a construction worker decides to commit her to an institution, leaving him to care for their three children on his own. Yes, it’s more than two hours long, but don’t let the lengthy run-time deter you. A Woman Under the Influence is quite touching and incredibly insightful.
27. ‘The Passenger’ (1975)
While covering a story in northern Africa, journalist David Locke (Jack Nicholson) comes across the dead body of someone who appears to be his lookalike. He decides to assume this person’s identity, but when he learns about the mystery man’s dark past, he realizes it may not have been the wisest idea.
28. ‘Love and Death’ (1975)
Woody Allen plays Boris Grushenko, a cowardly scholar who has no choice but to enlist in the Russian army during the Napoleonic Wars. He inadvertently becomes a war hero and returns home to marry his distant cousin, Sonja (Diane Keaton). But when Napoleon invades the Russian Empire, Sonja devises a plan to assassinate the military leader.
29. ‘The Sting’ (1973)
Set during the Great Depression, a drifter named Johnny Hooker joins forces with a seasoned con artist to avenge the murder of a mutual friend. However, executing their elaborate scheme proves to be more difficult than they thought.
30. ‘Three the Hard Way’ (1974)
Three Black men–a record producer, a businessman and a martial artist—work together to stop white supremacists, who intend to poison the U.S. water supply with a toxin that’s only lethal to the Black community. Fred Williamson, Jim Brown and Jim Kelly star in the drama.
31. ‘The Last Detail’ (1973)
Two Navy men are commissioned to escort a young criminal from Virginia to a military prison in Maine. But it’s no ordinary journey, especially since the sailors decide to show him a great time during his last moments of freedom.
32. ‘Badlands’ (1973)
Meet Bonnie & Clyde's evil twin, Badlands. The film follows 15-year-old Holly, who falls hard for a greaser in his 20s and joins him on a killing spree in hopes of getting her happy ending.
33. ‘The French Connection’ (1971)
After a night at the club, two suspicious NYPD detectives decide to keep a close eye on a candy store after spotting some strange activity. In the process, they learn about a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, leading them to search for the French heroin smuggler, Alain Charnier.
34. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ (1975)
Jack Nicholson is simply brilliant as Randle McMurphy, a criminal who decides to plead insanity to avoid a harsher punishment. But when he joins the mental institution, he’s dismayed to find that all the patients are overseen by the oppressive and cold-hearted Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). The iconic film made history as the second to ever win Academy Awards in all five major categories, including Best Picture, Actor in Lead Role, Actress in Lead Role, Director and Screenplay.
35. ‘Annie Hall’ (1977)
Dynamic duo Woody Allen and Diane Keaton play comedian Alvy Singer and nightclub artist Annie Hall, who have a troubled relationship. Throughout the film, Alvy reflects on the ups and downs of their romance, giving viewers a glimpse of his life before he met Annie. The satirical rom-com made nearly ten times its overall budget and is considered one of the greatest comedy films of all time.
36. ‘Animal House’ (1978)
After failing to get into a prestigious fraternity, freshman students Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) settle for the wildest frat house: Delta Tau Chi. The only problem? The school’s dean is determined to shut down the fraternity and expel its members.
37. ‘Carrie’ (1976)
Chloë Grace Moretz did a decent job in the 2013 remake. But trust us when we say that it doesn’t hold a candle to this bone-chilling adaptation. Sissy Spacek stars as the outcast student, Carrie White, who suspects that she has supernatural abilities when strange occurrences happen around her.
38. ‘The Organization’ (1971)
Sidney Poitier plays police detective Virgil Tibbs, who’s tasked with investigating the murder of a night watchman. When his superiors discover that he has ties to a group of suspects, he gets suspended. But that doesn’t stop him from getting to the bottom of the truth.
39. ‘Serpico’ (1973)
Pacino strikes again with this intense biographical crime drama, which is based on the true story of former detective Frank Serpico. The film depicts his experience with corruption within the New York City Police Department, as well as his decision to go public and the investigation that followed.
40. ‘Midnight Express’ (1978)
Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), an American student, is put behind bars after getting caught smuggling drugs by Turkish police. But after serving his four years, he learns that another 30 years has been added to his sentence, leaving him no choice but to plan his escape.
41. ‘The Last Picture Show’ (1971)
The touching coming-of-age tale focuses on Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges) as they struggle to make it out of their tiny Texas town. Cast members include Ellen Burstyn, Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman.
42. ‘Frenzy’ (1972)
Set in London, the movie follows Richard Blaney, a widowed man who is suspected of being the The Necktie Murderer, a serial killer who has been assaulting and strangling women. Can he prove his innocence?
43. ‘The Getaway’ (1972)
When her husband and criminal mastermind Carter “Doc” McCoy (Steve McQueen) is denied parole, Carol (Ali MacGraw) turns to a corrupt businessman for help. He agrees on one condition: the couple help him rob a bank. When they get double crossed, Carol and Doc are forced to go on the run.
44. ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (1974)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is genuinely horrifying, and it certainly set a new standard for every other thriller movie that followed. The plot revolves around a group of friends who get terrorized by Leatherface, a chainsaw-wielding cannibal who intends to kill them one by one.
45. ‘Marathon Man’ (1976)
Based on William Goldman's 1974 novel of the same name, Marathon Man follows a grad student and runner who gets entangled in a plot by a Nazi war criminal to steal his dead brother's valuable gems. Expect plenty of suspense and one of the most terrifying torture scenes you'll ever see.
46. ‘Patton’ (1970)
Want to brush up on your American history? Consider Patton. The biographical war drama takes a deeper look at the life of U.S. General George S. Patton, who's best known for his success as a commander during World War II. It won an impressive seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
47. ‘Buck and the Preacher’ (1972)
Following the Civil War, a Black trail-guide named Buck (Sidney Poitier) gains an unlikely ally as he tries to help former slaves avoid getting captured by bounty hunters.
48. ‘Tristana’ (1970)
Following the death of her mother, Tristana (Catherine Deneuve) finds refuge with an old-fashioned, middle-aged aristocrat named Don Lope (Fernando Rey), but it's not all sunshine and roses. He takes advantage of his reputation by seducing her, but things start to change when she meets and falls in love with a young artist.
49. ‘The Final Comedown’ (1972)
Billy Dee Williams, D'Urville Martin and Billy Durkin star in this underrated gem, which, through a series of flashbacks, explores racial tensions and police violence in America.
50. ‘Fist of Fury’ (1972)
After moving to Thailand, Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee) tries his best to honor a special promise to his mother: to avoid all violence. But unfortunately, keeping this oath turns out to be his most difficult challenge—thanks to his corrupt boss.
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