Photo Credit (Pixeles)

In terms of film, the 1970s were a revolutionary decade. The ’70s produced more classics than almost any other decade, building on the momentum of the arthouse boom and Hollywood’s New Wave. The father of the gods? Chinatown? Jaws? Do you know what they are? The fact that so many of the outstanding movies from that era aren’t discussed enough makes it nearly hard to mention them all. You’ve seen a lot of the classics, but we’ve included a list of some of the less well-known ones.

Mirror 1 of 20 (1975)

You would think that one of the best movies ever made—at least in the top ten—would receive greater recognition. However, Andrei Tarkovsky’s recollections regarding his early years have not been widely viewed. That’s unfortunate since it offers a glimpse of what makes movies so unique: the director’s ability to immerse us in a different world, time, location, and atmosphere that no other kind of art can, among other things.

2 out of 20Manhattan (1979)

Yes, indeed. I am aware. Woody Allen is the director of this film. Manhattan is still one of the most intelligent romantic comedies ever produced, though, if you can separate the art from the artist. Unfortunately, not more people have seen it.

3 out of 20 (1979) Being There

Up until the very end, this film had us captivated. You can’t help but compare the character to real-life societal figures when a naive maid becomes the voice of a generation. And you can’t resist laughing.

4 of 20 (1979) The Brood

The Brood explores some strange territory, as does all of David Cronenberg’s work. Despite his relatively unknown films, this man is credited with bringing body horror to the world’s attention. This tale of a therapeutic camp where dreams come true has a significant impact.

Five of Twenty Blacktop Two-Lane (1971)

When it comes to road flicks, Two-Lane Blacktop is the best (sorry, had to!). Ennui from the 1970s is one of the speed bumps that two drifters encounter when racing a stranger across America. It is a countercultural classic that is in the same lane as Vanishing Point and Easy Rider.

Six out of 20The Bandit and Smokey (1977)

It’s not quite forgotten, after all. It’s the film that made Burt Reynolds famous. However, far too many people have yet to witness this exciting chase involving Reynolds, Sally Field, and Reynolds’ mustache.

Sisters: 7 of 20 (1972)

This horror film, which is among Brian de Palma’s best, is about twins who are inextricably linked. We solve a mystery in this Hitchcockian thriller that has no definitive answers—only lingering questions.

8 of 20 Hanging Rock Picnic (1975)

One more mystery with no definitive answers. How Peter Weir could have produced Picnic at Hanging Rock is the biggest question surrounding the film. Really, I mean it. As with his film about the war of Gallipoli, there is no precedent for this film about girls who disappear while on a field trip. It’s an entirely different feeling that becomes increasingly ethereal over time.

Love Story (1970) 9 of 20

Many thanks, Love Story. Thanks to you, we now have an annual film about teenagers who are devastated by cancer. Young people nowadays might quit buying the latest YA romance films if they watched this instead.

10 of 20 (1973) Don’t Look Now

The sex scene in this film is more well-known than the film itself, let’s face it. Warren Beatty believed his fiancée was cheating on him on video because of how genuine the scene between Sutherland and Julie Christie appeared. The environment that Nicolas Roeg creates, in which the anguish of losing a kid materializes as a fog-like nightmare, is even more amazing.

Silent Running (1972), 11 of 20

If hippies traveled to space, what would happen? The solution is in silent running. While many have not yet explored its spacecraft, some consider this science fiction movie to be a classic.

Traffic, 12 of 20 (1971)

One of the most underappreciated filmmakers of all time is Jacques Tati. The majority of people are unaware of him, even though he is a favorite of many directors. Traffic is yet another adventure through his whimsically distinct world, although we suggest you start with Playtime or Mon Oncle.

Klute, 13 of 20 (1971)

Most people are familiar with The Parallax View and All the President’s Men. However, the other paranoid thriller by Alan J. Pakula is also good. Pakula creates tension more effectively than most directors, and Jane Fonda gives a superbly frightened performance as a lady who fears she is being stalked.

14 of 20 Josey Wales: The Outlaw (1976)

From his work as a filmmaker to his collaborations with Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood has starred in some of the most well-known Westerns ever made. Although it isn’t as well-known as books like Unforgiven or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, this one is nonetheless one of his best. It’s a fun excursion through the American suburbs during the Civil War.

House 15 of 20 (1977)

What am I viewing, anyway? Throughout Home, a creepy home film with missing heads, acid imagery, and vibrant colors, this idea keeps coming to mind. Because of some genuinely insane scares, the film gives you a high even while you’re sober.

Harold and Maude (1971) 16 of 20

They maximize their time together when a death-obsessed boy falls in love with a life-obsessed woman. They spend every moment together in some of the most beautiful, humorous, and liberating scenes in film history as they play together through fields, funerals, gardens, and graves. Cinematic hippie optimism was encapsulated by Hal Ashby.

Badlands, 17 of 20 (1973)

You’ll note that there are more road movies from the 1960s and 1970s than from any other decade. This is because, among many other things, our nation was trying to figure itself out in the midst of the Vietnam War, the hippie revolution, protests, politics, and more. In their own houses, many didn’t feel comfortable. As two lovers flee, Badlands poetically encapsulates this emotion.

18 out of 20The 1977 film Pete’s Dragon

Though there were still some outstanding works, animation was one of the few genres that didn’t reach its zenith in the 1970s. One of them is Pete’s Dragon, which tells the story of a youngster who befriends a dragon.

Vanishing Point (1971) 19 of 20

One more road movie! Thousands of police officers follow a man who tries to drive across many states and back in a short period of time in Vanishing Point. This time, the road trip is countercultural and features some really awesome chases.

Amarcord, 20 of 20 (1973)

Amarcord is a film about Federico Fellini’s early years that only he could have produced. It is filled with his signature humor, surrealistic flourishes, characters, colors, antics, touches, and autobiographical feelings. I could watch this amazing experience for hours on end.