Iconic Movies of the 70s
Ahhh the 70s… a time where flare pants were all the rage and your coolness was measured by the size of your hair tease. We adore the 70s, as it’s the era where Star Wars, Saturday Night Fever and The Godfather were all released. It’s also an era that saw a wave of activism with the likes of Mother Teresa and Harvey Milk.
Of course, we cannot forget the evolution of the disco scene, the pop culture obsession with circular sunglasses and tie-dye clothing, and with everything sprinkled with glitter. We could go on forever. When it comes to the movies of the 70s, we spend all day diving into our favourite blasts from the past. So, in the spirit of nostalgia, we are going to explore the 7 most iconic movies of the 70s. Let us know if we missed your favourite.
#1 The First Star Wars Film (1977)
May the force be with you. Did you know that the iconic Star Wars legacy was launched in the 70s? Star Wars became the biggest hit of the decade, and launched the most successful sci-fi franchise the world has ever seen. It is in this first movie that we meet a young Luke Skywalker, as he is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance, after a chance meeting with Obi-Wan Kenobi. The duo set sights on a daring mission to rescue Princess Leia, and rid the galaxy of the evil Empire. If you know anyone obsessed with the Star Wars franchise, perhaps you’d like to gift to them our 3500 Game Upright Arcade Machine with an epic star wars casing!
#2 Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver sealed the deal for Martin Scorsese’s reputation. It also propelled Robert De Niro as the decade’s preeminent method actor. De Niro even lost 35 pounds for his role. Taxi Driver perfectly captured a decaying New York City as it teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. Furthermore, Jodie Foster and Robert De Niro were both nominated for an Oscar for their roles in the film.
#3 The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather is arguably not just the greatest movie of the 1970s, it’s considered the greatest of all time — at least according to Time magazine, the American Film Institute and a slew of other accolade lists. The movie even bagged three Oscar wins. The story revolves around the Corleone family, who are led by the family patriarch Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando.
#4 Saturday Night Fever (1978)
Anxious about his future after high school, a 19-year-old Italian-American from Brooklyn tries to escape the harsh reality of his bleak family life by dominating the dance floor at the local disco. This movie started a wave for the 70s, and defined a new direction for fashion and style.
#5 Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s man-eating fish tale changed Hollywood forever, and changed how we swam in the ocean. The fear was ignited with just two notes (you know the two). Jaws ended up raking over $100 million, and before the release of Star Wars, it was set to be the highest grossing film of the decade.
#6 Rocky (1976)
Today, there are many sequels that have teared down from the original. It is easy to forget that the original Rocky film was released in 1976. It blended character drama with boxing, focusing on a working-class ambitious kid who just wanted to go the distance, win or lose. Sylvester Stallone’s down-to-earth screenplay and relatable performance left a legacy that is remembered to this day.
#7 Grease (1978)
From friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the 1950s. We are talking about Grease. It is the most successful movie musical of all time, where a wholesome exchange student, and a leather-clad John Travolta have a summer romance.
Did we include your favourite blast from the past with this iconic movies of the 70s list? Why not keep the nostalgic feels going and have a browse of our range of retro arcade machines.