The 1970s were a decade of cinematic upheaval, a time when Hollywood was shaken to its core by a wave of paranoid, racy, and unflinching movies. Netflix, the streaming giant, has a modest selection of these classic films, but they are well worth the watch. Here's a look at some of the best '70s movies available on Netflix, each offering a unique perspective on the era's cinematic trends and cultural shifts.
Airport
Universal Pictures' 'Airport' is a disaster movie that effectively created the template for a decade of disaster-movie filmmaking. The all-star cast, including Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Jacqueline Bisset, navigates a blizzard at a fictional Midwestern airport, with a stalled aircraft and a hidden bomb adding tension to the 137-minute runtime. While it may not be a great movie today, it's a compelling genre artifact, delivering a sense of workmanlike, practical moviemaking and an unfeigned earnestness that makes it a classic. The film's impact is evident in the three awful sequels it spawned.
Slap Shot
George Roy Hill's 'Slap Shot' is a sports comedy that delves into the darker side of minor league hockey. Set in a fictional Western Pennsylvania mill town, the film explores the economics of desperation and the ease with which violence can be turned to when your material world is full of struggle and despair. Hill, who collaborated with Paul Newman, creates a poignant sense of realism that recognizes the true-to-life circumstances of living outside the sport. The film's legacy is a testament to its sharp storytelling and its ability to hold onto a thread of melancholy, making it a standout in the sports comedy genre.
National Lampoon's Animal House
'National Lampoon's Animal House' is a cult-favorite feature film that marked National Lampoon's first foray into feature filmmaking. Released in 1978, it was a scandalous party comedy that spoke to a rowdy generation of young people who had grown up in a different America from their elders. The film's enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture the futile effort to mature when becoming an adult, with a genuinely funny ensemble, including John Belushi, stealing the show as the absent-minded, drunken Bluto Blutarski. Despite its poor taste, the movie remains a classic, with its comedy still resonating with new viewers.
Smokey and the Bandit
'Smokey and the Bandit' is a summer blockbuster from 1977, starring Burt Reynolds at the peak of his career. The film's premise is simple: Reynolds' 'Bandit' accepts a bet to transport a truckload of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours, with the relentless pursuit of county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) adding tension. The movie's success lies in its charisma, thrilling driving stunts, and easygoing hangout vibe. While it spawned disappointing sequels, the original classic remains a delightful watch, offering pure entertainment and movie-star appeal.
Rocky
'Rocky' is a classic sports character drama that won Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards. At a time when audiences craved escapism, the film signaled a refreshing optimism, celebrating tenacity, hard work, and ambition. Directed by John G. Avildsen, the movie reflects contemporary hardships, with Rocky Balboa's (Sylvester Stallone) ambition born of economic and social malaise. The film's satisfaction comes from seeing Rocky bask in a spiritual release from the unmoored feeling of everyday pressures and barriers. 'Rocky' lives on as a classic sports movie, with its pragmatism and refusal to deliver an easy ending.
Rocky II
'Rocky II' is a sequel that, while not terrible, can't consistently justify the continuation of the story. The film focuses on a rematch between the champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and Rocky, with the former looking to restore his unconquerable reputation and the latter still looking to prove himself. The sequel leans more into traditional boxing movie elements, losing some of the texture of the world and character that made the original classic. Despite this, 'Rocky II' remains a perfectly entertaining sequel with solid formal chops, including a hard-hitting final fight that required surgery for Stallone after filming.
High Plains Drifter
Clint Eastwood's 'High Plains Drifter' is a meaner, sadder Western than any of his preceding movies. The film tells the story of a stoic, nameless stranger who rides into town and gets involved in an existing conflict, influencing it to his liking. Eastwood's presence suggests a spiritual judgment and revenge, manifested as a ghostly figure that takes ownership of the settlement and its people. The movie's honesty and bravery in depicting a troubling veracity of life in an earlier time make it a great classic, with Eastwood using his movie-star power to deliver a troubling veracity of life in an earlier time in our country.
American Graffiti
'American Graffiti' is a nostalgic ensemble piece set over the course of a single summer night in 1962 Modesto, California. Directed by George Lucas, the film tracks several characters simultaneously, their stories loosely braided as they cruise the Modesto strip beneath amber neon and the persistent signal of Wolfman Jack's radio show. The movie's elegiac quality lies beneath its nostalgic exterior, with Lucas understanding precisely what his characters don't: the future. 'American Graffiti' is a coming-of-age movie about a lost cultural naiveté, capturing the blissed-out wave of early '60s California youth culture.
