The 1970s has been remembered for a plethora of things: disco music, women’s rights, The Vietnam War, which led to the spread of love and kindness, and various films. Many of the films that emerged in the 70s are still recalled to this day as being some of the most influential and memorable films to ever grace the big screen. Kicking off with movies such as Arthur Hill’s Lover Story (1970) and George Seaton’s Airport, and ending with the beginning of what viewers today remember as “classic horror” films, this decade carried major change for the film industry that still heavily influences movies of today (679).
A couple of the most notable films that still have a fan following to emerge from the early 70s include The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) and The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973) (679). These films still uphold in front of modern day viewers — who are used to seeing CGI heavy films such as Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Avatar (2009). They are known for their ingenious camera work, profound societal implications, and slow storyline build up that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. However, the films from this decade that continue to carry the largest fan following into the 21st century is, hand down, the first Star Wars (1977) film (681). This movie set the stage for the science fiction genre that we all know and love: space battles, love drama, aliens, and heroic characters that every child can learn a few life tips from. This cinematic marvel began its own franchise (currently 8 films, comic books, and an entire Disneyland exhibit) that has grown so massive, it has become impossible to find someone who hasn’t heard of the series. It was this success that enlightened producers to the benefits of creating something that could carry on for multiple installments — leading to the making of Superman: The Movie (1978), Jaws (1975), Alien (1979), and the outpouring of cinematic series to follow in the 1980s.
The 70s bowed off stage with Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) which opened the door for the classic science fiction horror films of the 80s; The Thing (1982), The Twilight Zone (1983), Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Friday the 13th (1980). The powerful female roles of the 70s now become the strong female lead roles of the 80s. Horror and action flicks revive Hollywood from the grave of the romance genre. Societal movements become fantastic storylines, all of which provide film enthusiasts of the 21st century with a library of classic films to analyze and enjoy.