The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

[9] Clint Eastwood stars in and directs The Outlaw Josey Wales, a Civil War drama about a peaceful farmer who turns to vengeance after a violent faction of the Union army burns down his home and murders his family. Wales joins a…
Rocky (1976)

Rocky (1976)

[9] Sylvester Stallone wrote and stars in this low-budget box office triumph that went on to win the Best Picture Academy Award. Rocky is a remarkable blend of fantastic performances, understated screenwriting, and straightforward execution. It's very hard not to get swept…
Network (1976)

Network (1976)

[10] A suicidal TV news anchorman strikes a nerve with the public, prompting his network to bastardize their news hour with his crackpot proselytizing. Before long, the network embraces pure tabloid sensationalism -- live assassinations and all. Network is now famous for…
Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975)

[10] Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Peter Benchley's shark thriller is extraordinarily well made and far more sophisticated than your average monster movie. The first half is a solid scare-fest that unwinds beautifully, from the first vicious attack on a late night bathing…
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

[10] Oh, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways... I love that you're an unrelenting free fall into madness. I love that your first half is mysterious and suspenseful, and that your second half is…
Chinatown (1974)

Chinatown (1974)

[9] Chinatown is the name of the movie, but only a short final scene takes place there. One could argue the film is a journey to its namesake, but even that's not enough to explain the title. In a rare intimate scene…
The Wicker Man (1973)

The Wicker Man (1973)

[9] Edward Woodward (TV's The Equalizer) stars as a Christian police officer investigating the disappearance of a child on a remote island in the Scottish isles. Attempts to solve the case are complicated by the locals, all pagan practitioners who deny the…
Paper Moon (1973)

Paper Moon (1973)

[10] In the Depression-era Dust Bowl, a traveling con man strikes up an unlikely relationship with an orphan girl who may or may not be his daughter. Director Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) coaxes magnificent performances from real-life father and daughter…
Badlands (1973)

Badlands (1973)

[8]

What an odd, beguiling vigilante road-trip romance this is. Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek star as two oddly unaffected youths who casually pair up and embark on what turns out to be a killing spree through South Dakota. This was director Terrence Malick’s (Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line) first feature film, and much of his trademark style is here — the beautiful scenery, cutaways to flora, fauna, and natural phenomena (including the most beautiful house burning put to film), as well as voice-over narration that begs a more poetic interpretation of the material.

American Graffiti (1973)

American Graffiti (1973)

[9] A close-knit group of teenagers relish their last night of summer vacation before their paths diverge, changing their lives forever, in George Lucas's American Graffiti. Most of the cast succeed in creating wholly believable characters with compelling dilemmas, and Lucas lets…