The Best Movies of the 60’s and 70’s Still Hold up!

The 1960’s and 1970’s were a time for change as cultural events, social changes, and experimentation all took center stage over family dinner table conversations. In fact, you probably remember some of the most iconic movies that came out during these times. Let’s recount some of the best movies of the 60’s and the best movies of the 70’s. 

The Exorcist – 1973

Not only was this film one of the best movies of the 70’s, but it’s still known to be among the scariest films of all time. When you consider the fact that many of the special effects in this movie still hold up to the CGI that’s used today, it gets more impressive. If you saw this in theaters, certain grotesque and disturbing scenes may have caused you to use the “Exorcist Barf Bags” available at the movies screenings.

 
Critics continue to hail this movie as a terrifying classic, and its reputation continues to grow with new audiences with DVD-releases and special television broadcasts. If you’re still interested in getting a good scare, it may be worth to watch the re-releases that feature cut scenes and commentary from actors and crew members that were on set.

 

The Godfather – 1972

You probably remember this crime film becoming one of the highest-grossing films for the year that it came out. The Godfather pulled Paramount out of a very unsuccessful period and became a blockbuster rather quickly. Many scenes and quotes have integrated heavily into American life and media.

 
Most notably, the characters of The Godfather have become so iconic that many critics consider them the origins of certain tropes in film and television today. If you rewatch the movie, you may catch a few lines and scenes that are references in other films and television shows that you have already watched.

 

Rosemary’s Baby – 1968

This movie was quickly considered one of the best movies of the 60’s, and it was also based off of a best-selling novel that you probably read under the covers. “Rosemary’s Baby,” as the title hints, tells the story of a pregnant Rosemary who discovers that her husband has made a deal with a Satanic cult. This film was so shocking and popular that many other movie studios followed suit by filming movies that had heavy themes of black magic and Satanism.

 
It became such an iconic film that it was hailed as a “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress, and it has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. With that honor, many DVDs are available for sale and several movie broadcast channels feature the movie every Halloween.

 

Star Wars: A New Hope – 1977

The Star Wars franchise lasted well into the 1980’s, but the first film, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” is still considered on the best movies of the 70’s. Nearly 40 years later, it’s still probably one of your favourite movies. In fact, it’s probably your kids and grandkids favourite movie series. Its director, George Lucas, introduced amazing special effects for its time and sound effects that are still recognisable by all cinema fans today.

 
The Star Wars franchise has lasted well beyond the 70’s. These new films are now breakout roles for many actors and actresses that are both taking Hollywood by storm and honouring the original cast members. In fact, you may have gone with your family to see “The Force Awakens,” and you may have plans to go see “Rogue One” and the other two films planned for release.

 

2001: Space Odyssey – 1968

This epic science fiction film was partially inspired by a short story that was written by one of the film’s screenplay writers. This film chronicles the voyage to Jupiter of astronauts guided by the artificially intelligent computer Hal. You probably remember this film for its themes of existentialism, technology, artificial intelligence, and the still widely controversial topic of human evolution.

 
If you’re a science fiction fan, then you may have heard a wide range of reactions from several of your peers. Decades later, the film opens up several discussions of its themes. If you can, you probably can catch it on a television broadcast or at your local theatre for a special screening.

 

101 Dalmatians – 1961

You probably fondly remember watching this beautifully animated Disney classic in the theaters as a child! Walt Disney himself aspired to make this movie after reading the novel of the same name in 1957, and it became one of the best movies of the 60’s right after its release. In fact, this film pulled Disney’s animation studio out of dark times and the film’s song “Cruella De Vil” is still a well-recognized and highly-covered song. It’s a wonderful family film that is still enjoyed by audiences of all ages.