Entertainment
50 Years Later, These Are the 10 Best Movies of 1976
It’s agreed upon by most film fans that the ‘70s were the greatest decade in film history, which is why they are often referred to as the “New Hollywood” era. It was after a series of significant box office disappointments in the 1960s that studios began to give more creative control to directors, many of whom were young, and fresh out of film school. Since this rising crop of filmmakers tended to cite international cinema as an influence on their work, the definition of what a “Hollywood” film was transformed dramatically.
It’s incredible to look back at the films of 1976 because so many of them have had a lasting impact on popular culture, and still are perceived to be a significant influence on the cinema of 2026. It was a robust year filled with classics in nearly every genre.
10
‘Carrie’ (1976)
Carrie was the first adaptation ever of a Stephen King novel, and it remains one of the best. What made King’s story so good was that it was a haunting horror story that also presented itself as a coming-of-age tale with a relatable protagonist, and Carrie featured a standout performance by Sissy Spacek that launched one of the most significant stars of the next decade.
Carrie was also a major film for director Brian De Palma, who had his first major success after making a few smaller titles earlier in the decade. De Palma was often cited as being a “modern Alfred Hitchcock” because of the way that he used suspense and intrigue, and Carrie showed how he was willing to tear down taboos when it came to graphic content, thanks to the film’s horrific, bloody ending scene at the school dance.
9
‘The Killing of a Chinese Bookie’ (1976)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie was a very unique film for director John Cassavetes, as for the most part he had made smaller arthouse dramas, many of which starred his partner, Gena Rowlands. Comparatively, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie was an anxiety-inducing crime thriller that became a masterclass in escalation, as Cassavetes was able to dig deep within the criminal underworld to tell a story of regret and retaliation.
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie came out only a few years after The Godfather, and proved once again that the crime genre was malleable to tell many different types of stories that could be considered “elevated.” While the original cut of the film released in theaters is a masterpiece, Cassavetes also released a director’s cut (that is widely available on streaming) that is much closer to his original vision.
8
‘Mikey and Nicky’ (1976)
Mikey and Nicky was the third film directed by Elaine May, a filmmaker who sadly didn’t receive as many opportunities as she deserved. Although May had a famously intense production process that required fine-tuning and countless takes, the results were all masterpieces, as Mikey and Nicky is one of the best films ever made about male friendship and the impossibility of paying off debts.
May was able to get a great performance out of Cassavetes, who proved that he was capable of completely transforming for a role, even if it was for a film that he did not personally direct. That being said, the true scene-stealer of Mikey and Nicky is the late great Peter Falk, who was able to give a performance so charming, amusing, haunting, and tragic all at once that it makes the film even thoriner upon rewatch.
7
‘Marathon Man’ (1976)
Marathon Man was a truly unique spy thriller that was based on a very popular book, yet still managed to be just as popular. Although Dustin Hoffman was already one of the most respected actors of his generation, he stepped outside of his comfort zone to play a university student that goes on the run after his brother (Roy Scheider) is killed trying to prevent a powerful Nazi (Laurence Olivier) from gaining a powerful treasure.
Olivier was a shocking choice to play the main villain, as he was a more classical British actor who was best known for his work in the adaptations of William Shakespeare and other classic novelists. Nonetheless, Olivier succeeded in giving a transformative and terrifying performance, which was made all the more scary thanks to one of the most realistic torture scenes ever captured on film.
6
‘Rocky’ (1976)
Rocky isn’t just the greatest inspirational sports film of all-time, but the classic that basically redefined the genre and has inspired countless imitators. Although it inspired a terrific franchise that is still going strong to this day, the original Rocky is almost underrated at this point for what a thoughtful, grounded character drama it is, as director John Avildsen avoided some of the more outlandish feats of spectacle that became more prominent in the sequels.
Sylvester Stallone is a movie star with a mixed track record when it comes to hits and misses, but he wrote the original screenplay for Rocky and clearly poured all of his efforts and companion into the story of the ultimate underdog. Stallone has now become a massive action star with many franchises to his name, but Rocky is still the film and performance that he will always be best known for.
5
‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’ (1976)
The Outlaw Josey Wales was a significant achievement for Clint Eastwood, who was quickly proving that he was just as good at directing Westerns as he was at starring in them. Although Eastwood has succeeded in making a smaller, grittier Western thriller just three years prior with High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales was a true war epic that was far more expansive in terms of scope.
The Outlaw Josey Wales showed how brave Eastwood was willing to be when casting himself, as it was far from the type of egocentric role that many other actors-turned-directors would take. He cast himself to play a truly violent, often scary anti-hero, and was able to explore the complex ethical ramifications of the situation by creating a flawed protagonist. Few better films have ever been made about the aftermath of the American Civil War.
4
‘Assault on Precinct 13’ (1976)
Assault on Precinct 13 was a true step up from director John Carpenter, whose previous film Dark Star had really only been a slightly more polished student project that was aimed at satirizing science fiction space operas. Assault on Precinct 13 may have looked on its surface to be another traditional cop thriller, but Carpenter had a trick up his sleeve; he was deeply indebted to the Western cinema of Howard Hawks, as Assault on Precinct 13 served as a loose remake of Rio Bravo that changed the setting from the Wild West to a contemporary police station.
Assault on Precinct 13 featured incredible shootout and fight scenes, even though it was released long before the “action genre” took off in the wake of Die Hard. It’s one of Carpenter’s toughest movies, and is often remembered for its particularly gritty opening scene.
3
‘Network’ (1976)
Network is the rare film from 1976 that remains just as relevant today and it did during its initial theatrical release, as it explored the idea of media sensationalism and overconsumption in a way that resonates even more deeply in the era of the Internet. Although the line “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” is what the film might be best remembered for, Network has countless amazing pieces of dialogue, as it is one of the best screenplays ever written.
Network has a truly incredible lineup of the most acclaimed actors who were starring in all the best films of the ‘70s, with Peter Finch becoming one of the few stars to win a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor. Although he was one of the few cast members that wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, Robert Duvall also gives one of his best performances in Network.
2
‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)
All the President’s Men is one of the most important political films ever made because it tackled the controversies surrounding the “Watergate” scandal in the administration of President Richard Nixon only a few years after they transpired. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman gave some of their greatest performances ever as Woodward and Bernstein, respectively, the duo of reporters whose report led Nixon to become the first President of the United States in history to resign from office.
All the President’s Men is still cited as being one of the most accurate and important films about the journalistic process, as it examined aspects of an investigation that must be followed in order for the reporters to make their proclamations with absolute certainty. It’s also a great piece of entertainment, as Alan Pakula was a director who could take important stories and make them very engaging for general audiences.
1
‘Taxi Driver’ (1976)
Taxi Driver was a groundbreaking film for Martin Scorsese because it crafted one of cinema’s most defining anti-heroes in Travis Bickle, the unusual main character played by Robert De Niro in one of his greatest performances ever. Bickle was meant to reflect the disillusionment of a generation of Vietnam War veterans who discovered that the country was in shambles, and turned to the underworld as a means of reaching self-actualization.
Taxi Driver is a magnetic thriller because it’s intense to see whether Bickle will lose his mind completely, or if his ethics will come through so that he can do the right thing, even if he only does it inadvertently. Although Scorsese and De Niro had previously worked with one another on the 1973 film Mean Streets, Taxi Driver marked the true inception of one of the greatest director-actor collaborations of all-time.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login