2026 looms as an exciting year of cinema, with everything from superhero blockbusters to commanding adaptations and exciting franchise continuations set to dominate the box office throughout the year. However, the prospect of the new dawn of a budding year gives ample time for reflection, to appreciate milestones and past triumphs, and, in a cinematic sense, to celebrate the films of yesteryear reaching a major anniversary.
The movies of 1976 will turn 50 this year, and to say that ’76 was a year of astonishing greatness in filmmaking would be an understatement. Ranging from lean and mean political thrillers to some of horror’s most defining icons, groundbreaking Westerns, timeless dramas, international gems, and maybe even the greatest sports movie of all time, 2026 marks a huge half-century celebration for one of the finest years in film history.
10
‘Assault on Precinct 13’
Perhaps the defining cult classic of action cinema of the 1970s at large, Assault on Precinct 13 has overcome its initial mixed critical reception and poor box office performance to be a cherished gem of microbudget thrills and a landmark moment in John Carpenter’s illustrious career. The action bonanza unfolds as a vindictive and violent street gang swears a blood oath of vengeance against the police force, leading to a chaotic attack on a station that leaves a highway patrol officer, a convicted felon, and two secretaries fighting for survival.
Highlighting Carpenter’s sublime skill, cunning resourcefulness, and his talent for conjuring tight and tense action comprised of kinetic, energized movement rather than wordy dialogue, Assault on Precinct 13 is a gritty treat of cinematic violence that runs as Rio Bravo set amid a nightmarish urban dystopia with infusions of Night of the Living Dead. A fascinating amalgamation of genres and influences, it remains one of the most tonally captivating action movies ever made as well as a brutally enjoyable gem of ’70s action.
9
‘The Message’
It was a decade or two detached from the heyday of religious epics defining blockbuster cinema, and The Message has arguably not garnered quite the same fanfare because of that. Alas, the three-hour-long historical odyssey commands respect for the ambition of its scope and the accuracy of its recount. Depicting the birth of Islam, it focuses on key figures involved in the feud between Mecca and the growing Muslim faith in the seventh century. While Muhammad himself is never depicted, The Message does dramatize the spread of the word of Allah and the opposition the faith’s followers faced early on.
Flaunting its big-budget grandeur, The Message is a patient though absorbing epic, a triumphant depiction of the origins of Islam buoyed by an air of importance supported by its production design, steady direction, and its striking score and cinematography. It also stands as a stunning achievement of historical storytelling, successfully bringing true events to life in a manner that manages to be engaging in a dramatic sense and respectful to the religious and cultural significance of its basis, even going so far as to shoot both an English and Arabic version.
8
‘The Omen’
Given the many, many iconic horror titles of the 1970s, The Omen may sometimes be overlooked as the terrifying masterpiece that it is. A supernatural horror that masters the art of utilizing childlike innocence as a catalyst for visceral dread, it follows an American diplomat and his wife who, after losing their baby in childbirth, secretly adopt an orphaned infant whose mother died during the pregnancy. Five years later, a series of disturbing occurrences befall the Thorn family, with young Damien (Harvey Spencer Stevens) being at the center of it all.
Suspense simmers with every second of The Omen’s atmospheric intensity, its ominous air of horror growing heavy on viewers as its chilling yet measured progression is punctuated with outbursts of inventive and ferocious violence. The Omen also employs biblical themes, a frightful score from Jerry Goldsmith, and impressive work from a strong cast led by Gregory Peck. The result is a horror that has stood the test of time, lingering on the mind of viewers who watch it even today as a grueling psychological terror that grounds supernatural evil in the real world.
7
‘Cría Cuervos’
A cerebral and fiercely political drama from Spain that stands defiant against the ideologies of the Francoist regime and delves into the complexities of childhood, Cría Cuervos is an underrated gem of international cinema. It centers on the experiences of Ana (Ana Torrent), an eight-year-old girl who, following her father’s death, is placed in the care of her strict and impersonal aunt along with her sisters. Wafting between her unpleasant experiences and her memories of her affectionate mother, the film presents a tapestry of childhood trauma and repression.
The film’s most striking quality is its immersive emotional realism, its ability to make the unhappiness of the household feel claustrophobic and persistent while bathing Ana’s memories of her mother with warmth. Further bolstered by outstanding cinematography, mesmerizing melancholic music, and a litany of exceptional performances—particularly from the child actors—Cría Cuervos is a poignant analysis of patriarchal control and the trauma many Spaniards endured through Franco-era Spain, told through the allegory of a child’s hardships.
6
‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’
1973’s High Plains Drifter may have impressed as Clint Eastwood’s first foray into directing Western cinema, but it was his sophomore attempt at handling the genre that proved he had what it takes to master the form, especially through a revisionist lens. The Outlaw Josey Wales stars Eastwood as Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer-turned-Civil War soldier following the murder of his family at the hands of pro-Union paramilitaries. When trouble stirs in the aftermath of the war, Wales must flee to Texas to avoid the $5,000 bounty on his head, even as his nemesis pursues him, hoping to claim the reward.
While the style and characters are very much inspired by Eastwood’s collaborations with Sergio Leone in the Dollars Trilogy, The Outlaw Josey Wales holds a grit, emotional weight, and atmospheric intensity that make for one of the defining Westerns of the ’70s at large. It also evolved the genre through its thought-provoking and character-based revisionist drama that actively challenged preconceived beliefs about the nature of the Old West and post-Civil War era with intelligence, ambiguity, and a penchant for grounded violence rather than sensationalized heroism.
5
‘Carrie’
Based on the very first novel published by Stephen King and bolstered by Brian De Palma’s striking directorial instincts, Carrie is a piercing marriage of supernatural horror and teenage drama anchored in cruelty, alienation, and delusion. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie, a bullied teenager living under the thumb of her extremely religious and abusive mother, who discovers she possesses telekinetic powers. As some classmates take pity on her in the lead-up to the school prom, others conspire to humiliate her, making for a volatile situation as Carrie’s newfound abilities clash with her vengeful rage.
Like so many great horror movies, Carrie doesn’t start out with brutal horror; instead, it homes in on the adolescent angst and coming-of-age hostilities as the supernatural elements slowly emerge, allowing the tension to simmer throughout the film and right up until its explosive finale. It makes for a rewarding and unforgettable conclusion, a sequence of confronting violence and tragedy that presents the psychological horror of King’s story with impressionable terror. Fifty years later, it remains a visceral and rattling viewing experience that extracts both drama and dread to be one of the most timeless horror movies ever made.
4
‘Rocky’
One of the most iconic movies ever made, Rocky shines as the ultimate underdog story, an uplifting tale of opportunity, determination, and self-respect that thrives with its rich character depth, inspirational message, and Bill Conti’s unforgettable score. It follows Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time brawler from Philadelphia who is given a shot at the title on short notice when the world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), takes a liking to his moniker, the Italian Stallion.
The film spends almost an entire hour simply defining the characters, highlighting Rocky’s humility and dedication, but also his gentle and compassionate demeanor amid a working-class culture of downtrodden dourness. The emotional investment pays dividends in the final act, not only in Rocky’s bout with Creed, but also in his own goal not to win the boxing match, but to simply still be standing at the end of the 15th round. It also makes Rocky a movie of endearing tenderness that was uncharacteristic for the time, pushing against the era’s interest in cynical skepticism to deliver a tale of rousing hope and motivation that is still celebrated today as being among the very best of its kind.
3
‘All the President’s Men’
One of the best encapsulations of the zeitgeist of American culture in the 1970s, All the President’s Men uses its true story basis to capture the air of political conspiracy and public distrust. It follows investigative reporters Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) as they look into the controversy surrounding the Watergate scandal. As their investigation begins to unearth a sinister plot, however, the two journalists find themselves being targeted by government agents trying to intimidate them into giving up the case.
The movie was pressing for its immediacy and urgency in 1976, depicting a controversy that had shattered America’s national identity just four years prior. However, it’s also a timeless illustration of the importance of integrity in journalism and the corruption of those in positions of power trying to conceal the truth. The fact that such thematic gravitas is delivered in the form of a high-energy thriller just makes All the President’s Men all the more impressive.
2
‘Taxi Driver’
Ferocious, confronting, and timelessly poignant, Taxi Driver is one of the most viscerally intense character studies to have ever graced the silver screen. Directed with tremendous precision, punch, and philosophical prowess by Martin Scorsese, it follows a disillusioned Vietnam War veteran working as a taxi driver in New York City. As his ire for the impurity and vulgarity of the world around him intensifies, he begins to fixate on a plan of violence that unfolds amid a mayoral campaign while developing a sense of sympathy for an underage prostitute.
Fueled by Robert De Niro‘s disconcerting yet captivating portrayal of the antihero Travis Bickle, Taxi Driver captures the volatile intensity of radicalized righteousness, touching on notions of cultural disapproval, misguided moral conviction, war veteran PTSD, and urban decay. The fact that it has been 50 years since its release and Travis Bickle is still examined as one of the most complex and enigmatic characters, and that the film’s dissection of heroism and violence remains so pointed, is a testament to its greatness.
1
‘Network’
Pinpointing just one film of 1976 to stand as the outright greatest is nigh on impossible; such is the quality of the year’s best and most enduring movies. However, given its slicing balance between prophetic satire, dark comedy, and character-led drama, as well as both its immediate impact and proven timelessness, Network is certainly easy to nominate as not only the best movie of 1976, but one of the best of the decade at large as well.
It follows the inner workings of a news station in the aftermath of the lead anchor’s uncharacteristic outburst on live television, which saw him speak his mind frankly about the state of the world. While concerns are raised over his well-being, the network’s struggling ratings have a huge spike, leading the execs to keep the anchor on as an outspoken loose cannon. Immortalized in the famous quote “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore,” Network is at once a cathartic and direct confrontation of global issues, a cutting mockery of television’s obsession with numbers, and a cynical example of public infatuation with vitriolic outrage.
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