The highest-grossing movies of the 1970s span a number of genres, directors, and lead actors. The 1970s featured a new wave of edgier, grittier dramas, horrors, and action films that were influenced by the rise of prominent directors such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. In what would become known as the New Hollywood era of Western film history, the creative renaissance was influenced by the rise in popularity of film study as well as newfound access to international films that inspired a new generation of innovative filmmakers.
The 1970s New Hollywood era produced some of the greatest films ever made including Taxi Driver (1976), Chinatown (1974), and Apocalypse Now (1979). Although these dark dramas pushed the boundaries of the medium during that time, they were not as profitable as some of the more light and palatable blockbusters and musicals of the time. These classics were more akin to the previous Golden Age of Hollywood which reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, when the Big Five studios produced nearly every movie during that time. The 1970s broke new ground in the film industry that sparked the modern spirit of independent, on-location filmmaking that is still incredibly felt to this day.
10 Saturday Night Fever (1977)
The tenth highest-grossing movie of the 1970s is the classic disco-inspired drama Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta as the stylish Tony Manero. The slick dance film generated more than $282 million at the global box office and just under $140 million domestically. The film follows Manero, an Italian-American teenager who escapes his difficult family life by becoming the king of the dance floor. Manero meets Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) and the two form a formidable duo as they train for a big dance competition. The movie won over audiences for its feel-good vibe and fun dance sequences mixed with a telling coming-of-age tale.
9 The Godfather (1972)
Often regarded as one of the best films ever made, The Godfather is the ninth-highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece broke new ground and essentially created the modernized subgenre of the mob movie, generating $270 million at the worldwide box office and just under $137 domestically. With a budget of only $7 million, The Godfather became one of the most impactful movies in film history with remarkable performances from Marlon Brando, James Caan, Al Pacino, and Diane Keaton.
8 Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Smokey and the Bandit was the eighth-highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. The 1977 adventure comedy starred Burt Reynolds as the Bandit and Sally Field as Carrie, winning over audiences with their undeniable onscreen chemistry. Smokey and the Bandit generated an estimated $300 million worldwide, grossing nearly $127 million domestically. The film’s original budget was just $5.3 million and was later cut to $4.3 million before production began. Against all odds, it became the second highest-grossing movie of 1977. While the film certainly wasn’t gunning for any prestigious awards, it became a fan-favorite and guilty pleasure for many.
7 Superman (1978)
In what is arguably the best Superman movie ever made, Christopher Reeves’ 1978 Superman is the seventh highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. The family-friendly superhero movie grossed just over $300 million at the worldwide box office and roughly $134 domestically from a budget of $55 million. Reeves gives one of the greatest performances as the superstrong alien Clark Kent in the very first feature film adaptation of the famed DC Comics. A Superman film would not cross the $300 million global box office mark again until 2006’s Superman Returns.
6 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Spielberg has two films that belong on this list, with his Close Encounters of the Third Kind coming in as the sixth-highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. The alien invasion movie generated a whopping $341 million at the worldwide box office with $161 million domestically. Despite the broad scope of the project, Spielberg was able to produce the project with a budget of just $20 million. Close Encounters of the Third Kind doesn’t even crack the top ten of Spielberg’s highest-grossing films in his career, a testament to his incredible directorial success.
5 Grease (1978)
John Travolta’s iconic performance in Saturday Night Fever was followed up with his legendary efforts as Danny Zuko in 1978’s Grease. The comedy musical became the fifth-highest-grossing movie of the 1970s, grossing nearly $190 million worldwide and roughly $388 million globally. Considering the low budget of $6 million, Grease took the world by storm with its passionate dance numbers, outstanding original music, and great performances from Travolta and co-star Olivia Newton-John.
4 Enter the Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee’s remarkable physical skill is put on full display in the mesmerizing Enter the Dragon, which was the fourth-highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. The 1973 action thriller is estimated to have grossed over $400 million from a production budget of just $850,000, making it one of the most profitable movies ever made. Enter the Dragon would sadly be Lee’s final onscreen appearance, who died suddenly on July 20, 1973, almost exactly a month before the film’s release on August 19th of that year.
3 The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist was a cultural phenomenon in the early 1970s, grossing roughly $428 million globally and just over $230 million domestically. The horror film is the third highest-grossing movie of the 1970s, generating that massive sum from a budget of $12 million. To this day, The Exorcist remains one of the most iconic and well-done horror movies ever made. The Exorcist terrified many of its original viewers who went to see it in theaters and still holds up 50 years later as a true masterpiece of the horror genre.
2 Jaws (1975)
Jaws was widely considered a horror film when it was first released in 1975 but has certainly lost some of its terrifying qualities due to the near-50 year gap since then. Steven Spielberg’s dark adventure thriller generated nearly $483 million at the global box office from a small budget of just $12 million, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the 1970s. Jaws 2, released three years later in 1978, also performed well at the worldwide box office, accumulating nearly $208 million from a $20 million budget. Later installments of the Jaws franchise were gimmicky and proved to be box-office flops.
1 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
The original installment of the now gargantuan Star Wars franchise began as a risky endeavor by American Graffiti (1973) director George Lucas. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, initially released simply as Star Wars in 1977, was made with a production budget of just $11 million. The film would go on to generate roughly $775 million at the global box office and nearly $461 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing movie of the 1970s. The Star Wars franchise has since accumulated a staggering $10 billion+ from its standalone movies alone, not to mention its breadth of television series, theme park attractions, and merchandise.
