Best films turning 50 in 2024

Photo Illustration by Stacker // Getty Images The 1970s is a decade to be remembered both politically and cinematically. 1974, in particular, gave the world iconic slashers, pop samurai films, and psychedelic rock musicals, but also playful hangout comedies, unlikely buddy movies, and classic whodunits. This dazzling spectrum of cinematic choices shouldn’t be a surprise for a decade often characterized as a Golden Age for filmmakers. A number of films from the 1970s appear on Sight & Sound’s prestigious “Greatest Films of All Time” list from 2022, including “The Godfather” from 1972, “Taxi Driver” from 1976, and “Apocalypse Now” from 1979. Even now, filmmakers find inspiration in that decade, sometimes going so far as to make sure that the movie not only feels set in the era but made during that tumultuous time. In director Alexander Payne’s Academy Award Best Picture nominee “The Holdovers,” for example, not only did the filmmakers refer to movies from the period like Hal Ashby’s “The Last Detail” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation,” but they used specific camera lenses to produce a vintage look typical of movies from the ’70s. One of the reasons 1970s cinema has such a hold on contemporary audiences and filmmakers is because the decade saw unprecedented changes in politics, technology, and the kind of stories audiences gravitate toward. It was a time of upheaval both culturally and politically with issues like the Civil Rights Movement, gender roles, and the war in Vietnam tackled at kitchen tables and political conventions. The issues of the day whetted audience appetites for darker, grittier narratives, some featuring anti-heroes and complicated lead characters. Technology was also quickly advancing. Cameras became far more portable and more accessible, which allowed filmmakers to take to the streets and innovate outside of Hollywood’s studio system. To celebrate this distinct cinematic era, Stacker looked at data on all movies turning 50 in 2024, meaning the films themselves were released theatrically in 1974 and encapsulated the exciting energy of ’70s cinema. The films on this list are ranked in the top 50 by IMDb user ratings, with ties broken by the number of IMDb user votes. In order to qualify, each film had to have at least 2,500 user votes and be released theatrically in 1974. Metacritic scores are provided for critical context. #50. Death Wish Bettmann // Getty Images – Director: Michael Winner – IMDb user rating: 6.9 – Metascore: 51 – Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes Michael Winner’s 1974 film “Death Wish” is a violent yet heartbreaking story of a man named Paul Kersey, who seeks vengeance after the murder of his wife. Star Charles Bronson, known for his rugged looks and humble upbringing, gives a strong performance that cemented him as an excellent action (anti)hero. The film inspired four sequels as well as a remake in 2018 from director Eli Roth, which starred Bruce Willis in the lead role. #49. Mahler Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images – Director: Ken Russell – IMDb user rating: 7.0 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 1 hour, 55 minutes Before “Amadeus” and “Maestro,” there was 1974’s “Mahler,” a musician biopic about the life and love of famed composer Gustav Mahler. Director Ken Russell was less concerned with historical accuracy, however, and more focused on creating a fantastical and energetic film that captured the plight of the underrated artist. #48. Thieves Like Us FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images – Director: Robert Altman – IMDb user rating: 7.0 – Metascore: 82 – Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes Robert Altman’s 1974 film “Thieves Like Us” is a crime drama that draws parallels to the classic 1967 “Bonnie and Clyde” in that it’s about a bank-robbing trio hiding from the police, and one of them falls in love. The ill-fated romance between Bowie (Keith Carradine) and Keechie (Shelley Duvall) is the real heart of the film, expertly aided by Robert Altman’s skill for visual storytelling. #47. The Odessa File PA Images via Getty Images – Director: Ronald Neame – IMDb user rating: 7.0 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 2 hours, 10 minutes An adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s novel of the same name, the 1974 film “The Odessa File” is a thrilling drama exploring the aftermath of World War II and the ways the trauma from that conflict still manifests in people’s lives. Audiences follow German journalist Peter Miller (Jon Voight) as he investigates sightings of a former Nazi captain, eventually leading to his discovery and infiltration of a secret society of former Nazis. #46. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Paramount // Getty Images – Director: Karel Reisz – IMDb user rating: 7.1 – Metascore: 65 – Runtime: 1 hour, 51 minutes The pitfalls of addiction serves as the throughline of Karel Reisz’s 1974 film “The Gambler,” manifested in the character of Axel Freed, expertly played by James Caan. Freed is a university professor by day and a compulsive gambler by night. The film doesn’t shy away from darker aspects of his personality, creating a complicated portrayal of a man addicted to playing his odds. #42. Female Trouble John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images – Director: John Waters – IMDb user rating: 7.1 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 1 hour, 29 minutes John Waters is a director most known for his refreshingly independent and morally dubious films, earning him the title “Pope of Trash.” “Female Trouble” is a highlight of his frequent collaborations with drag queen Divine, also in 1972’s “Pink Flamingos” and 1981’s “Polyester.” In “Female Trouble,” she plays fame-hungry Dawn Davenport, who turns to a life of crime when her parents don’t get her cha-cha heels. #41. The Parallax View FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images – Director: Alan J. Pakula – IMDb user rating: 7.1 – Metascore: 65 – Runtime: 1 hour, 42 minutes America in the 1970s was a tumultuous place with the Vietnam War, Watergate, and Roe v. Wade. The anxiety of this period is reflected in its cinema, evidenced by “The Parallax View.” In Alan J. Pakula’s film, reporter Joseph Frady (Warren Beatty) dives deep into the mysterious circumstances surrounding a top senator’s assassination, eventually uncovering a massive political conspiracy. #40. The Longest Yard C.A.P.A.C./S.N. Prodis /UPF/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images – Director: Bertrand Blier – IMDb user rating: 7.2 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes It’s hard to balance humor and nihilism, evidenced by Bertrand Blier’s 1974 film “Going Places.” Audiences follow two men, Jean-Claude (Gérard Depardieu) and Pierrot (Patrick Dewaere), as they live from stolen car to stolen car, engaging in every sexual and criminal whim across the whole of France. While there is some humor to be found, some critics consider the film both nihilistic and misogynistic. #34. The Yakuza Warner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images – Director: Sydney Pollack – IMDb user rating: 7.2 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes Sydney Pollack’s “The Yakuza” is known as the “first film on Japanese crime milieu produced by Western studios” according to Cinephilia & Beyond. Embodying the cultural clash of American and Japanese values post-World War II is American protagonist Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum), a detective who visits Japan to help save an old friend’s kidnapped daughter. #33. Murder on the Orient Express United Artists // Getty Images – Director: Bob Fosse – IMDb user rating: 7.5 – Metascore: 61 – Runtime: 1 hour, 51 minutes Stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce broke ground as one of the first public figures to engage in countercultural commentary, leading to a highly publicized obscenity trial that lasted for four years. Bob Fosse’s biographical film “Lenny” utilizes both documentary interviews and fictional narrative segments to portray the scope of Bruce’s life and impact, with Dustin Hoffman playing the comedy legend. #16. Lacombe, Lucien Warner Brothers // Getty Images – Director: Mel Brooks – IMDb user rating: 7.7 – Metascore: 73 – Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes Over the course of his 70-year career, comedian and director Mel Brooks has perfected the art of the lowbrow gag in his massively popular films like 1967’s “The Producers” and 1987’s “Spaceballs.” Nowhere is that mastery more evident than in “Blazing Saddles,” Brooks’ attempt at parodying a Western. Starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder as the newly instated sheriff and deputy of the town Rock Ridge, the movie includes famous gags like the fart-heavy campfire scene and the opening musical number that would not pass muster today. #13. That’s Entertainment! Warner Brothers // Getty Images – Director: Peter Davis – IMDb user rating: 8.2 – Metascore: 68 – Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes Even in modern times, the ethicality surrounding the Vietnam War and the United States’ involvement in it is a hotly contested issue. “Hearts and Minds” was one of the early documentaries to brave this topic, stringing together war footage, newsreels, and interviews to illustrate just how devastating the aftermath of the U.S. military campaign was for soldiers and victims alike. Davis’ documentary was especially groundbreaking as it was released at the height of controversy, with the last U.S. troops being removed from Vietnam in 1975. That same year, the film won Best Documentary at the Oscars. #2. Scenes from a Marriage Cinematograph AB/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images – Director: Ingmar Bergman – IMDb user rating: 8.3 – Metascore: Data not available – Runtime: 2 hours, 49 minutes “Scenes from a Marriage” is highly romantic, but not in a way that audiences have been used to seeing in traditional romance or romantic comedy films. It tracks the love between Marianne (Liv Ullman) and Johan (Erland Josephson) over the span of their marriage through their divorce when Johan falls in love with another woman, and then to their eventual reunion. Originally made as a 1973 miniseries, “Scenes from a Marriage” was later edited and released as a feature film around the world. Nearly half a century later, HBO adapted it for a 2021 miniseries starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. #1. The Godfather Part II Michael Ochs Archive // Getty Images – Director: Francis Ford Coppola – IMDb user rating: 9.0 – Metascore: 90 – Runtime: 3 hours, 22 minutes One of the biggest conundrums for film fans is choosing their preference for “The Godfather” or “The Godfather Part II.” The choice is so difficult because Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II,” for many, is the rare sequel that matches, if not beats, the original film in both quality and originality. “Part II” transports viewers to the early days of Vito Corleone–played by Marlon Brando in the original but whose younger iteration is played by Robert De Niro in the sequel. The film juxtaposes Vito’s rise with the downfall of his son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), in contemporary times. The result is undoubtedly one of the best movies of all time. Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao and Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.