Top Movies 1976

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Taxi Driver is a classic American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. Set in New York City in the mid-1970s, the film follows Travis Bickle, a lonely veteran taxi driver who is deeply affected by the corruption and violence of the city. Desperate for human connection, he sets out on a mission to save a young prostitute, Iris, from her life on the streets. His obsession with justice leads him to take extreme action with tragic consequences. The film delves into themes of alienation, vigilantism, and mental illness, and earned Scorsese and star Robert De Niro Academy Award nominations.

From John G. Avildsen, starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers
Rated PG

Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film tells the rags-to-riches story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted working-class Italian-American boxer working as a debt collector for a loan shark. Rocky gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship when the reigning champion, Apollo Creed, offers to fight him as part of his publicity tour. Rocky eventually agrees to the fight and, with the help of his trainer, Mickey Goldmill, begins to train for it. During his grueling training, Rocky falls in love with Adrian, the shy sister of his friend Paulie. Despite the odds stacked against him, Rocky is determined to win the fight, and eventually does so in a 15-round split decision. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall
Rated R

Network is an Oscar-winning 1976 American satirical drama film written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet. It follows the fictional story of news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) who, after suffering a mental breakdown and being fired, becomes a television sensation after delivering an on-air rant in which he announces his intention to commit on-air suicide. As the ratings soar, a power struggle ensues between Beale and the television executives, who ultimately choose to use the sensational story to boost ratings. Along the way, the film examines cultural issues such as the rise of the corporate media and its manipulation of public opinion, and the power of the public to fight back.

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam
Rated PG

All the President's Men is a 1976 biographical drama directed by Alan J. Pakula. It stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, respectively. The film follows the two as they uncover the Watergate scandal that ultimately leads to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Along the way, they battle with government officials and powerful figures, risking their lives in order to uncover the truth. The film was critically acclaimed and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Chief Dan George, Bill McKinney
Rated PG

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a western adventure movie directed by Clint Eastwood in 1976. It tells the story of Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood), a Missouri farmer whose family is killed by Union soldiers during the Civil War. Seeking revenge, Wales joins a group of Confederate guerrillas and becomes an outlaw. During his journey, he meets an eclectic group of people, including an old Cherokee (Chief Dan George) and a runaway slave (Bill McKinney). Wales eventually finds himself on the run from both the Union and the Confederate armies. Along the way, he discovers that revenge isn't the only way to move on and that family can be found in unexpected places. Ultimately, Wales finds peace and understanding amidst the chaos of war.

From Roman Polanski, starring Roman Polanski, Isabelle Adjani, Melvyn Douglas, Jo Van Fleet
Rated R

The Tenant is a 1976 psychological horror film directed by Roman Polanski. The film follows Trelkovsky (played by Polanski himself), a Polish-born Parisian who moves into a small apartment in a decrepit building. Upon moving in, Trelkovsky discovers that the previous tenant, Simone, attempted suicide by jumping out the window. Trelkovsky begins to experience strange occurrences in the building, such as strange noises, other tenants spying on him, and the landlord trying to evict him. As time passes, Trelkovsky gradually loses his grip on reality and begins to take on Simone's identity and hairstyle. The film culminates in a surreal climax, as Trelkovsky prepares to jump out the window, just like Simone before him. The Tenant is a dark, claustrophobic tale that explores themes of identity, paranoia, and alienation.

From Don Siegel, starring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart
Rated PG

The Shootist is a 1976 western film directed by Don Siegel, starring John Wayne in his final film role. It tells the story of John Bernard Books, an aging gunfighter who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He goes to a small town in Nevada to see a friend and has to face the fact that he is dying. He soon finds himself in the middle of a range war between a local rancher and a land baron. He also has to deal with his own mortality as well as being confronted with a young gunfighter who wants to prove his worth. In the end, Books faces his inevitable death with courage, dignity and grace.

From Richard Donner, starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, David Warner
Rated R

The Omen is a horror film directed by Richard Donner and released in 1976. The film centers around a young boy, Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens), who is adopted by US Ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) and his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick). Unknown to them, Damien is actually the child of the devil, born of a jackal during a mystic ritual. As Damien grows up, strange and horrific events begin to take place around him and it soon becomes clear that he is the Antichrist, capable of controlling people and events through supernatural powers. The Thorns soon realize that the only way to save themselves and the world from an impending apocalypse is to destroy Damien. In the end, the Thorns and a group of priests battle for the souls of the living and the dead, in a desperate attempt to save the world from the forces of evil.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Liv Ullmann, Erland Josephson, Aino Taube, Gunnar Björnstrand
Rated R

Face to Face is a 1976 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of a psychoanalyst, Dr. Jenny Isaksson, who falls into a deep depression following a series of personal crises. As she goes through therapy, she is forced to confront her past, particularly the death of her father, in order to move forward in her life. Along the way, she struggles to remain in control of her life and her sanity, even as her inner demons threaten to take over. The film is a powerful exploration of self-reflection, mental illness, and the human condition.

From John Schlesinger, starring Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane
Rated R

From Elaine May, starring Rose Arrick, Carol Grace, William Hickey, Sanford Meisner
Rated R

From Brian De Palma, starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, John Travolta
Rated R

From Robert Moore, starring Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Eileen Brennan
Rated PG

From John Cassavetes, starring Ben Gazzara, Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel, Robert Phillips
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Martin West
Rated R

From Blake Edwards, starring Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Lesley-Anne Down, Burt Kwouk
Rated PG

From Nicolas Gessner, starring Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith, Mort Shuman
Rated PG

From Arthur Hiller, starring Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Jill Clayburgh, Patrick McGoohan
Rated PG

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Karen Black, Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris, William Devane
Rated PG

From James Fargo, starring Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Harry Guardino, Bradford Dillman
Rated R

From Jack Smight, starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford
Rated PG

From Nicolas Roeg, starring David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, Buck Henry
Rated R

From Arthur Penn, starring Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Kathleen Lloyd
Rated PG

From Alfred Sole, starring Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, Paula E. Sheppard, Niles McMaster
Rated R

From Elia Kazan, starring Robert De Niro, Tony Curtis, Robert Mitchum, Jeanne Moreau
Rated PG