Top Movies 1978

From Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage
Rated R

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic war drama film directed by Michael Cimino and starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep. Set in the Vietnam War, the story follows a trio of steelworkers from Clairton, Pennsylvania, Michael (De Niro), Nick (Walken) and Steven (John Savage), who join the United States Army and are sent to Vietnam. The film documents the experiences of the three friends as they battle the horrors of war, including the devastating effects of torture and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also shows the impact of the war on their relationships and how they cope with the aftermath of their experiences. The Deer Hunter won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It remains one of the most acclaimed films of all time.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robbie Robertson, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Van Morrison
Rated PG

The Last Waltz is a documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1978. It chronicles the final concert of The Band, which took place at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day 1976. The Band played with a number of special guests including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, and more. Through interviews and concert footage, the film delves into The Band's history and explores the emotions of the band members as they come to terms with the impending end of their journey together. The movie ends with one final song and a powerful closing statement “The Band is gone, but they will never be forgotten.”

From Terrence Malick, starring Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard, Linda Manz
Rated PG

Days of Heaven is a 1978 American romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard, and Linda Manz. Set in 1916, the film tells the story of Bill, an itinerant farm worker in rural Texas who falls in love with Abby, a beautiful woman who works as a farmhand. They decide to move to the Texas Panhandle and work in a wheat field owned by a wealthy, but terminally ill, farmer. Bill and Abby enter into a secret marriage in the hope that when the farmer dies, they will inherit his wealth. However, when Abby catches the farmer's eye and he proposes marriage, Bill and Abby's plans are thrown into disarray. The film is noted for its stunning visuals and for Malick's use of natural lighting as well as its dream-like, lyrical quality.

From George A. Romero, starring David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross
Rated Unrated

Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 horror film directed by George A. Romero. The film follows a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they take refuge in an abandoned shopping mall. The survivors must figure out how to survive the onslaught of undead hordes while trying to find a way to make their escape. Along the way, they must also contend with other survivors who are vying for control of the mall, as well as surviving the ever-changing threat of the living dead. The film is widely considered a classic of the zombie genre, and is often credited with popularizing the modern zombie film.

From John Carpenter, starring Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes
Rated R

Halloween is a 1978 American horror slasher film directed by John Carpenter and written by Carpenter and Debra Hill. The film tells the story of Michael Myers, who on Halloween night in 1963, at the age of six, brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister. Fifteen years later, he escapes and returns home to Haddonfield, Illinois, where he stalks and terrorizes a group of four teenage friends while looking for his next victim. The teens must fight to survive while trying to solve the mystery of Michael and his motives. The film stars Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut as the teenage protagonist Laurie Strode.

From Directors: Martin Rosen, John Hubley, starring John Hurt, Richard Briers, Ralph Richardson, Michael Graham Cox
Rated PG

Watership Down is a 1978 British-American animated adventure film directed by Martin Rosen and John Hubley. It is based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams. The film follows a group of rabbits, led by Hazel (John Hurt) and Fiver (Richar Briers), on their journey to find a new home when their warren is destroyed by human developers. Along the way they encounter a variety of dangers and allies, including a sinister enemy named General Woundwort (Harry Andrews). The film contains themes of courage, unity, and the need to survive in a cruel and unpredictable world. The animation utilizes a combination of techniques, including traditional cel animation, stop-motion, and rotoscoping. The soundtrack, composed by Angela Morley, was nominated for an Academy Award.

From Alan Parker, starring Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli
Rated R

Midnight Express is a 1978 American prison drama film directed by Alan Parker. It is based on Billy Hayes' real-life experience of being arrested for attempting to smuggle hashish out of Turkey in 1970. The film stars Brad Davis as Hayes, alongside John Hurt, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weisser, and Paul L. Smith. The film follows Billy Hayes, a young American student who is arrested while attempting to smuggle hashish out of Istanbul. He is sentenced to four years in a Turkish prison, where he is subjected to physical and psychological torture. Despite his attempts to escape, Billy is ultimately forced to serve his full sentence. When he is finally released, he must confront the consequences of his imprisonment and the difficulty of reintegrating back into society.

From Philip Kaufman, starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright
Rated PG

From Richard Donner, starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando
Rated PG

From John Landis, starring John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst
Rated R

From Hal Ashby, starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford
Rated R

From Woody Allen, starring Diane Keaton, Geraldine Page, Kristin Griffith, Mary Beth Hurt
Rated PG

From John Guillermin, starring Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Jane Birkin
Rated PG

From Steve Rash, starring Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis
Rated PG

From Randal Kleiser, starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway
Rated PG

From Paul Mazursky, starring Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman
Rated R

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Lilli Palmer
Rated R

From Directors: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry, starring Warren Beatty, James Mason, Julie Christie, Jack Warden
Rated PG

From Michael Crichton, starring Michael Douglas, Rip Torn, Geneviève Bujold, Elizabeth Ashley
Rated PG

From Sidney J. Furie, starring Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, James Canning, Michael Lembeck
Rated R

From Colin Higgins, starring Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Rachel Roberts
Rated PG

From Richard Attenborough, starring Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter
Rated R

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Nancy Allen, Bobby Di Cicco, Marc McClure, Susan Kendall Newman
Rated PG

From Howard Zieff, starring Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Art Carney, Richard Benjamin
Rated PG

From Blake Edwards, starring Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, Dyan Cannon
Rated PG