Top Movies Of 1976

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

Taxi Driver is a 1976 psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. At its core, Taxi Driver tells the story of Travis Bickle, a disturbed loner who works as a late-night cabbie in New York City. As he drives throughout the city, he gradually descends into a world of violence and despair, ultimately deciding to take matters into his own hands and take revenge against the corruption he sees all around him. Along the way, he meets a young woman named Betsy, with whom he eventually falls in love. However, his feelings of inadequacy prevent him from successfully pursuing her, and he spirals further into his own dark world. Taxi Driver is a gripping, emotionally powerful film that examines the depths of despair and hopelessness that can emerge from living in an urban environment.

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

Rocky (1976), directed by John G. Avildsen, tells the story of Rocky Balboa, an aging small-time boxer from the streets of Philadelphia. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits the city and chooses Rocky as his opponent in a highly publicized exhibition match, Rocky seizes the chance to prove himself to the world. With the help of his trainer Mickey and his friend Paulie, Rocky sets out to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Along the way, he forms a bond with Adrian, a shy woman who works in the local pet store. Despite the odds against him, Rocky fights courageously in the match and goes the distance, winning the respect and admiration of the crowd. In the end, his determination and hard work pay off, giving him the recognition he deserves.

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

Network is a classic satire of the television news industry, directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Paddy Chayefsky. It tells the story of news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch), who, after receiving news of his imminent firing, announces on-air that he will commit suicide. His announcement sparks a ratings boost, and Beale is kept on the air, becoming an unlikely celebrity. As Beale's increasingly erratic behavior and violent outbursts become more and more popular with viewers, he becomes a mouthpiece for the network's president, Arthur Jensen (Ned Beatty), who uses him to spread his corporate message. As the movie progresses, it emphasizes the dehumanizing effects of the media, and how it exploits and manipulates people's emotions for its own benefit. In the end, Beale comes to understand the power of media and how it can shape and control people's lives.

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

All the President's Men is a 1976 political thriller film directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, respectively. The film is a dramatized account of the two journalists' investigation into the Watergate scandal that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Through their reporting, they uncovered the cover-up and illegal activity that went on in the White House and eventually led to the uncovering of the full extent of the scandal. The film is acclaimed for its meticulous re-creation of the events and atmosphere of the time, and for its accurate portrayal of the two reporters' relentless pursuit of the truth. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Jason Robards.

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

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 American revisionist Western film set during and after the American Civil War. The film follows Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood), a Missouri farmer whose family is murdered by a band of pro-Union Jayhawker militants, forcing him to seek revenge. He soon joins forces with a group of pro-Confederate guerrillas and eventually becomes their leader. Along the way, Wales meets and falls for the widow Laura Lee (Sondra Locke) and befriends an Indian called Lone Watie (Chief Dan George). As Wales' group of outcasts journey through dangerous territory, they try to evade bounty hunters and Union soldiers as they make their way to a safe haven in Texas. The film is noted for its exploration of the human cost of violence and vengeance, as Josey comes to terms with his own inner demons and learns the value of peace and forgiveness.

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, a mild-mannered French clerk who rents an apartment in Paris. As he moves in, he notices strange behaviors from the other tenants, who appear to be unhealthily obsessed with the previous tenant, a woman who committed suicide by jumping out of the window. As Trelkovsky begins to unwittingly take on her identity, his mental and physical health deteriorates. The film follows Trelkovsky's decent into paranoia and madness as he attempts to uncover the mystery of the previous tenant's death. The Tenant is a dark exploration of identity, loneliness, and paranoia.

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

The Shootist (1976) is a Western film directed by Don Siegel and starring John Wayne in his final screen performance. The film tells the story of J.B. Books, an aging gunslinger diagnosed with terminal cancer who has come to Carson City to make peace with his past and die on his own terms. Aided by a young doctor and a sympathetic widow, Books sets out to outwit a trio of ruthless bounty hunters bent on taking him out. Along the way, he makes amends with the townspeople, teaches a young man the ways of the old West, and finds redemption before his ultimate fate.

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

The Omen tells the story of a young American couple, Robert and Katherine Thorn, who are living in Rome and struggling to conceive a child. Robert, an American ambassador, is approached by a mysterious priest who suggests that he adopt a young orphan, Damien. Robert and Katherine agree, unaware that their adopted son is the son of the Devil. As Damien grows up, a series of bizarre and supernatural occurrences take place, leading Robert to investigate Damien's true identity. With the help of a photographer and a priest, Robert discovers that Damien is in fact the Antichrist and must be stopped. With the help of a mysterious nanny, Robert and Katherine race against time to save their son and the world from impending doom.

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

Face to Face is a Swedish drama directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Liv Ullmann as a psychiatrist who is struggling with her own mental health issues. The film follows Ullman’s character, Dr. Jenny Isaksson, as she attempts to help a young man who is suffering from suicidal thoughts. Throughout the film, Isaksson works to face her own demons and come to terms with the guilt and shame she feels from her own past. By analyzing her patient’s struggles, she begins to understand her own inner turmoil and come to terms with the difficult emotions she has been struggling with. Ultimately, the film explores themes of mental health, grief, and guilt as Isaksson works to overcome her inner demons.

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