Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Movies

 › 

20 Brilliantly Bizarre ’70s Movies That Are Impossible to Ignore

20 Brilliantly Bizarre ’70s Movies That Are Impossible to Ignore

Published: by

20 Brilliantly Bizarre ’70s Movies That Are Impossible to Ignore

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

“The Tenant” (1976)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Lady Snowblood” (1973)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Eraserhead” (1977)

Courtesy of Libra Films

“The Beguiled” (1971)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971)

Courtesy of American International Pictures (AIP)

“The Holy Mountain” (1973)

Courtesy of ABKCO Films

“El Topo” (1970)

Courtesy of Douglas Music Films

“Sorcerer” (1977)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)

Courtesy of Bryanston Distributing

“Duck, You Sucker!” (1971)

Courtesy of United Artists

“The Street Fighter” (1974)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

“Harold and Maude” (1971)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Hard Times” (1975)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“Phantom of the Paradise” (1974)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

“The Warriors” (1979)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Enter the Dragon” (1973)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

“Over the Edge” (1979)

Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

“Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41” (1972)

Courtesy of Discotek Media

20 Brilliantly Bizarre ’70s Movies That Are Impossible to Ignore
“The Tenant” (1976)
“Lady Snowblood” (1973)
“Eraserhead” (1977)
“The Beguiled” (1971)
“The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971)
“The Holy Mountain” (1973)
“El Topo” (1970)
“Sorcerer” (1977)
“Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971)
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)
“Duck, You Sucker!” (1971)
“The Street Fighter” (1974)
“Harold and Maude” (1971)
“Hard Times” (1975)
“Phantom of the Paradise” (1974)
“The Warriors” (1979)
“Enter the Dragon” (1973)
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
“Over the Edge” (1979)
“Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41” (1972)

20 Brilliantly Bizarre ’70s Movies That Are Impossible to Ignore

The 1970s were a strange, restless, unforgettable time in American culture. The country was still absorbing the upheaval of the 1960s, the Watergate scandal had shaken trust in government, and movies were becoming darker, bolder, and much harder to predict. Hollywood was changing fast, and audiences were suddenly willing to follow filmmakers into stranger, riskier territory.

That shift helped turn the decade into one of the most exciting eras in movie history. Alongside massive blockbusters like “The Godfather,” “Jaws,” and “Star Wars,” the ’70s also produced films that were too odd, too daring, or too ahead of their time to fit neatly into the mainstream. Some confused audiences at first. Others found devoted followings years later. Many are now remembered as cult classics because they captured the weird energy of the decade so well.

To put together this list of unforgettable cult favorites from the 1970s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed film data and audience information from IMDb. These are the brilliantly bizarre ’70s movies that still stand out today.

To top