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The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies From the 1970s

The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies From the 1970s

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The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies From the 1970s

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

25. Flesh Gordon (1974)

Courtesy of Mammoth Films

24. The Fury (1978)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

23. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

22. Rollerball (1975)

Courtesy of United Artists

21. Logan's Run (1976)

Courtesy of United Artists

20. Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

19. The Stepford Wives (1975)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

18. A Boy and His Dog (1975)

Courtesy of LQ/JAF

17. Silent Running (1972)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

16. Dark Star (1974)

Courtesy of Jack H. Harris Enterprises

15. The Boys from Brazil (1978)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

14. Death Race 2000 (1975)

Courtesy of New World Pictures

13. Phantasm (1979)

Courtesy of AVCO Embassy Pictures

12. The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

11. Soylent Green (1973)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

10. Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. Westworld (1973)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

8. THX 1138 (1971)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

7. Time After Time (1979)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

6. Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

5. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Courtesy of United Artists

4. Sleeper (1973)

Courtsey of United Artists

3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1. Alien (1979)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies From the 1970s
25. Flesh Gordon (1974)
24. The Fury (1978)
23. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
22. Rollerball (1975)
21. Logan's Run (1976)
20. Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)
19. The Stepford Wives (1975)
18. A Boy and His Dog (1975)
17. Silent Running (1972)
16. Dark Star (1974)
15. The Boys from Brazil (1978)
14. Death Race 2000 (1975)
13. Phantasm (1979)
12. The Andromeda Strain (1971)
11. Soylent Green (1973)
10. Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)
9. Westworld (1973)
8. THX 1138 (1971)
7. Time After Time (1979)
6. Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
5. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
4. Sleeper (1973)
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
1. Alien (1979)

The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies From the 1970s

Sci-fi has been a popular genre since the start of filmdom and began with the film, "Le Voyage dans la Lune", or "A Trip to the Moon," released by Georges Méliès in 1902. By the 1970s, technological advancements in cinema had come a long way since the use of early trick photography to depict a moon landing in "Le Voyage". These advancements helped bring to life the imaginative worlds of sci-fi on the big screen, allowing filmmakers to transform their ideas and create new methods of storytelling.

Many sci-fi films throughout this decade were meant not just for entertainment, but for social and political messages, incorporating the many issues taking place throughout the world. The ongoing Cold War led people to consider the possibility of collapse and annihilation of civilization. Films like "Damnation Alley" (1977) explored the themes of survival in a post-apocalyptic world as well as hope following a difficult journey. "The Crazies" (1973) explores similar themes about survival and leans into some of the darker aspects of human nature.

Methodology:

To determine the greatest sci-fi movies from the 1970s, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. (For other amazing movies from this decade, check out the Best 70s Movies That Will Never Get Old.)

Here is the list of the greatest sci-fi movies from the 1970s.

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