The 1970s were a revolutionary decade for cinema. Dubbed the New Hollywood Era, it saw young, ambitious filmmakers seize control from the old studio system and reinvent what movies could be. Directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg cut their teeth during this period, and their bold experiments laid the groundwork for everything that followed. If you've never explored this golden age—or just want to revisit it—Prime Video currently offers a handful of '70s titles that remain as compelling today as they were upon release. Here are five that deserve a spot in your watchlist.
1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
With a budget of just $400,000, the Monty Python troupe had to get creative—and that limitation became the film's greatest strength. No money for horses? Invent the coconut-clapping gag. Need to fill time? Use whimsical animations and a book with flipping pages. The result is a comedy that feels timeless, endlessly quotable, and utterly unique. It was also one of the first fan-funded films, with backers including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Jethro Tull. Every original cast member returned, and their irreverent take on Arthurian legend still delivers laughs decades later.
2. The Towering Inferno (1974)
Before Die Hard, there was The Towering Inferno—the original skyscraper disaster epic. When a massive fire traps a group of partygoers in a glass tower, it's up to the building's architect (Paul Newman) and a fire chief (Steve McQueen) to save the day. The film's heart-pounding action and palpable tension are amplified by dizzying heights and a stellar cast that includes Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, William Holden, and Richard Chamberlain. If you crave an adrenaline rush with old-school Hollywood glamour, this is your next watch.
3. Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
This understated British drama explores a love triangle with uncommon honesty. Bob (Murray Head), a bisexual artist, is involved with both Alex (Glenda Jackson), a divorced woman, and Daniel (Peter Finch), a middle-aged doctor. As Bob prepares to leave London for New York, the film examines love, compromise, and loneliness with remarkable nuance. Though it wasn't a box office hit in the U.S., it earned four Oscar nominations and widespread critical praise. Roger Ebert noted it's "not a movie about the loss of love, but about its absence." For a quietly devastating romance, look no further.
4. Capricorn One (1978)
This paranoid thriller taps into the era's distrust of government. When a Mars mission is faked, the astronauts (including James Brolin and O.J. Simpson) become loose ends that must be silenced. The film's tense cat-and-mouse game and prescient themes of media manipulation make it a gripping watch. It's a prime example of '70s cinema's willingness to question authority—and it's free on Prime Video right now.
5. The Last Detail (1973)
Jack Nicholson stars in this gritty, bittersweet road movie about two Navy lifers escorting a young sailor to prison. As they make their way from Virginia to Maine, the trip becomes a series of misadventures and poignant moments. Nicholson's performance is among his best, and the film's blend of humor and melancholy captures the spirit of '70s American cinema. It's a forgotten gem that deserves rediscovery.
These five films showcase the diversity and daring of 1970s Hollywood. Whether you're in the mood for comedy, disaster, romance, or drama, Prime Video has you covered. So why not take a trip back to a time when filmmakers took big risks—and reaped even bigger rewards? For more streaming recommendations, check out our picks for the greatest monster movies ever made and horror films that never miss a beat.
