The 1970swere an astounding time in Hollywood, and this is an era and aesthetic that many modern movies attempt to recapture. While this was the period in whichauteurs like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg released some of their best work, it also acted as a regular setting for modern filmmakers to tell new stories that attempt to tap into the nostalgia that this time evokes. Whether it’s through a social and political context, civil rights movements, or trailblazing counterculture, the 1970s was a period of transformation and change with an immediately recognizable aesthetic.
While some ofthe best movies of all timewere released during the 1970s, many recent films have attempted to recreate its stylistic tenets as its cinematography, fashion, and even slang conjure their own cinematic world. Some ofthe best modern directorshave consistently captured the aesthetic of the 1970s, asit’s a time period that the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson have returned to repeatedly. While the ’70s may have come to an end long ago, modern cinema has remained fascinated by their stylish time period.
10BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Directed by Spike Lee
The acclaimedauteur filmmaker Spike Leehas always had a deeply compelling style that captured the eras out of which his movies were set, whether that was the simmering racial tension of the late 1980s inDo the Right Thingor the burgeoning civil rights movement of the 1940s through to the 1960s inMalcolm X.However, it was in Lee’s late-career triumphBlacKkKlansmanthat this acclaimed director most effectively captured the essence of the 70s’. Following an African-American detective’s plan to infiltrate and expose the local Ku Klux Klan chapter,BlacKkKlansmanhighlighted racial prejudices in Colorado during that time.
With era-appropriate costumes that highlighted the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department,BlacKkKlansmanhighlighted a side of the 1970s not often seen on film. WhileBlacKkKlansmanprovided a fascinating insight into true events, the real power of the film was how relevant it felt to the modern political landscape, as its story of racial inequality and intolerance could just as well be applied to the divisive nature of today’s current events.
9American Hustle (2013)
Directed by David O. Russell
One of the greatest modern depictions of the 1970s came in David O. Russell’s black comedy crime story,American Hustle. With an absolutely stacked cast of A-list talent, it was incredible to see the likes of Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence give themselves over totally to the extravagant fashion and sleazy glamour of the late 1970s. Following an elaborate sting operation between the FBI and two con artists on corrupt politicians,American Hustleprovided a bird’s-eye glance into the seedy world of New Jersey politics.
American Hustlewas packed with energy and an over-the-top sense of style as Russell gave himself over entirely to the unbridled nature of the era. With a great performance from Lawrence,American Hustlecontinued the star and director’s creative collaboration that began withSilver Linings Playbookand continued after this film withJoy. As a stylish spectacle,American Hustleis an accomplished crime story that was elevated through its impressive evocation of the 1970s and early 1980s.
8Woman Of The Hour (2023)
Directed by Anna Kendrick
The 1970s continued to embrace the sexual liberties afforded to women following the feminist strides made through the civil rights movements of the 1960s. While this led to a society where women felt more open to embracing their sexuality, it also sadly meant that sexual predators took advantage of vulnerable women. This was certainly the case with the notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala, whose real-life appearance onthe 1970s showThe Dating Gamewas dramatized in Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut,Woman of the Hour.
WhileWoman of the Houraddressed pressing themes that still affect women today, it did so through the lens of the 1970s and Alcala’s horrific actions. Alcala’s appearance on the reality dating show was central to his eventual arrest, andWoman of the Hourdid an excellent job of capturing the aesthetic of TV shows produced during that era. As an accomplished debut from Kendrick,Woman of the Hourrepresented an exciting next step in her career.
7Inherent Vice (2014)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Few filmmakers know how to conjure the style and aesthetic of the 1970s better than Paul Thomas Anderson, whose breakout successBoogie Nightschronicled the rise of porn during that time. WithInherent Vice, Anderson once again returned to this same era as he adapted Thomas Pynchon’s notoriously cryptic detective novel of the same name. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as the private detective Larry “Doc” Sportello, this neo-noir mystery blended the convoluted narrative stylings of classic film noirs with the haphazard psychedelia of drug-addled 1970s Los Angeles.
By depicting the hazy,drug-fueled atmosphere of the counterculture of the 1970s,Inherent Viceembodied the aimless, hippie-led ethos of the time. As Doc continually clashes with the established, there’s a feeling that society is not quite sure how to reckon with the way the counterculture threatens to dismantle and disrupt the status quo.Inherent Vicewas a chaotic film that perfectly embodied the phase in between the free love movements of the 1960s and the embracement of neoliberal yuppie culture in the 1980s.
6Good Vibrations (2013)
Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn
The counterculture of the 1970s gave birth to one of the most chaotic, frantic, and energy-filled subcultures there has ever been: punk rock. While there have been plenty of depictions of punk’s emergence in the UK, such as Gary Oldman’s incredible role in the Sex Pistols biopicSid and Nancy, few films give credit to the punk explosion in Northern Ireland during that same time. One prime example of this wasGood Vibrations, a thrilling comedy-drama thathighlighted how punk rock butted up against the ongoing conflict of The Troubles in the 1970s.
Good Vibrationshighlighted the excitement of youth paired with the political instability of 1970s Northern Ireland as the DJ Terri Hooley attempts to open a record store on the “most bombed half-mile in Europe.” With a love for music and rebellion, Hooley’s shop helped foster a new underground punk scene that gave meaning to the Belfast youth who had grown up surrounded by violence and bloodshed.
5Christine (2016)
Directed by Antonio Campos
Christinewas a biographical psychological drama that depictedthe true story of Christine Chubbuck, a news reporter who died by suicide on a live television broadcast. Through a powerful performance from Rebecca Hall, this intense character study captured the 1970s with a deep sense of realism as it focused on the shift in the news industry from serious journalism to sensationalism. This dynamic change intensified Christine’s mental troubles, asChristinedelved into themes of male-dominated workplaces and the psychological toll of deep ambition.
While many films set during the 1970s present an exaggerated version of fashion during that era,Christineinstead offered a realistic look at the conservative side of style as Christine dressed in high-neck blouses, plaid skirts, and heavy-knit sweaters.Christinenot only captured the social dimensions of the 1970s, but the way the film was shot made it look and feel like a movie made during that time.
4Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Directed by Craig Brewer
The 1970s saw the birth of blaxploitation cinema, a subgenre of filmmaking that blended action-movie stylings with the cultural aesthetics of the Black Power movement. A prime example of this was Rudy Ray Moore and his movie starring his pimp character Dolemite, whose story was dramatized in the Eddie Murphy movieDolemite Is My Name. Not only did this Craig Brewer-directed film give behind-the-scenes insight into theDolemiteseries, but it also powerfully mimicked the aesthetic of those films.
Murphy gave one of the most impressive performances of his recent career inDolemite Is My Name, as he tapped into the transgressive appeal that made him a star in the first place. As a kind of blaxploitation answer toThe Disaster Artist,Dolemite Is My Namewas a fascinating document on a style of 1970s filmmaking that rarely gets its duefrom mainstream Hollywood.
3The Nice Guys (2016)
Directed by Shane Black
A common complaint these days is that Hollywood is out of original ideas, yet the underperformance ofThe Nice Guysat the box office showcased that sometimes audiences don’t turn out for astounding new films. With Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling making an incredible duo in this gritty, neo-noir film, director Shane Black perfectly captured the aesthetic of the 1970s. This story of a private eye and a tough enforcer teaming up to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl was packed with ’70s charm and visual style.
Not only didThe Nice Guyslook like it was ripped straight out of the 1970s, but its buddy cop approach also harkened back to an earlier era of cinema. With era-appropriate cinematography, music, and costumes, the hard-boiled detective dialogue, paired with an absurdist sense of humor, made this an enjoyable cult classic. While it was a tragedy thatThe Nice Guysnever got a sequel, it deserves to be lauded as one of the most underrated movies of the 2010s.
2Licorice Pizza (2021)
While Paul Thomas Anderson already captured the drug-fueled antics of the 1970s in his neo-noir mysteryInherent Vice,he returned to this well-worn era for another spectacular depiction withLicorice Pizza. This time, Anderson tackled this era through the lens of an offbeat romantic comedy that embodied the free-spirited, sun-soaked vibe of California’s San Fernando Valley. Following the strange relationship between a teen actor (Cooper Hoffman) and a directionless young woman (Alana Haim), while the age disparity between the characters made for uncomfortable viewing, it also satirized the outdated relationship norms of that time period.
Not only didLicorice Pizzahave the look and feel of a 1970s New Hollywood production, but its soundtrack further entrenched its pitch-perfect 1970s aesthetic. With songs by David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Seals and Crofts, and The Doors,Anderson was careful to make sure that every aspect of this film captured the feeling of the times. WhileLicorice Pizzaunderperformed at the box office, it was a hit with critics and proved once again that nobody can depict the 1970s quite like Anderson.
1The Holdovers (2023)
Directed by Alexander Payne
Despite being released relatively recently, Alexander Payne’sThe Holdoversis already well on its way to cementing its reputation as a holiday classic that countless viewers rewatch annually. Set in 1970,The Holdoversstars Paul Giamatti as a strict classics teacher forced to chaperone a handful of students at a New England boarding school over the Christmas break. With color grading added to make this digitally shot movie look identical to the film style of the 1970s,The Holdoverslooked so era-appropriate that it’s sometimes hard to believe it was not shot and released in 1970.
Featuring one of Giamatti’s greatest performances and an exciting debut from Dominic Sessa, the found family theme ofThe Holdoversadded to its festive charm. With a sense of humanity and beautifully depicted quiet tragedy, even the underlying themes ofThe Holdoversconjured the moving appeal of bygone eras. As an instant classic that captured its time period in a moving and effective manner,The Holdovershighlighted that, for the right movie,the 1970saesthetic is alive and well in modern Hollywood.
