The 1970s were truly a thrilling time for movies. Theaters offered something for everyone, ranging all the way from acclaimed dramas like The Godfather and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to pop culture phenomenons like Star Wars and Jaws. Filmmakers were using new techniques and presenting new ideas, paving the way for a new generation of cinema pioneers. This revolution in the art of filmmaking allowed for the creation of numerous films that are currently hailed as some of the best of all time.
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Of course, this exciting rush brought along its fair share of rather unusual ideas as well. Many filmmakers were venturing into uncharted territory, making movies about unique ideas that had never been put on screen before. Some of these “weird” concepts ended up setting the foundation for hugely successful films. Others, sadly, did not receive quite as much praise. Regardless of their level of success, these unusual movies all manage to highlight the creative landscape of 1970s cinema, showing off some of the most captivating and weird ideas ever committed to film.
10 Pink Flamingos (1972)
Directed by John Waters
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Pink Flamingos
Pink Flamingos is a 1972 film by John Waters, known for its provocative and controversial content. The film stars Divine as Babs Johnson, who competes for the title of “Filthiest Person Alive” against a couple engaged in nefarious activities. Pink Flamingos is often cited for its shock value and unique approach to the underground cinema of the 1970s.
Director John Waters Release Date March 17, 1972 Cast Divine , David Lochary , Mink Stole , Mary Vivian Pearce , Danny Mills , Edith Massey Runtime 107 Minutes
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John Waters truly left nothing to the imagination with his 1972 black comedy, Pink Flamingos. The film stars iconic drag queen Divine as a criminal who has recently been dubbed “the filthiest person alive.” The announcement of this unusual title sparks an all-out war between Divine and her rivals, Connie and Raymond Marble, who are determined to outdo Divine’s filthiness and steal the title for themselves.
Pink Flamingos
is not only one of the weirdest films of the ’70s, but perhaps the most proud of that title.
The film was not only given an NC-17 rating, but seemed determined to earn it, proudly showcasing some of the most outrageous acts one could imagine. If nothing else, it is hard not to admire Pink Flamingos for its shameless, unapologetic approach to the story it is trying to tell.
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The film contains countless elements that could easily deter audiences from watching it, but the filmmakers appeared to remain fully unconcerned by this fact. Pink Flamingos is not only one of the weirdest films of the ’70s, but perhaps the most proud of that title. With a finale that is bound to stick in the minds of viewers for years after seeing it, Pink Flamingos is a pivotal piece of outlandish cinema.
9 Zardoz (1974)
Directed by John Boorman
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8/10 Zardoz RSci-FiAdventureFantasy
Zardoz, directed by John Boorman, is a 1974 science fiction film set in a dystopian future. Sean Connery stars as Zed, an exterminator who uncovers the truth about the god-like entity Zardoz, who controls his society. The film explores themes of class division and human evolution within a surreal and complex narrative.
Director John Boorman Release Date February 6, 1974 Writers John Boorman Cast Sean Connery , Charlotte Rampling , Sara Kestelman , John Alderton , Sally Anne Newton , Niall Buggy , Bosco Hogan , Jessica Swift Main Genre Sci-Fi
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The ’70s were no stranger to fantasy movies, but John Boorman’s Zardoz is easily among the strangest films to come out of this era. The film is set in the year 2293, in a world where humans have been divided into two categories; the immortal Eternals, and the humble Brutals, who must spend their lives growing food to nourish the Eternals.
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The titular entity, Zardoz, is a massive, flying, stone head which gives commands to the Brutals, often directing them to kill each other. Needless to say, the film is not nearly as lighthearted as most fantasy movies. To see an additional element of weirdness provided by Zardoz, one would need to look no further than the film’s leading man.
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The strange fantasy film stars action icon Sean Connery as Zed, a Brutal who manages to infiltrate the world of the Eternals. Connery, however, does look nearly as suave as he does in his beloved James Bond films. Instead, he spends much of the movie wearing an outfit that could accurately be compared to a bright red diaper. Anyone who ever wanted to see the Bond star do something more outside-the-box should definitely check out Zardoz.
8 The Baby (1973)
Directed by Ted Post
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As far as underrated psychological horror films go, Ted Post’s 1973 film, The Baby, definitely features one of the most unconventional ideas. The film follows a social worker named Ann who is tasked with investigating the unusual Wadsworth family after her husband gets into a serious car accident.
The Wadsworth family includes four individuals: Mrs. Wadsworth, her two adult daughters, and Baby. Baby, however, is no infant. Instead, he is an adult man in his early twenties who has been relentlessly abused and neglected to the point that he behaves as if he were a newborn child. The Baby is massively unsettling for audiences to watch, which, as a psychological horror, likely means that it is achieving its goal rather effectively.
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The sight of a grown man who has been reduced to acting like an infant is certain to last in viewers’ minds for a long time after the credits roll. Even with its bizarre premise, though, The Baby does manage to tell a chilling story. Packed with unsettling imagery and plenty of violent twists and shocking turns, The Baby is an exciting example of outlandish ’70s cinema.
7 El Topo (1970)
Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
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El Topo Western
El Topo, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, is a surreal Western that follows a mysterious gunslinger on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. Set against the backdrop of a desolate landscape, the film explores themes of morality, religion, and redemption through a series of allegorical encounters and trials. Renowned for its avant-garde style, El Topo has gained a cult following for its unique blend of mysticism and brutality.
Director Alejandro Jodorowsky Release Date December 18, 1970 Studio(s) Producciones Panicas Distributor(s) ABKCO Films Writers Alejandro Jodorowsky Cast Alejandro Jodorowsky , Brontis Jodorowsky , Mara Lorenzio , David Silva , Paula Romo , Jacqueline Luis Runtime 124 Minutes Main Genre Western Expand
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1970 feature, El Topo, is undoubtedly one of the weirdest yet consistently captivating Westerns ever created. The film focuses on the life of the titular cowboy, El Topo, following him as he traverses the West on a mission to achieve enlightenment. While the film does follow some form of linear narrative, the story is hardly what brought audiences to see El Topo. Rather, viewers became enamored with the bizarre characters and unusual situations El Topo experiences along his journey.
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It is difficult to describe El Topo as anything besides a cross between a classic Western and something along the lines of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Even on a budget of only $400,000, this Spanish-language film is packed with sprawling settings, mesmerizing visuals, and brutal gunfights. El Topo has been regarded as everything from a bizarre mess to an underappreciated masterpiece, indicating that its beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.
6 Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Directed by John Hancock
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At first, Let’s Scare Jessica to Death probably doesn’t sound too unconventional. The 1971 horror film follows a woman named Jessica, who becomes increasingly concerned about her recovering mental state after she begins to have several unusual encounters upon moving into her new home.
Now, add in the fact that her new acquaintance may (or may not) be a bloodsucking vampire, and you have a beautifully strange ’70s horror show. Part of what makes Let’s Scare Jessica to Death so interesting, despite its quirks, is the unreliability of its protagonist.
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Throughout the film, audiences are intentionally left unsure if the unsettling visuals they see are actually occurring, or if they are merely the product of Jessica’s unstable mind. This uncertainty adds a compelling element of mystery to the film, keeping viewers guessing not just until the end, but well after the credits roll. Even with its odd premise, Let’s Scare Jessica to Death does prove effective at achieving its haunting goals.
5 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Even some of the critically acclaimed movies of the 1970s had undeniably weird concepts. The Academy Award-winning French film, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, certainly falls into this category. At its core, the film is simply about a group of people trying to have a meal together. Unfortunately, a nonstop string of bizarre interruptions seems to perpetually prevent them from doing so.
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The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
has a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 98%.
While the idea of some people struggling to find time to have dinner together seems more like an everyday occurrence than a movie plot, the film finds creative ways to make the most of the idea. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie received high praise from critics, applauding its humor and clever writing in particular. The surrealist film serves as an entertaining celebration of the off-the-wall ideas that set the 1970s apart from other eras in cinema history.
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Through this film, director Luis Buñuel manages to create something that is both completely bizarre and surprisingly relatable. Most viewers will likely have never experienced most of the particular events shown in the film, but just about everyone can relate to the feeling of having plans repeatedly thrown off course.
4 The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
Directed by Mike Nichols
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The Day of the Dolphin PGSci-FiDramaThriller
The Day of the Dolphin is a 1973 science fiction film directed by Mike Nichols. The film follows a marine biologist, played by George C. Scott, who trains dolphins to communicate with humans. As the story unfolds, the trained dolphins become part of a sinister plot involving political intrigue and assassination. The film also stars Trish Van Devere and Paul Sorvino, and is based on the novel by Robert Merle.
Director Mike Nichols Release Date March 15, 1974 Writers Buck Henry , Robert Merle Cast George C. Scott , Trish Van Devere , Paul Sorvino , John Dehner , Severn Darden , Elizabeth Wilson , William Roerick , Phyllis Davis Runtime 104 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
A brilliant scientist, played by acclaimed actor George C. Scott, must scramble for a solution when the dolphins he trained to speak English are suddenly kidnapped, and instructed to assassinate the President of the United States. This bonkers premise sets the tone for The Day of the Dolphin, an off-the-wall sci-fi thriller directed by EGOT winner Mike Nichols, and written by Buck Henry, the Oscar-nominated writer of The Graduate.
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Though the film received mixed reviews, it did manage to secure multiple Academy Award nominations. Filled with espionage, explosions, and talking dolphins, The Day of the Dolphin is ’70s cinema at the peak of its delightful weirdness. It is truly a film that viewers must see for themselves, as describing it can hardly do it proper justice.
While the premise of English-speaking dolphins being coerced into killing the president is as odd as it sounds, the film does manage to highlight the themes of communication and friendship at its core. If nothing else, The Day of the Dolphin is guaranteed to be a blast when watched with friends.
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3 The Car (1977)
Directed by Elliot Silverstein
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The Car PGHorror
The Car, released in 1977, is a suspenseful thriller set in the fictional town of Santa Ynez, Utah, where a mysterious black coupe terrorizes residents. Following the death of the town’s Sheriff, Captain Wade Parent assumes the responsibility of confronting the enigmatic driver behind the wheel.
Director Elliot Silverstein Release Date May 12, 1977 Writers Lane Slate Cast James Brolin , Kathleen Lloyd , John Marley , R.G. Armstrong , John Rubinstein , Elizabeth Thompson , Roy Jenson , Kim Richards , Kyle Richards , Kate Murtagh , Doris Dowling , Eddie Little Sky , Read Morgan , Geraldine Keams , James Rawley , Melody Thomas Scott , Bryan O’Byrne , Don Keefer , Ronny Cox , Leslie Hoffman , Elliott Mason , Johnny Timko Runtime 96 minutes YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaGP_XUcZbQ Expand
What would happen if you took the beloved 1975 blockbuster, Jaws, and recreated it with a car instead of a shark? This appears to be the question asked by the creative team behind The Car, a 1977 horror film directed by Elliot Silverstein. The film follows a team of individuals determined to destroy the sentient automobile that has been terrorizing the residents of their humble town.
The Car
is an enjoyable showcase of the shameless weirdness of ’70s cinema, and an entertaining experience for fans of cheesy horror movies.
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The task proves to be more difficult than they expected, as the car truly has a mind of its own, and remains fully unaffected by their initial methods to stop it. Though it may not be the most critically acclaimed movie of the era, The Car is an enjoyable showcase of the shameless weirdness of ’70s cinema, and an entertaining experience for fans of cheesy horror movies.
Packed from beginning to end with high-speed automobile action, The Car is as thrilling as it is scary. Thankfully, the audience knows they are in good hands with the onscreen heroics of James Brolin. Brolin facing off against a living car may be one of the strangest battles ever put on screen, but it is the perfect showdown to encapsulate this era in film.
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2 Phase IV (1974)
Directed by Saul Bass
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Phase IV PGHorrorScience Fiction
Phase IV is a science fiction horror film directed by Saul Bass, based on a story by Mayo Simon. The film follows a team of scientists who are sent to investigate a strange phenomenon in the Arizona desert, where ants have begun to organize themselves into a collective, intelligent force, threatening human existence.
Director Saul Bass Release Date September 1, 1974 Studio(s) Paramount , Alced Productions , PBR Productions Writers Mayo Simon Cast Nigel Davenport , Michael Murphy , Lynne Frederick , Alan Gifford , Robert Henderson Runtime 86 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
Another cornerstone of ’70s sci-fi horror is Phase IV, a 1974 film directed by Saul Bass, and based on a short story by H.G. Wells. In simplistic terms, the film highlights a team of scientists as they struggle to understand the strange behavior of massive clusters of ants. Of course, these are no normal ants.
Related 10 Best 1970s Sci-Fi Movies, Ranked
The 1970s was an exciting time for science fiction cinema, special effects became more effective and directors had creative freedom and strong visons.
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These hyper-evolved insects begin working together to form strange, geometric shapes, and act violently towards humans. As is the case with most cheesy sci-fi films of the ’70s, the film gives the impression that the fate of the entire world could be at stake. Where Phase IV stands out from other sci-fi horror movies is in its willingness to give real personality to its non-human antagonists.
In addition to the human characters, some of the ants are given their own narratives as well. Viewers get to see how the ants live within their colonies, and some of the insects even go on a daring mission into the humans’ lab. While it is a bit of an odd choice to show so much of the story from the ants’ perspective, it is unique decisions like these that make Phase IV an enjoyably different viewing experience.
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1 Night of the Lepus (1972)
Directed by William F. Claxton
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Night of the Lepus PGHorrorSci-FiThriller
Night of the Lepus is a science fiction horror film directed by William F. Claxton, released in 1972. The movie portrays a small town in the American Southwest besieged by giant mutant rabbits, following a hare population control experiment gone awry, leading to a desperate struggle for survival.
Director William F. Claxton Release Date October 4, 1972 Writers Don Holliday , Gene R. Kearney , Russell Braddon Cast Stuart Whitman , Janet Leigh , Rory Calhoun , Deforest Kelley , Paul Fix , Melanie Fullerton , Chris Morrell , Chuck Hayward Runtime 88 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
“How many eyes does horror have? How many times will terror strike?” While one would imagine this to be the tagline for a movie about some kind of fearsome, otherworldly creature, the real beasts featured in the film are actually much more adorable. William F. Claxton’s 1972 horror movie, Night of the Lepus, features a small town being terrorized by a horde of oversized rabbits.
The town must rally together to defeat these science-experiments-gone-wrong before they can kill every last human they see. The ’70s were a prime era for fans of so-bad-they’re-good films, and Night of the Lepus is a candidate for the grand prize of that category.
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The characters are cheesy, the acting is underwhelming, and the story is as crazy as it sounds, but Night of the Lepus is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining experience for viewers. The perfect cherry on the top of this film is the rabbits themselves, who are often much more cute than intimidating, despite the best efforts of the filmmakers. Night of the Lepus is an excellent example of the lovably weird world of 1970s film.
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