Top 10 Action Movies of the 1970s

Shaft’s his name; Shaft’s his game. It doesn’t really come much cooler than John Shaft in this Gordon Parks-directed blaxpoitation flick. When the title character’s tasked by a mob boss with solving a kidnapping case, the private detective kicks his attitude into overdrive – handing out beat downs like they’re going outta style and dodging streams of machinegun bullets. And, if that wasn’t enough to win you over, then maybe his jive talk will be. Can ya dig it?

Life in a street gang can be brutal, so it’s not surprising that a plan to suggest a truce would quickly go to hell. And in this action thriller drama, it’s for one gang in particular that it all goes wrong: The Warriors. Framed for the death of the beloved peace-seeker Cyrus, the titular group is hunted down by an array of gangs, including the sadistic Turnbull ACs and the slugger-wielding Baseball Furies. The result is a manhunt that brings oodles of hand-to-hand combat and eerie showdowns, in what has become a ‘70s cult classic.

Picture Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “The Running Man” meets George Orwell’s “1984” and you’ve got something along the lines of “Rollerball.” The film is set in a future society where the most popular sport around is an outlandish game called Rollerball. While there is no war and crime, there’s still plenty of violence thanks to this so-called recreational activity. Although roller-skating might not seem so dangerous, this sports movie delivers plenty of cracked skulls and broken backs. And thanks to its sci-fi spin, fine lead performances and fast-paced action sequences, this one has it all – and more.

Think architects are lame? Think again. In this Michael Winner-directed flick, we get to see Charles Bronson play Paul Kersey, a vengeful vigilante out for blood following his wife’s murder and daughter’s rape. Not only does this movie have plenty of violence, but we also get to see the protagonist evolve from a blue-sky-thinker into a hateful killer. It’s s a classic raw action Charles Bronson shooter.

This revenge thriller follows the ambush of an L.A. police station by a ruthless street gang looking to crack some skulls. Written and directed by John Carpenter, this 1976 flick is filled with no-nonsense shootouts, suicidal onslaughts and some thrilling points of view from either side of the battle. The violence in this movie really stood out from the rest of the action output in this era due to its gloves-off, no-holds-barred approach. Remember the ice cream scene? Our point exactly.

Although he was sent just to investigate a deadly tournament, the legendary Bruce Lee quickly makes his mark in this martial arts masterpiece. Looking to avenge his sister, Lee finds himself having to defeat whoever he’s pitted against, which he does with flying kicks, nunchaku and screaming punches aplenty. There is nothing better than watching the father of mixed martial arts take on wave after wave of bad guys, and “Enter the Dragon” delivers this with aplomb.

When a pair of old school narcotics detectives find themselves tangled in a drug smuggling case with a certain French Connection, they soon realize they may’ve bitten off more than they can chew. From storming bars of criminals to tailing moustache-wearing gentlemen, partners Doyle and Russo don’t only have to kick ass but also must chase trains – and seriously, the train chase is awesome. In short, “The French Connection” is true drug-busting action at its best.

Known for dealing with San Francisco’s dirty deeds, homicide inspector Harry Callahan is fittingly hard-as-nails. So when the Scorpio killer starts taking people out with a sniper rifle, Dirty Harry is called to rein him in. As well as giving us classic dialogue, Clint Eastwood delivers tense chases and brutal beat-‘em-ups, but it’s when he pulls out his legendary .44 magnum hand cannon that this crime thriller really grabs you. “Dirty Harry” fared so well it spawned four sequels, including 1976’s “The Enforcer.”

After a young farm boy embraces his destiny and accepts that he’s bound to become a Jedi, defeat Darth Vader and rescue Princess Leia, we’re treated to a story of good versus evil that’s got a helluva lot of action. What really sells this galactic epic are its space battles and the new take on the sword fight – which displayed the now-famous light-sabers. Combine this with stunning visuals and you have the beginnings of one of the most successful sci-fi action franchises ever.



Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

- “Gone in 60 Seconds” (1974)

- “Live and Let Die” (1973)

- “Walking Tall” (1973)

- “The Getaway” (1972)

- “Death Race 2000” (1975)

In this futuristic dystopian action flick, an Australian policeman seeks vengeance on a motorcycle gang after they murder his partner and family. Equipped with iconic apparel and wheels, Mad Max aims to take out the culprits one by one. What follows are high-octane chases – which always end with someone being obliterated or thrown from a bridge – strange costumes and cheesy, but super awesome, shoot-outs. This search-and-destroy movie didn’t only put Mel Gibson on the map, but also into our action-loving hearts.


Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite hustle and bustle action movie of the ‘70s? For more alluring Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.