The Best '70s Action Movies

Updated October 3, 2020 5.6k votes 584 voters 18.4k views52 items

List RulesVote up your favorite action films that were released in the 1970s.

When it comes the action movies, the grittier, the better. The top '70s action movies have non-stop excitement, thrills, suspense, and danger, and will leave you sitting at the edge of your seat. Films like The French Connection, Dirty Harry, and Mad Max really set the precedence for action films in the '70s. In addition, the top '70s action movies include an impressive mix of disaster movies, blacksploitation films, and tons of Bruce Lee flicks.

1970s action movies saw the rise of Clint Eastwood as tough-as-nails cop Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry franchise, but you may prefer Eastwood's more subtle performance in Escape from Alcatraz. During the '70s, there was also a change-up between Sean Connery playing James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever, and Roger Moore taking over the legendary role in Live and Let Die. But a list of '70s action movies wouldn't be complete without including three of the most renowned Bruce Lee films: Enter the Dragon, Fists of Fury, and Return of the Dragon.

Vote up the best 1970s action films below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section!

Photo:

...more

1
195
41
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood, Don Siegel
Released: 1971
Directed by: Don Siegel
Dirty Harry is a 1971 American action film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in... more
2
153
51
Rocky
Sylvester Stallone, Joe Frazier
Released: 1976
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen. A small-time boxer... more
3
117
29
The Warriors
Mercedes Ruehl, Robert Townsend
Released: 1979
Directed by: Walter Hill
The Warriors is a 1979 American cult thriller film directed by Walter Hill and based on Sol... more
4
131
39
Magnum Force
Clint Eastwood, Suzanne Somers
Released: 1973
Directed by: Ted Post
Magnum Force is a 1973 American action film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as... more
More Magnum Force
#73 of 154 The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made#5 of 85 The Best Movies About Corrupt Cops
5
136
42
Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan
Released: 1973
Directed by: Robert Clouse
Enter the Dragon is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Robert Clouse;... more
More Enter the Dragon
#14 of 38 Every Movie Coming to Netflix in January 2021#9 of 56 The 25+ Best MMA Movies About Fighting
6
147
51
Mad Max
Mel Gibson, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Released: 1979
Directed by: George Miller
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller, produced by... more
More Mad Max
Things You Didn't Know About The 'Mad Max' Movies#118 of 553 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made
7
153
67
Star Wars
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Released: 1977
Directed by: George Lucas
Star Wars is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The... more
More Star Wars
The Most Hated Star Wars VillainsHow To Survive The Trash Compactor Scene In 'Star Wars'

8
119
43
Death Wish
Jeff Goldblum, Charles Bronson
Released: 1974
Directed by: Michael Winner
This film is a 1974 American vigilante action film loosely based on the novel of the same name... more
9
105
34
Rocky II
Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith
Released: 1979
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Rocky II is a 1979 American sports drama film directed by Sylvester Stallone, and the second... more
More Rocky II
#14 of 204 The Best Sports Movies Ever Made#727 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
10
104
34
The Enforcer
Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly
Released: 1976
Directed by: James Fargo
The Enforcer is a 1976 American action film and the third in the Dirty Harry film series.... more
More The Enforcer
#77 of 553 The Best '70s Movies#331 of 456 The Most Quotable Movies of All Time
11
100
35
Escape from Alcatraz
Clint Eastwood, Danny Glover
Released: 1979
Directed by: Don Siegel
Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American prison film, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint... more
More Escape from Alcatraz
#124 of 275 The Best Movies Based On True Stories#9 of 82 The Best Movies Based on Non-Fiction Books
12
110
45
The French Connection
Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider
Released: 1971
Directed by: William Friedkin
Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial
The French Connection is a 1971 American dramatic thriller film directed by William Friedkin... more
More The French Connection
#17 of 46 Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes#112 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books
13
87
33
Fist of Fury
Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan
Released: 1972
Directed by: Lo Wei
Fist of Fury, also known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is... more
More Fist of Fury
#213 of 723 The Greatest Action Movies Of All Time#2 of 333 The All-Time Greatest Martial Art Movies
14
81
32
Return of the Dragon
Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris
Released: 1972
Directed by: Bruce Lee
Way of the Dragon is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written, produced and... more
15
100
49
Superman
Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman
Released: 1978
Directed by: Richard Donner
Superman is a 1978 superhero film directed by Richard Donner. It is based on the DC Comics... more
More Superman
Bizarre Facts Most People Don't Know About Christopher Reeve's 'Superman'#33 of 166 The Best Superhero Movies Ever Made
16
95
45
Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford
Released: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced... more
More Apocalypse Now
15 Stories From The Wild Life Of David Hackworth, Who Inspired Two 'Apocalypse Now' CharactersBehind-The-Scenes Stories About Marlon Brando In 'Apocalypse Now'
17
98
50
Smokey and the Bandit
Sally Field, Burt Reynolds
Released: 1977
Directed by: Hal Needham
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 Technicolor American action comedy film starring Burt... more
18
83
37
Live and Let Die
Jane Seymour, Roger Moore
Released: 1973
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
This film is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series to be produced by Eon Productions,... more
19
81
36
Assault on Precinct 13
Austin Stoker, Charles Cyphers
Released: 1976
Directed by: John Carpenter
Assault on Precinct 13 is a 1976 American action thriller film written, directed, scored and... more
More Assault on Precinct 13
#55 of 101 The Best Kidnapping & Hostage Movies Of All Time, Ranked#247 of 382 The Greatest Movie Themes
20
86
46
The Spy Who Loved Me
Roger Moore, Barbara Bach
Released: 1977
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
The Spy Who Loved Me is the tenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the third to star... more
21
67
36
Westworld
Yul Brynner, James Brolin
Released: 1973
Directed by: Michael Crichton
Westworld is a 1973 science fiction western-thriller film written and directed by novelist... more
More Westworld
#126 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#374 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
22
66
35
The Poseidon Adventure
Gene Hackman, Stella Stevens
Released: 1972
Directed by: Irwin Allen, Ronald Neame
The Poseidon Adventure is a 1972 American action-adventure disaster film, directed by Ronald... more
More The Poseidon Adventure
#677 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#312 of 480 The Greatest Movies For Guys
23
64
35
The Gauntlet
Clint Eastwood, Mara Corday
Released: 1977
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
The Gauntlet is a 1977 American action film directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Eastwood and... more
24
75
46
The Man with the Golden Gun
Christopher Lee, Roger Moore
Released: 1974
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to... more
25
69
40
Diamonds Are Forever
Sean Connery, Sammy Davis
Released: 1971
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the James Bond series by Eon Productions, and... more