The Best Teen Movies Of The 1970s

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 5.0K votes 1.0K voters 66.1K views
Over 1.0K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Teen Movies Of The 1970s
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite teenage films that were released in the 1970s

The greatest ‘70s teen movies are a blend of romance, comedy, and sometimes serious drama. Many of the coming-of-age tales featured on this list went on to garner critical acclaim and large cult followings.

 On this list, you will find Meatballs, the Ivan Reitman-directed comedy featuring Bill Murray in his first starring role. Other teen comedies of the 1970s include Animal House, as well as the musical comedy Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as ‘50s high school-ers.

Several teenage horror flicks made their way onto this list as well. Carrie, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, portrays a troubled high school student who exacts her revenge on the classmates that shunned her. 

Vote up the best teen movies from the 1970s below, and be sure to vote down any that you think other fans can skip. 

Most divisive: The Last House on the Left
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  • Grease
    1

    Grease

    John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing
    319 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: Randal Kleiser
    In the 1978 musical Grease, Danny Zuko (John Travolta) is a high school heartthrob who finds his world upended when sweet Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), a girl he met over summer vacation, enrolls at Rydell High. The film navigates the complexities of teenage romance and peer pressure in an era characterized by rock 'n' roll and fast cars. With memorable tunes and energetic dance sequences, the movie went on to become a beloved classic, earning it five Golden Globe nominations. Its vibrant portrayal of 1950s Americana remains iconic even today.

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  • American Graffiti
    2

    American Graffiti

    Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat
    195 votes
    • Released: 1973
    • Directed by: George Lucas
    Immerse yourself in the nostalgic whirlwind of American Graffiti, a 1973 comedy-drama directed by George Lucas. The spotlight shines on a group of freshly graduated high school friends, led by Steve Bolander (Ron Howard) and Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss). As they navigate through a single night filled with drag racing, drive-ins and rock 'n' roll, they grapple with life-altering decisions about their futures. This film is an ode to the end of an era, offering a snapshot of American youth in the early 60s. Notably, it received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

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  • Carrie
    3

    Carrie

    Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, William Katt
    204 votes
    • Released: 1976
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
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    In the chilling horror flick Carrie, a high school girl named Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) grapples with her emerging telekinetic powers, under the oppressive reign of her fanatically religious mother, Margaret (Piper Laurie). A pariah at school, she's tormented by her peers and misunderstood at home. When a cruel prank at the prom triggers her abilities, the night descends into terror. Directed by Brian De Palma, this film is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. Nominated for two Academy Awards, it remains a classic in the horror genre.

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  • National Lampoon's Animal House
    4

    National Lampoon's Animal House

    John Belushi, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland
    183 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: John Landis
    In the raucous comedy National Lampoon's Animal House, party-crazed fraternity Delta Tau Chi, led by Bluto Blutarsky (John Belushi), is in a constant state of war with the college administration, personified by Dean Wormer (John Vernon). The film, set in 1962, navigates through wild parties, pranks and chaos. As the Dean plots to expel the fraternity, the misfits plan their revenge. A mix of slapstick humor and social satire, this John Landis directed movie remains a classic in its genre. It won People's Choice Award for Favorite Non-Musical Motion Picture.

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  • Saturday Night Fever
    5

    Saturday Night Fever

    John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller
    176 votes
    • Released: 1977
    • Directed by: John Badham
    In Saturday Night Fever, Tony Manero (John Travolta) is a Brooklyn paint-store clerk who'd give anything to break out of his dead-end existence. It's the disco era and dance floor becomes his stage. Life turns rhythmic, under the mirrored ball, with pulsating music that drowns reality. Amidst this, he encounters Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney), an ambitious dancer with dreams beyond the boroughs. The film, a drama peppered with romance, encapsulates their journey through life and dance. Winner of 2 Golden Globes, it captures the quintessence of the 70s disco scene.

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  • Halloween
    6

    Halloween

    Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes
    165 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: John Carpenter
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    In the iconic horror film Halloween, directed by John Carpenter, the tranquil town of Haddonfield, Illinois is thrown into a state of terror. The menace arrives in the form of Michael Myers (Nick Castle), an escaped mental patient with a chilling past. The film's protagonist, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), finds herself in Myers's crosshairs on Halloween night. As she and her friends become targets, Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), Myers's psychiatrist, races against time to stop his murderous rampage. Unpredictable yet relentless, Halloween weaves a tale of suspense that won't soon be forgotten.

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