List of the best movies of 1972, with movie trailers when available. 1972 saw the debut of many legendary actors, including Steve Martin and Samuel L. Jackson. These top movies of 1972 are listed by popularity, so the movies with the most votes are at the top. This list consists of all different movie genres, but each film was released in 1972. You can filter this list of films that came out in 1972 for various bits of information, such as who directed the movie and what genre it is. Think the best 1972 movie isn't as high as it should be? Vote up your favorite so it will rise to the top.
This list contains movies like The Godfather and Deliverance.
This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1972?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1972?"
1972 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1972. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1972 aren't just one persons opinion.
list ordered by
1
44 9
The GodfatherAl Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy from a screenplay by Mario Puzo and Coppola. Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as ...more
2
27 10
DeliveranceBurt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty Deliverance is a 1972 American dramatic thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman, and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, with the latter two making their ...more
3
19 8
Play It Again, SamWoody Allen, Ingrid Bergman, Diane Keaton Play It Again, Sam is a 1972 film written by and starring Woody Allen, based on his 1969 Broadway play. The film was directed by Herbert Ross, which is unusual, in that Allen usually directs his ...more
4
24 13
Jeremiah JohnsonRobert Redford, Tanya Tucker, Will Geer Jeremiah Johnson is a 1972 western film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford as the title character and Will Geer as "Bear Claw" Chris Lapp. The film has been said to ...more
5
20 10
FrenzyAlfred Hitchcock, Anna Massey, Bernard Cribbins Frenzy is a 1972 British crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The penultimate feature film of his extensive career, it is often considered by critics and scholars to be his last ...more
6
18 9
Fist of FuryBruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Nora Miao Fist of Fury, also known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei, starring Bruce Lee in his second major role ...more
7
21 13
The Poseidon AdventureGene Hackman, Stella Stevens, Ernest Borgnine The Poseidon Adventure is a 1972 American action-adventure disaster film, directed by Ronald Neame, produced by Irwin Allen, and based on Paul Gallico's novel of the same name. The film features ...more
8
15 8
The CandidateRobert Redford, Natalie Wood, Peter Boyle The Candidate is a 1972 American satirical comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Peter Boyle, and directed by Michael Ritchie. The screenplay, which examines the various facets and ...more
9
19 12
The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanPaul Newman, Ava Gardner, Jacqueline Bissett The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean is a 1972 American western film written by John Milius, directed by John Huston, and starring Paul Newman. It was loosely based on the real-life, ...more
10
20 13
SleuthMichael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Eve Channing Sleuth is a 1972 mystery thriller film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The screenplay by British playwright Anthony Shaffer was based on his 1970 Tony Award-winning play Sleuth. The film stars ...more
11
12 6
Return of the DragonBruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Nora Miao Way of the Dragon is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written, produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. This was Bruce Lee's only completed ...more
12
13 7
Slaughterhouse-FiveValerie Perrine, Perry King, John Dehner Slaughterhouse-Five is a 1972 film based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name about a writer who tells a story in random order of how he was a soldier in WW2 and was abducted by aliens. The ...more
Tales from the CryptJoan Collins, Peter Cushing, Ralph Richardson Tales from the Crypt is a 1972 British horror film, directed by Freddie Francis. It is an anthology film consisting of five separate segments, based on stories from EC Comics. Only two of the ...more
15
13 8
Aguirre, the Wrath of GodKlaus Kinski, Helena Rojo, Peter Berling Aguirre, the Wrath of God, known in the UK as Aguirre, Wrath of God, is a 1972 West German epic film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski stars in the title role. The soundtrack ...more
16
11 6
SolarisAnatoly Solonitsyn, Natalya Bondarchuk, Jüri Järvet Solaris is a 1972 Russian science fiction art film adaptation of Polish author Stanisław Lem's novel Solaris. The film was co-written and directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. The film is a meditative ...more
17
11 6
Cries and WhispersIngmar Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Erland Josephson Cries and Whispers is a 1972 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullmann. The film is set at a mansion at the ...more
The CowboysJohn Wayne, Bruce Dern, Slim Pickens The Cowboys is a 1972 Western motion picture starring John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Slim Pickens, Colleen Dewhurst and Bruce Dern. Robert Carradine made his film debut with fellow child actor ...more
19
12 8
Last Tango in ParisMarlon Brando, Jean Piere Leaud, Catherine Breillat Last Tango in Paris is a 1972 Franco-Italian romantic erotic drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci which portrays a recent American widower who begins an anonymous sexual relationship with ...more
20
7 3
Dimos Dicoudis added Child's PlayBeau Bridges, Robert Preston, Tom Leopold Child's Play is a 1972 American drama-mystery film directed by Sidney Lumet. It stars James Mason and Robert Preston. The screenplay by Leon Prochnik is based on the 1970 play of the same title ...more
21
17 14
Silent RunningBruce Dern, Ron Rifkin, Joseph Campanella Silent Running is a 1972 environmentally-themed American science fiction film starring Bruce Dern, featuring Cliff Potts, Ron Rifkin and Jesse Vint. It was directed by Douglas Trumbull, who had ...more
22
14 11
The GetawaySteve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Sally Struthers The Getaway is a 1972 American action-crime film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. The film is based on the Jim Thompson novel of the same name, with the ...more
The Discreet Charm of the BourgeoisieMichel Piccoli, Fernando Rey, Jean-Pierre Cassel The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is a 1972 surrealist film directed by Luis Buñuel and written by Jean-Claude Carrière in collaboration with the director. The film was made in ...more
24
6 3
Dimos Dicoudis added Snoopy, Come HomeBill Melendez, Christopher DeFaria, Linda Ercoli Snoopy, Come Home! is a 1972 animated musical film, released by National General Pictures, produced by Cinema Center Films and Lee Mendelson Films, directed by Bill Meléndez, and based on ...more
25
16 14
The MechanicCharles Bronson, Jan-Michael Vincent, Keenan Wynn The Mechanic is a 1972 American action-thriller film directed by Michael Winner. It stars Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent. The film is noted for its opening. There is no dialogue for the ...more
26
15 13
Joe KiddClint Eastwood, Robert Duvall, John Saxon Joe Kidd is a 1972 American western film starring Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall, written by Elmore Leonard and directed by John Sturges. The film is about an ex-bounty hunter hired by a ...more
27
10 8
The Night StalkerCarol Lynley, Darren McGavin, Larry Linville The Night Stalker is a made for television movie which aired on ABC on January 11, 1972. In it an investigative reporter, played by Darren McGavin, comes to suspect that a serial killer in the ...more
Dimos Dicoudis added Lady Sings the BluesDiana Ross, Richard Pryor, Billy Dee Williams Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 American biographical drama film directed by Sidney J. Furie about jazz singer Billie Holiday loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its ...more
29
14 13
CabaretLiza Minnelli, Michael York, Joel Grey Cabaret is a 1972 musical film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Joel Grey. The film is set in Berlin during the Weimar Republic in 1931, under the ominous ...more
30
13 12
Get to Know Your RabbitOrson Welles, Katharine Ross, John Astin Get to Know Your Rabbit is a 1972 American comedy film written by Jordan Crittenden and directed by Brian De Palma.
31
12 11
Pink FlamingosJohn Waters, Divine, Mink Stole Pink Flamingos is a 1972 American transgressive black comedy exploitation film written, produced, scored, shot, edited, narrated, and directed by John Waters. When the film was initially ...more
32
12 11
What's Up, Doc?Barbra Streisand, Randy Quaid, Madeline Kahn What's Up, Doc? is a 1972 screwball comedy film released by Warner Bros., directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and Madeline Kahn in her first feature film ...more
Fritz the CatRalph Bakshi, Rosetta LeNoire, Skip Hinnant Fritz the Cat is a 1972 American adult animated comedy film written and directed by Ralph Bakshi as his feature film debut. Based on the comic strip of the same name by Robert Crumb, the film ...more
34
10 9
Junior BonnerSteve McQueen, Ida Lupino, Ben Johnson Junior Bonner is a 1972 film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen, Joe Don Baker, Robert Preston and Ida Lupino. The film focuses on a veteran rodeo rider as he returns to his ...more
35
10 9
Treasure IslandOrson Welles, Maria Rohm, Lionel Stander Treasure Island is a 1972 adventure film, based on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film stars Orson Welles as Long John Silver, Walter Slezak as Squire Trelawney, Rik ...more
36
8 7
Napoleon and SamanthaJodie Foster, Michael Douglas, Mary Wickes Napoleon and Samantha is a 1972 American adventure drama film directed by Bernard McEveety and written by Stewart Raffill. Filmed in and around John Day, Oregon, it stars Michael Douglas, Johnny ...more
37
9 9
The Ruling ClassPeter O'Toole, Harry Andrews, Alastair Sim The Ruling Class is a 1972 British black comedy film. It is an adaptation of Peter Barnes' satirical stage play of the same title which tells the story of a paranoid schizophrenic British ...more
Man of La ManchaSophia Loren, Peter O'Toole, Brian Blessed Man of La Mancha is a 1972 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The musical was suggested by the ...more
39
8 8
The Last House on the LeftMartin Kove, Steve Miner, Fred J. Lincoln The Last House on the Left is a 1972 American exploitation-horror film written, edited, and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham. The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish ...more
40
7 7
The New LandMax von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Monica Zetterlund The New Land is a 1972 Swedish film written by Bengt Forslund and directed by Jan Troell. It stars Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann and Eddie Axberg. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign ...more
41
7 8
The Hot RockRobert Redford, George Segal, Charlotte Rae The Hot Rock is a 1972 comedy-drama caper film directed by Peter Yates from a screenplay by William Goldman, based on Donald E. Westlake's novel of the same name, which introduced his ...more
42
7 8
Pocket MoneyPaul Newman, Lee Marvin, Héctor Elizondo Pocket Money is a 1972 film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, from a screenplay written by Terrence Malick and based on the novel Jim Kane by Joseph P. Brown. The movie stars Paul Newman and Lee ...more
Dimos Dicoudis added Alfredo, AlfredoDustin Hoffman, Stefania Sandrelli, Saro Urzì Alfredo, Alfredo is a 1972 Italian language award winning comedy film directed by Pietro Germi. Dustin Hoffman is dubbed into Italian by Ferruccio Amendola. Completely shot in Ascoli Piceno,
44
3 4
Vampire CircusDavid Prowse, Lalla Ward, Adrienne Corri Vampire Circus is a 1972 British horror film, directed by Robert Young. It was written by Judson Kinberg, and produced by Wilbur Stark and Michael Carreras for Hammer Film Productions. It stars ...more
45
3 4
ImagesSusannah York, Rene Auberjonois, Cathryn Harrison Images is a 1972 British-American psychological thriller film directed by Robert Altman and starring Susannah York. The picture follows an unstable children's author who finds herself engulfed ...more
46
11 13
Fat CityJeff Bridges, Stacy Keach, Candy Clark Fat City is a 1972 American neo-noir boxing drama film directed by John Huston. The picture stars Stacy Keach, Jeff Bridges, and Susan Tyrrell. One of Huston's later films, it is based on the ...more
47
9 11
Conquest of the Planet of the ApesRicardo Montalbán, Roddy McDowall, Don Murray Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is a 1972 science fiction film directed by J. Lee Thompson. It is the fourth of five films in the original Planet of the Apes series produced by Arthur P. ...more
48
6 8
Four Flies on Grey VelvetBud Spencer, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Michael Brandon Four Flies on Grey Velvet is a 1971 Italian giallo film written and directed by Dario Argento. The film is the third in director Argento's "Animal Trilogy", which started with The Bird ...more
49
6 8
Young WinstonAnthony Hopkins, Jane Seymour, Anne Bancroft Young Winston is a 1972 British film based on the early years of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The film was based on the book My Early Life: A Roving Commission by Winston Churchill. ...more
50
13 16
The Magnificent Seven RideGary Busey, Stefanie Powers, Lee Van Cleef The Magnificent Seven Ride is a 1972 western film and is the third and last sequel of the 1960 western, The Magnificent Seven. It stars Lee Van Cleef as Chris Adams, succeeding Yul Brynner and ...more
