There’s no denying that life can be stressful, and turning on a feel-good flick from the groovy ‘70s can provide comfort from the everyday chaos. For many people, the cinema offers a much-needed escape from the mounting difficulties of life, and audiences everywhere receive relief and relaxation when they turn to certain films for a distraction. Movies have the ability to completely transform how you’re feeling, with reassuring characters and famous faces offering immense support that can be difficult to capture in words. While the decade is often infamous for the gritty, darker movies of the American New Wave films of Scorsese and Coppola, the 1970s were also a period in Hollywood that delivered countless adored feel-good classics that continue to inspire and satisfy the masses.
Whether you’re in the mood to laugh away your worries by watching uproarious comedy staples like National Lampoon’s Animal House and Blazing Saddles, or sing along with Danny and Sandy in the beloved romantic musical comedy Grease, the ‘70s were no stranger to serving up some seriously spectacular content. Sylvester Stallone became a household name when he starred as the eponymous character in the uplifting sports drama Rocky, just like Burt Reynolds further cemented his status as a pop culture icon when he led the 1977 flick Smokey and the Bandit. Here are some of the best feel-good movies of the 1970s.
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9 The Bad News Bears
Paramount Pictures
Walter Matthau headlined the endearing 1976 sports comedy The Bad News Bears, in which the hilarious comedian portrays a hard-drinking, down-on-his-luck former baseball pitcher who begrudgingly agrees to coach a California Little League team full of mismatched outcasts.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The charming picture features shining performances from a young Tatum O’Neal, as well as actors like Vic Morrow and a young Jackie Earle Haley, and showcases Matthau’s signature humor and appeal as the hapless Morris Buttermaker. The Bad News Bears is an uplifting underdog tale that has continued to touch the hearts of audiences, with Rolling Stone declaring the comedy “got everything beautifully, hilariously and even painfully right.”
8 Animal House
Universal Pictures
The revered John Landis directed the uproarious 1978 farce National Lampoon’s Animal House, telling the sidesplitting story of a rowdy fraternity in 1962 that openly defy the no nonsense dean of the fictional Faber College who wants to expel them, resulting in wild and hilarious shenanigans and antics directed at the authority figure.
With a star-studded cast including Saturday Night Live alum John Belushi, Tim Matheson, and Donald Sutherland, the comedy classic is jam-packed full of over-the-top gags, zany hijinks, and rude and crude humor, with the picture widely acknowledged as having launched the gross-out film genre that would become one of Tinseltown’s most go-to staples.
7 Grease
The late great Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta dazzled audiences when they portrayed star-crossed high school lovers Sandy Olsson and Danny Zucko in the 1978 beloved musical romantic comedy Grease, following the mismatched pair as they surprisingly reconnect at Rydell High after a summer romance.
With toe-tapping musical numbers like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’," and “You’re the One That I Want," the delightfully energetic musical will have viewers singing and dancing right along with the colorful characters and performers. Grease was a knockout with critics and the box office, and went on to become the highest-grossing musical film ever made at the time of its release, with its soundtrack also becoming the second-best-selling album that year.
6 Smokey and the Bandit
The legendary Burt Reynolds starred in the iconic 1977 road action comedy Smokey and the Bandit, which follows the mustached macho man as he famously portrays Bo “Bandit” Darville, a bootlegger who is hired to transport a tractor-trailer full of beer over state lines by a wealthy Texan and unwittingly attracts the unwanted attention of a determined sheriff.
Reynolds appears alongside fellow greats like Sally Field and Jackie Gleason in the fun ‘70s staple, and a majority of the engrossing flick was actually improvised; Reynolds later expressed that Gleason “never said a single word in the script.” Smokey and the Bandit is cherished for its lively car chases, charming romance and infectious humor and the comedy remains a lauded fan favorite.
5 The Muppet Movie
Associated Film Distribution
Audiences everywhere couldn’t help but fall in love with Kermit the Frog and his offbeat pals in the 1979 musical road comedy The Muppet Movie, with the charming picture serving as an origin story for the Muppets that centers on the beloved frog as he heads to Hollywood with stars in his eyes, meeting an assortment of kooky characters along the way.
The lighthearted and charming Muppet Movie served as the silver screen debut for the Jim Henson creations, attracting a passionate fan following that ultimately led to countless other feature films and television programs depicting the Muppets. Not only was the comedy a hit, but it also spawned a popular soundtrack that would nab Henson and Paul Williams the Grammy for Best Album for Children.
4 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Warner Bros.
The dynamite Gene Wilder delivered a performance of a lifetime when he starred as the wondrous titular character in the 1971 musical fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, telling the captivating story of a poor boy named Charlie Bucket who finds his luck completely changed when he finds a sacred Golden Ticket that allows him to visit the extraordinary chocolate factory.
Adapted from the lauded Roald Dahl children’s book, the picture brought enthralling characters like the Oompa-Loompas, Veruca Salt, and Violet Beauregarde to life and introduced memorable tunes like “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination” to the masses. The classic film provides a fantastic escape for viewers and is a pop culture gem, with yet another upcoming remake starring Timothée Chalamet entitled Wonkaset for release next year.
3 Rocky
United Artists
The great Sylvester Stallone became an overnight sensation when he wrote and starred in the iconic 1976 drama Rocky, in which the decorated actor and future director portrays Robert “Rocky” Balboa, a small-time down-on-his-luck boxer who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to duke it out against the world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed.
The uplifting tale marked the beginning of Stallone’s highly-decorated career and is heavily regarded as one of the greatest sports films ever made, with the drama going on to launch a lucrative and popular franchise. Rocky won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and was a sleeper hit, grossing $225 million upon its release; the rags-to-riches theme continues to tug on the heartstrings of audiences everywhere.
2 Blazing Saddles
Legendary filmmaker and comedian Mel Brooks directed the lauded 1974 satirical western black comedy Blazing Saddles, which features Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder as the fictional Rock Ridge sheriff Bart and his drunk gunfighter friend Jim, who ban together to take on a money-hungry attorney general who wants to force the town’s residents out in order to turn a profit.
The splendidly vulgar spoof is full of explosive humor and outrageous hijinks, with both of the talented lead stars never afraid to push the envelope for the sake of their craft. Blazing Saddles is a hallowed Brooks staple and earned rave reviews from critics, with Roger Ebert declaring, “It’s a crazed grab-bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing except hit us over the head with a rubber chicken.”
1 Monty Python and the Holy Grail
20th Century Studios
The British surreal comedy troupe Monty Python introduced audiences to their zany brand of humor when they starred in the 1975 cult classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they set off on a sidesplitting journey in search of the highly-coveted Holy Grail. Filled with endlessly quotable moments, the film has become an enduring staple in film history for nearly half a century, accruing new fans every generation.
The famed parody was directed by Monty Python members Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones (neither of which had previous filmmaking experience), with the cast jokingly referring to the novice directing style as embracing the level of mutual disrespect prevalent in the troupe’s work. Monty Python and the Holy Grail has grown more and more beloved since its initial release and is often touted as one of the best comedies ever created.
