Decade
1970s Horror
The horror that defined the 1970s — ranked by Crypt Score, from era-defining classics to the deep cuts worth resurrecting.
397 titles
Alien
›R1979 · Horror, Science Fiction · 117m · Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Kolchak: The Night StalkerSeries
›TV-PG1974 · Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy · 1 season · Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Jack Grinnage
Kolchak: The Night Stalker is an American television series that aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season. It featured a fictional Chicago newspaper reporter who investigated mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. These often involved the supernatural or even science fiction, including fantastic creatures.
Jaws
›PG1975 · Horror, Thriller, Adventure · 124m · Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police, a young marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter embark on a desperate quest to kill the beast before it strikes again.
The Exorcist
›R1973 · Horror, Drama · 122m · Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Halloween
›R1978 · Horror, Thriller · 91m · Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Dirty Harry
›R1971 · Action, Crime, Thriller · 102m · Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni
When a madman dubbed 'Scorpio' terrorizes San Francisco, hard-nosed cop, Harry Callahan – famous for his take-no-prisoners approach to law enforcement – is tasked with hunting down the psychopath.
In Search of...Series
›1977 · Documentary, Mystery · 7 seasons · Leonard Nimoy
In Search of... is a TV series that was broadcast weekly from 1977 to 1982, devoted to mysterious phenomena. It was created after the success of three one-hour TV documentaries produced by creator Alan Landsburg: In Search of Ancient Astronauts in 1973, In Search of Ancient Mysteries and The Outer Space Connection, both in 1975. All three featured narration by Rod Serling, who was the initial choice to host the spin-off show. After Serling's death, Leonard Nimoy was selected to be the host.
Dawn of the Dead
›NR1978 · Horror, Science Fiction · 127m · David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
The Wicker Man
›R1973 · Horror · 93m · Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland
Police sergeant Neil Howie is called to an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. The investigation is further complicated as Howie’s religious views clash with those of the island’s residents.
Carrie
›R1976 · Horror, Thriller · 98m · Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving
Withdrawn and sensitive teenager Carrie White faces bullying from her classmates and abuse from her fanatically pious mother. When she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers, things take a dark and violent turn.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
›R1974 · Horror · 83m · Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain
Five friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way, they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.
Frenzy
›1972 · Crime, Thriller, Horror · 116m · Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Barbara Leigh-Hunt
London is terrorized by a vicious sex killer known as The Necktie Murderer. Following the brutal slaying of his ex-wife, down-on-his-luck Richard Blaney is suspected by the police of being the killer. He goes on the run, determined to prove his innocence.
The Night Stalker
›NR1972 · Mystery, Horror, Thriller · 74m · Darren McGavin, Carol Lynley, Simon Oakland
Wisecracking reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a string of murders in Las Vegas and suspects the culprit is a vampire. His editor thinks he's crazy and the police think he's a nuisance, so Kolchak takes matters into his own hands.
The Night Strangler
›NR1973 · TV Movie, Horror, Mystery · 90m · Darren McGavin, Jo Ann Pflug, Simon Oakland
After being run out of Las Vegas, reporter Carl Kolchak heads for Seattle and another reporting job with the local paper. It's not long before he’s on the trail of another string of bizarre murders. It seems that every 21 years, for the past century, a killer murders a certain number of people, drains them of their blood, and then disappears into the night. Kolchak is on his trail, but can he stop him?
Helter Skelter
›1976 · Crime, Drama, Thriller · 184m · George DiCenzo, Steve Railsback, Nancy Wolfe
The investigation of two horrific mass murders leads to the capture and trial of the psychotic pseudo-hippie Charles Manson and his "family".
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
›PG1978 · Science Fiction, Horror · 116m · Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy
The residents of San Francisco are becoming drone-like shadows of their former selves, and as the phenomenon spreads, two Department of Health workers uncover the horrifying truth.
The Devils
›R1971 · Drama, History, Horror · 112m · Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton
A charismatic 17th-century French priest becomes the target of a sexually obsessed nun’s witchcraft accusations, which corrupt church and state officials are all too happy to exploit.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
›R1975 · Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror · 100m · Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
After getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, newly engaged couple Brad and Janet encounter the eerie mansion of the flamboyant, seductive Dr Frank-N-Furter and a variety of eccentric characters. Through elaborate dance and rock music, the mad scientist unveils his latest creation: a perfect, muscular man.
Eraserhead
›NR1977 · Horror, Science Fiction · 89m · Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph
First-time father Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.
The Omen
›R1976 · Horror, Thriller · 111m · Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner
Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t know is that their new son is the son of the devil.
Don't Look Now
›R1973 · Thriller, Drama, Horror · 110m · Donald Sutherland, Julie Christie, Hilary Mason
While grieving a terrible loss, a married couple meet two mysterious sisters, one of whom gives them a message sent from the afterlife.
Phantom of the Paradise
›PG1974 · Comedy, Horror, Music · 92m · William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper
Singer-songwriter Winslow Leach seeks revenge on the nefarious music producer Swan, who steals both Winslow's music and his favorite singer for the grand opening of Swan's new rock palace, the Paradise.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
›PG1971 · Horror, Comedy · 95m · Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Hugh Griffith
After a team of surgeons botches his beloved wife's operation, the distraught Dr. Phibes unleashes a score of Old-Testament atrocities on his enemies.
Theatre of Blood
›1973 · Comedy, Horror · 104m · Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Ian Hendry
A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.