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Best Action Movies

of the 1970s

The 20 highest-rated action movies released between 1970 and 1979, ranked by IMDb score.

1

Star Wars(1977)

8.6 IMDb94% RT90 Meta

Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the

2

The Message(1976)

8.1 IMDb

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by

3

The Day of the Jackal(1973)

7.8 IMDb91% RT80 Meta

An international assassin known as ‘The Jackal’ is employed by disgruntled French generals to kill President Charles de Gaulle, with a dedicated gendarme on the assassin’s trail.

4

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance(1972)

7.7 IMDb85% RT

Official Shogunate executioner Ogami Itto has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

5

The French Connection(1971)

7.7 IMDb97% RT94 Meta

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.

6

Lady Snowblood(1973)

7.6 IMDb100% RT80 Meta

Yuki's family is nearly wiped out before she is born due to the machinations of a band of criminals. These criminals kidnap and brutalize her mother but leave her alive. Later her mother ends up in pr

7

Enter the Dragon(1973)

7.6 IMDb88% RT83 Meta

A martial artist agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover.

8

Jeremiah Johnson(1972)

7.6 IMDb91% RT75 Meta

A mountain man who wishes to live the life of a hermit becomes the unwilling object of a long vendetta by Indians when he proves to be the match of their warriors in one-on-one combat on the early fro

9

Duel(1971)

7.6 IMDb89% RT81 Meta

Traveling businessman David Mann angers the driver of a rusty tanker while crossing the California desert. A simple trip turns deadly, as Mann struggles to stay on the road while the tanker plays cat

10

The Warriors(1979)

7.5 IMDb88% RT65 Meta

Prominent gang leader Cyrus calls a meeting of New York's gangs to set aside their turf wars and take over the city. At the meeting, a rival leader kills Cyrus, but a Coney Island gang called the Warr

11

A Touch of Zen(1970)

7.5 IMDb97% RT

Gu Sheng-zhai, an artist in his early 30s, still lives with his mother, but he is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run. Yang brings Gu into her circle of p

12

Superman(1978)

7.4 IMDb88% RT82 Meta

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over th

13

Drunken Master(1978)

7.4 IMDb81% RT68 Meta

After getting into trouble, a mischievous young man is sent to train under a brutal, but slovenly old beggar, who teaches him the secret of the Drunken Fist.

14

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow(1978)

7.3 IMDb80% RT

Everyone abuses and humiliates a downtrodden orphan until he befriends an old man, who turns out to be the last master of the snake fist fighting style. Jackie becomes the old man's student and finds

15

Assault on Precinct 13(1976)

7.3 IMDb94% RT89 Meta

A highway patrol officer, two criminals, and a station secretary form an unlikely alliance to defend a defunct Los Angeles precinct against a siege by a bloodthirsty street gang.

16

Watch Out, We're Mad(1974)

7.3 IMDb

After a tied 1st place in a local stunt race, two drivers start a contest to decide who of them will own the prize, a dune buggy. But when a mobster destroys the car, they are determined to get it bac

17

The Getaway(1972)

7.3 IMDb84% RT55 Meta

A recently released ex-convict and his loyal wife go on the run after a heist goes wrong.

18

Fist of Fury(1972)

7.2 IMDb68 Meta

During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, Chen Zhen, the star pupil of a recently-deceased martial arts teacher battles a Japanese dojo which seeks the demise of his fighting school.

19

The Driver(1978)

7.1 IMDb79% RT56 Meta

The Driver specializes in driving getaway cars for robberies. His exceptional talent has prevented him from being caught yet. After another successful flight from the police a self-assured detective m

20

The Way of the Dragon(1972)

7.1 IMDb87% RT58 Meta

After a Chinese restaurant in Rome is threatened by the mafia, who will stop at nothing to acquire the property, the owner recruits a family friend in Hong Kong, kung fu expert Tang Lung, to help them

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