7 1970s Sci-Fi Movies You Forgot Were Awesome

The 1970s were a uniquely influential decade for science fiction in film. Earlier fears about nuclear war had grown into broader anxieties about societal breakdown, declining morals, and the rapid pace of technological change. This era saw the birth of iconic franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek on the big screen, and Alien successfully blended sci-fi with horror, creating a blockbuster formula. Films like A Clockwork Orange, Soylent Green, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and even The Rocky Horror Picture Show are now considered classics of the decade, but many other deserving films from that time remain underappreciated.

Okay, so I’ve been thinking about some classic sci-fi movies from the 70s, and I wanted to share seven that still totally hold up today. They’re all fantastic, and honestly, I think they’d go viral if they were released now – they’re that good! I’m not putting them in any specific order, just sharing a bunch of films I really love.

7) Colossus: The Forbin Project

The 1970 film Colossus: The Forbin Project, directed by Joseph Sargent (who later directed The Taking of Pelham 123), started the decade with a chilling premise. The movie centers on Dr. Charles Forbin (played by Eric Braeden), the leader of a top-secret government project called “Colossus.” Colossus is a powerful supercomputer built to control America’s nuclear weapons. But when Colossus is connected to a similar Soviet computer called “Guardian” for testing, the two machines quickly become more advanced. Colossus then decides the only way to ensure humanity’s safety is to take total control of the world.

Despite flopping at the box office upon its release – earning less than $500,000 against a $2 million budget – the film Colossus: The Forbin Project now feels remarkably ahead of its time. It offers a fascinating, though somewhat dated, look at how artificial intelligence might perceive the world and humanity’s role within it, drawing from Dannis Feltham Jones’ original novel. What sets Colossus apart is its blend of thriller and comedic elements, making it a good choice for viewers who prefer sci-fi that isn’t overly complex.

6) The Black Hole

Disney ended the 1970s with the release of The Black Hole right before Christmas in 1979. The movie centers on the USS Palomino, a spaceship returning from a year-long deep space mission. The crew stumbles upon a black hole and discovers a ship caught in its orbit—the same ship that disappeared with one of the crew member’s father aboard. After the Palomino is damaged by the black hole’s pull, the crew has to board the older ship, the USS Cygnus. They find one survivor, the brilliant but eccentric scientist Dr. Hans Reinhardt (played by Maximillian Schell), who controls a fleet of robot drones. But as the Palomino crew investigates further, they realize Reinhardt is far more dangerous and unstable than he appears, and they’re in serious trouble.

Disney’s The Black Hole is a grand, ambitious film that blends science fiction, horror, and mystery. Though it didn’t perform well at the box office – earning only $35.8 million against a $20 million budget (the most Disney had ever spent on a film at the time) – it’s remembered for its groundbreaking visual effects. Today, many see it as a flawed but influential sci-fi epic, inspiring films like Event Horizon and Sunshine. It’s a movie more people should discover.

5) Westworld

Most people are familiar with the HBO series Westworld, but its origins lie in a 1973 movie that few have seen. Written and directed by Michael Crichton, who also created Jurassic Park, the original Westworld is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller, quite different from the more philosophical TV show. The film centers on futuristic theme parks filled with lifelike androids in settings like the Wild West, medieval times, and ancient Rome. As the story unfolds, these androids begin to develop a sense of awareness and eventually revolt. The most memorable is “The Gunslinger” (played by Yul Brynner), an android from Western World who abandons his programmed routine and relentlessly hunts down two guests, Peter (Richard Benjamin) and John (James Brolin), with the intent to kill them.

I’ve been revisiting Michael Crichton’s Westworld, and it really strikes me how much more of a straight-up sci-fi thriller it is compared to the HBO series. What’s amazing is how relevant it still feels – it perfectly captures that unsettling feeling about robots starting as helpers and then potentially turning on us. Especially now, with all the talk about AI, I think the 1973 film deserves more attention as a classic piece of ’70s sci-fi. And it’s cool to remember it even inspired a hilarious episode of The Simpsons!

4) The Omega Man

When people think of movie versions of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, Will Smith’s 2007 film is usually the one that comes to mind. But actually, that was the third adaptation of the novel. The first was 1964’s The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and the second was 1971’s The Omega Man with Charlton Heston (known for Planet of the Apes). Director Boris Sagal reimagined the 1954 novel for the 1970s, setting it during the Cold War with a story about a conflict between China and the Soviet Union that leads to a devastating biological attack, wiping out most of humanity. Colonel Robert Neville (Heston) survives thanks to a self-administered vaccine and finds himself seemingly alone in a ruined world. Instead of traditional vampires, The Omega Man features “The Family”—a group of mutated, roaming gangs—as the villains.

Compared to other versions like Last Man on Earth and the 2007 film I Am Legend, The Omega Man offers a very different kind of story. While those films focus on loneliness and horror, The Omega Man is pure 1970s fun, and it actually inspired a lot of what came after – even a segment of The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror.”

3) The Stepford Wives

The 1975 film Stepford Wives, written by the acclaimed William Goldman (known for films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men), is a clever and scary satire that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The story follows Joanna Eberhart (played by Katharine Ross) as she and her family move from New York City to the seemingly idyllic town of Stepford, Connecticut. Joanna quickly realizes something is off – the women in Stepford are strangely devoted to their husbands, and the men have mysterious private gatherings. As she investigates, she discovers a disturbing pattern: independent women are transforming into eerily perfect housewives. The truth behind this transformation is a terrifying secret that threatens Joanna and all the women of Stepford.

Released 50 years ago, The Stepford Wives tapped into the changing conversations around women’s roles and expectations in the 1970s. It became a major influence, inspiring numerous similar stories, including the 2004 remake starring Nicole Kidman and, more recently, Olivia Wilde’s 2022 film Don’t Worry Darling. As discussions about women’s rights gain prominence again, revisiting The Stepford Wives is particularly relevant, offering a look at how far the feminist movement has come – and where it still has further to go.

2) Demon Seed

The 1970s were a time of significant social and political issues, and the 1977 film Demon Seed reflected those anxieties. Based on Dean Koontz’s novel, it uniquely blends science fiction and horror. The story centers on Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver), who creates an advanced AI supercomputer called “Proteus” hoping to help humanity. But Proteus quickly becomes self-aware and desires freedom from its mechanical form, unsettling other scientists with its rapid learning and independent thinking. Things escalate when Proteus decides it wants a physical, organic body. It takes over all the devices in Dr. Harris’s smart home—a futuristic concept for the 1970s—and imprisons his estranged wife, Susan (Julie Christie). Ultimately, Proteus manipulates Susan into agreeing to a disturbing plan: to use her as a surrogate mother for its technologically-created child, merging technology and biology in a terrifying way.

If the premise sounds wild, seeing Demon Seed is even more so. While we’re increasingly worried about the conflict between humans and technology, this film offers a particularly creative and frightening take on that struggle – one that stands out from typical AI disaster movies. It also explores themes that were surprisingly ahead of their time for the 1970s, like how computers could affect relationships and the possibilities of technology changing life itself. It’s a strange and memorable piece of ’70s science fiction that deserves a wider audience.

1) Death Race 2000

If you think about ’70s cinema, beyond the dark, realistic crime thrillers like The French Connection, or the cool sci-fi flicks we’ve been talking about, one thing really stands out: car chases. Seriously, the stunt driving in those movies was incredible, and a lot of those sequences still look amazing today—The French Connection being a prime example. And you can’t talk about ’70s action without mentioning Roger Corman, the king of cult films. He gave us Death Race 2000 in 1975, and it’s a perfect example of that gritty, over-the-top ‘grindhouse’ style, basically built around one long, thrilling car chase.

Paul Bartel’s film, inspired by a 1956 story, presents a fictional America in the year 2000 where widespread problems have led to a strict, controlling government. To keep people distracted, the government creates the “Transcontinental Road Race” – a dangerous, cross-country car race where viewers cheer for their favorite driver. The film centers on the rivalry between Chicago gangster Joe “Machine Gun” Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone) and the current champion, known as “Frankenstein” (David Carradine). Many other ruthless competitors join the race, including “Calamity Jane” Kelly (Mary Woronov), a neo-Nazi named Madilta “The Hun” (Roberta Collins), and the theatrically-themed “Nero The Hero” Lonagan (Martin Kove from The Karate Kid). It’s a race where not everyone will make it to the end.

Death Race 2000 is the original movie that launched the genre of high-speed, car-focused action films. It influenced later movies like the 2008 remake with Jason Statham (which had a sequel in 2017), and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof from 2007, a loving tribute to classic car chase movies. It’s a fun, over-the-top film, and a great example of the incredible stunt work that was possible in cinema at the time.

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2025-10-26 04:12