Anaction moviedoes not necessarily need to be a cinematic masterpiece to entertain and enthrall viewers, and all these 1970s releases prove that pure spectacle can make for the group-watching experience. There’s nothing better than getting together with a group of like-minded friends and throwing on a vintage movie that’s funny, exciting, and crowd-pleasing. The best group watch movies require something special to keep everyone happy, and all of these offer a good time for lovers of trash cinema, satirical parodies, or datedkung fu classics.
While thebest action movies of all timewalk the fine line between high and low art, the truth was some of these releases weren’t great if watched alone with a serious eye. However, throw some friends into the mix, and what was once an underwhelming narrative becomes a fun-filled communal experience that you look back on fondly forever. Fromcult classicsto underrated Blaxploitation films,all these 1970s movies made for a fun group watch.
10Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)
Directed by Michael Anderson
Before Marvel heroes were at the epicenter of death-defying, world-saving narratives, it was pulp heroes like Doc Savage who ruled the roost. As a defining figure of the 1930s and 1940s, Doc was a polymathic scientist, explorer, detective, and warrior who endeavored to right wrongs and punish evil-doers. However, by 1975, Doc already felt outdated, and his feature filmDoc Savage: The Man of Bronzewas a campy box office flop that fumbled its chances at reinventing the character for a new age.
WhileDoc Savage: The Man of Bronzedidn’t connect with audiences at the time, its out-of-touch nature and foiled attempt to reintroduce the character were part of its charm. Ron Ely was perfectly cast as Doc, as his blonde, muscular characterization looked like it was taken directly out of the pulpy book covers of the 1930s. Like Tarzan, The Lone Ranger, John Carter, and Zorro, Doc Savage feels like a relic from another age, which makesThe Man of Bronzea fun throwback to watch with a group of like-minded friends.
9Airport ‘77 (1977)
Directed by Jerry Jameson
TheAirportseries was one of the defining disaster franchises of the 1970s and served as a major inspiration for the cult classic parodyAirplane!While the original 1970 movie was a trailblazing release that helped popularize the disaster genre, the formula had started to become quite predictable by the third installment,Airport ‘77, and the ridiculous, over-the-top nature of the franchise was starting to run out of steam. Although a star-studded cast including Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Olivia de Havilland, and Christopher Lee meant there was still plenty of talent on display.
Airport ‘77saw art thieves hijack a plane that crash-landed into the ocean, leaving the passengers stuck under one hundred feet of water. With plenty of high-stakes action, a thrilling premise, and a cast full of familiar faces,Airport ‘77ticks all the right boxes for a great group-watching movie, as its old-fashioned suspense has not lost any of its charm. While there were lots of cliches and some stock character roles, the by-the-numbers disaster nature ofAirport ‘77made for a fun watch.
8Rollerball (1975)
Directed by Norman Jewison
Rollerballwas a sci-fi dystopian movie set in a future where corporations have replaced countries and an ultraviolent sport has become the main recreational activity of the world. As a thrilling takedown of corporate power and the ways individualism can be eroded through spectacles, this outrageous game saw players take their lives in their hands as the masses succumbed to the numbing power of mindless entertainment. With James Caan as the rollerball player Jonathan E.,Rollerballreceived mixed reviews at the time of its release, with much of the criticism focused on its silly premise.
However, looking back,Rollerballhad some clever points to make about the negative impact of over-the-top entertainment and has only become more relevant in the wake of the popularization of reality TV. With a clever subtext and thrilling action sequences,Rollerballmakes for a good movie to watch with a group and should spark some lively discussions after the credits roll. As a satire with a point to make,Rollerballdeserves more credit and was misunderstood in its own time.
7Viva Knievel! (1977)
Directed by Gordon Douglas
With the news of an upcoming Evel Knievel biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio from Damien Chazelle (viaHollywood Reporter), many will be revisiting the 1977 movieViva Knievel!This outrageous action movie starred the daredevil motorcycle rider Evel Knievel as himself getting ready for his next incredible stunt while also dealing with troubles involving the mob. WhileViva Knievel!was in danger of being consumed by its muddled plot, the exceptional stunt work made this one of the funnest movies to enjoy with a large group and marvel over Evel’s bravery, or recklessness, depending on who you ask.
There’s no denyingthatViva Knievel!represented a prime example of over-the-top 1970s trash moviemaking in action, but this was exactly the reason it’s so fun to watch with a crowd. Evel was not primarily an actor, and it’s clear why this movie didn’t act as the springboard for a long and fruitful career in the movies. Featuring plenty of motorbike stunts and a paper-thin plot, those with a love for pure cinematic carnage will be won over byViva Knievel!
6Hell Up in Harlem (1973)
Directed by Larry Cohen
Larry Cohen followed up on his Blaxploitation classicBlack Caesarwith the over-the-top sequelHell Up in Harlem. Featuringthe return of Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs, after surviving an assassination attempt, he endeavors to take on the corrupt New York District Attorney DiAngelo in a stylish and violent neo-noir action movie. With a soundtrack by the Motown artist Edwin Starr,Hell Up in Harlemmay not have the same cultural relevance as movies likeShaftorSuperfly, but it was no less fun to watch.
With this Harlem gangster taking on countless foes in his quest to rescue his ex-wife,Hell Up in Harlemsaw Gibbs come face-to-face with the Italian Mafia. With near non-stop gunfire and some kung fu thrown in for good measure, viewers can hoot and holler as they watch Williamson kill everyone in sight. While the story may be weak and there’s no deep subtext to uncover inHell Up in Harlem, when it comes to fun-filled entertainment, this underappreciated release more than delivers.
5The Big Boss (1971)
Directed by Lo Wei and Wu Chi-hsiang
WhileThe Big Bossmay suffer from a clunky plot, bad dubbing, and odd pacing choices, the fact that it starred the one and only Bruce Lee means it will always make for a great group watch. While not as acclaimed as later works like Enter the Dragon, it was still a major contributor to the popularization of martial arts and kung fu cinema in the West. As Lee’s first leading role,The Big Bosswas an important piece of film history and helped pave the way for him to turn into a global icon in the following years.
With a mix of Eastern and Western sensibilities,The Big Bossfelt almost akin to a Hong KongJames Bondand worked well as an enjoyable thriller. WhileThe Big Bosshasn’t aged as well as the rest of Lee’s work, the sheer intensity of its action and fight sequences means that viewers will still always have a good time with it.The Big Bossalso boasts an impressive achievement as the film’s title has been traced as the origin (viaKotaku) of the term ‘boss’ in video games, to mean the final enemy faced.
4The Man from Hong Kong (1975)
Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith
The Man from Hong Kongwas also released in the US under the titleThe Dragon Fliesand served as a satire of theJames BondandDirty Harryfranchises. Featuring major kung fu stars like Jimmy Wang Yu, Sammo Hung, and even theOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service’sBond George Lazenby, this action-packed showcase of pure spectacle kept the energy high throughout. With elaborate stunt work and several car chases,The Man from Hong Kongis the perfect movie to throw on when a group is just looking to have a good timewith some mindless entertainment.
While the box office potential ofThe Man from Hong Kongwas limited due to its R rating, this willingness to push things further was also part of its appeal. Although it was not a classic release of the 1970s,The Man from Hong Konghas since gained praise from critics and boasts an impressive 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. As a powerful display of nonstop mayhem, for those wanting to put on a crowd-pleasing movie, you truly can’t go wrong withThe Man from Hong Kong.
3Cleopatra Jones (1973)
Directed by Jack Starrett
It was female-led Blaxploitation releases likeCleopatra Jonesthat served as the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s later love letter to the genre,Jackie Brown. WithTamara Dobson as Cleopatra Jones, this undercover government agent used her day job as a supermodel as an excuse to travel to exotic places and carry out her secret work. With plenty of action,Cleopatra Joneswas also incredibly funny and served as a spoof on over-the-top action movies of the 1970s.
Released in the midst of the Black Power Movement, the Black Arts Movement, and second-wave feminism,Cleopatra Joneswas an empowering movie that starred a Black heroine utilizing her alluring femininity, female strength, and combat skills to save the day. This was a groundbreaking depiction that helped normalize strong, powerful women and opened the door for everybody from Buffy Summers to Okoye inBlack Panther. With historical relevance and plenty of kickass action,Cleopatra Jonesmakes for a wildly entertaining watch.
2Starcrash (1978)
Directed by Luigi Cozzi
Released just one year after George Lucas’s astounding success withStar Wars,Starcrashwas a shameless attempt to cash in on that space opera’s surprise success. A co-production between Italy and the United States,Starcrashwas co-written and directed by Luigi Cozzi, who also ripped off another summer blockbuster with hisJawscopy,Monster Shark,in 1984. Set in a distant galaxy where a crew searches for the evil Count Zarth Arn, the blatant stealing from Lucas’s movie made for hilarious viewing.
Starcrashwas clearly thrown together quite quickly, and its haphazard production signaled the plan to get the movie out as fast as possible to ensure people still hadStar Warson their minds. As a hasty knockoff that failed to understand the influences that madeStar Warsso appealing in the first place,Starcrashwas filled with ridiculous characters and a practically nonsensical plot. While this may not sound great,Starcrashdefinitely falls into the so-bad-it’s-good category of moviesto come together and watch with friends.
Made the same year as the similarly deathly sports movieRollerball,Death Race 2000pushed the concept of a murderous sport even further. With an impressive cast that included Sylvester Stallone, this cult classic was remade in 2008 with Jason Statham and got a sequel titledDeath Race 2050in 2017. While a watch party featuring all three would make for a hilariousaction movienight, the original was definitely the best and stood as the pinnacle of films with questionable quality that still provide endless entertainment for a group of eager movie lovers.
