The 12 Must-See Films of 1975, a Year That Transformed Everything

      The films of 1975 rank among the greatest ever created.

      One particular film revolutionized filmmaking.

      Let’s revisit the movies of 1975, the year that transformed the industry, and examine their relevance 50 years later.

      Monty Python and the Holy Grail

      Credit: EMI Films

      Comedies from the 1970s pushed boundaries, and Monty Python boldly ventured into sacrilege with the clever Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (The group outdid themselves in 1979 with The Life of Brian.)

      Holy Grail is packed with memorable humor, from the galloping coconuts to the knights who proclaim “ni!” and our all-time favorite gag—“Message for you, sir!”

      We also adore the rich English forest ambiance that envelops the film, creating a calm atmosphere even in the few scenes that don’t provoke laughter.

      Shampoo

      Credit: Columbia

      What a change seven years can bring. Set in 1968 but released in the subsequent decade, Shampoo explores the demise of 1960s idealism through the character of Warren Beatty’s George Roundy.

      Roundy, a promiscuous hairdresser inspired by the real-life stylist Jay Sebring—who was tragically murdered alongside Sharon Tate and others by Charles Manson's followers—avoids such a dire fate, yet faces his own struggles.

      Shampoo captivates with its portrayal of recent history and features outstanding performances by Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, and a young Carrie Fisher in her debut role.

      Dog Day Afternoon

      If you were to pitch the storyline of Dog Day Afternoon in 2025, it might be met with skepticism for being overly progressive: it narrates the tale of a budding criminal (Al Pacino) who robs a bank to fund his partner’s gender reassignment surgery and becomes a folk hero while clashing with police. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Based on a real bank heist from 1972, it showcases some of Pacino’s finest performances, highlighting his charismatic appeal as he chants “Attica, Attica” to inspire the onlookers against the law enforcement.

      The film is also distinguished by Sidney Lumet’s compelling direction, keeping viewers’ loyalties in a constant state of flux up to its shocking finale.

      One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

      Credit: United Artists

      Oscar voters considered it the best film of 1975 by a significant margin.

      It became the second of only three films to secure all five major Academy Awards, following 1934’s It Happened One Night and preceding 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. In addition to Best Picture, Jack Nicholson won Best Actor, Louise Fletcher took home Best Actress, Milos Forman won Best Director, and Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman were awarded Best Screenplay.

      The film tells the story of a man feigning mental illness to enter an asylum and avoid imprisonment, embodying the ultimate narrative of defying conformity, regardless of the cost.

      The Rocky Horror Picture Show

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      As we've recently discussed, The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially flopped upon release but gained a following when a clever studio executive decided to show it at midnight.

      For the past fifty years, it has been screening at midnight in theaters worldwide, and its blend of horror, sci-fi, comedy, preppies, rockabilly, leather, and stockings has remained exuberantly transgressive.

      This year marked the film's 50th anniversary with the documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, directed by Linus O’Brien—son of Rocky Horror writer and Riff Raff actor Richard O’Brien.

      Barry Lyndon

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      In our modest view, two films on this list stand as true contenders for the greatest film ever made. One is the last film mentioned here, and Barry Lyndon is the other.

      Stanley Kubrick, known for his sometimes detached aesthetic, initially presents this adaptation of the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray as a whimsical endeavor—how amusing that Kubrick had actors don such costumes, we think. Is he mocking cinematic excess?

      No—he critiques the absurdity of a world where some have abundant wealth and others lack even the basics, with an insurmountable divide separating them. The film closes in a crushing manner, delivering as much emotion as any Kubrick film.

      The final lines of Barry Lyndon are breathtaking. (If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading and watch it.) If you have, you probably recall the essence of the epilogue: “It was in the reign of George III that the aforementioned individuals lived and quarreled; whether good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now.”

      Deep Red

      Credit: Cineriz

      You know that joke about how few people bought the first Velvet Underground album