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

      The films of 1975 are considered some of the greatest ever created, as highlighted in the new Netflix documentary Breakdown: 1975.

      One particular film from that year revolutionized the filmmaking process.

      Let’s revisit the movies of 1975, a pivotal year in cinema, and examine their relevance 50 years later.

      Monty Python and the Holy Grail

      Credit: EMI Films

      Comedies of the 1970s often pushed boundaries, and Monty Python's Monty Python and the Holy Grail may be one of their most irreverent works. (They even outdid themselves in 1979 with The Life of Brian.)

      Holy Grail is packed with memorable jokes, from the coconut gallops to the knights who proclaim “ni!” to our favorite line — “Message for you, sir!”

      We also adore the lush English forest backdrop throughout the film, which creates a relaxed atmosphere, even during the brief moments that aren't filled with laughter.

      Shampoo

      Credit: Columbia

      Seven years can bring a significant change. Set in 1968 but released in the subsequent decade, Shampoo captures the decline of sixties idealism through the perspective of Warren Beatty’s character, George Roundy.

      Roundy is a promiscuous hairdresser inspired by real-life stylist Jay Sebring, who was murdered alongside Sharon Tate and others by Charles Manson's followers. Although Roundy avoids such a grim fate, he does face his own struggles.

      Shampoo is highly enjoyable because of its take on contemporary history and the outstanding performances by Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, and a young Carrie Fisher in her debut role.

      Dog Day Afternoon

      If you were to propose the plot of Dog Day Afternoon in 2025, some might dismiss it as excessively progressive: it's the tale of a neophyte criminal (Al Pacino) who robs a bank to fund his partner's gender reassignment surgery and becomes a folk hero while clashing with the police. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Based on a true 1972 bank robbery, it showcases some of Pacino’s finest acting, particularly when he rallies by chanting “Attica, Attica” to energize the crowd against the police.

      It also features some of Sidney Lumet’s most engaging direction, which is significant praise. The film keeps viewers guessing and their loyalties shifting right up to its shocking conclusion.

      One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

      Credit: United Artists

      According to Oscar voters, this was the best film of 1975 by a considerable margin.

      It became the second of three films to sweep all five major awards, following 1934’s It Happened One Night and preceding 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. Beyond Best Picture, Jack Nicholson won Best Actor, Louise Fletcher won Best Actress, Milos Forman took Best Director, and Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman received Best Screenplay.

      This narrative follows a man who feigns mental illness to enter an asylum and evade prison, serving as a quintessential tale of defiance against conformity, often at great personal cost.

      The Rocky Horror Picture Show

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      As noted recently, The Rocky Horror Picture Show flopped on its initial release — but then a clever studio executive decided to show it at midnight.

      For the past five decades, it has been screened at midnight in theaters around the globe, and its blend of horror, sci-fi, comedy, preppies, rockabilly, leather, and stockings has continuously felt delightfully subversive.

      This year marked the film's 50th anniversary with the documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, directed by Linus O’Brien, the 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 could contend for the title of the best film ever made. One of them is the last on our list: Barry Lyndon is the other.

      Stanley Kubrick is known for his sometimes clinical style, and initially, this adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon feels almost whimsical — one might wonder if Kubrick is poking fun at cinematic extravagance.

      In truth, he critiques the grotesqueness of a world divided by wealth and poverty, where the barriers remain seemingly insurmountable. The film concludes with a devastating emotional impact, akin to the intensity found in other Kubrick works.

      The final lines of Barry Lyndon are breathtaking. (If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading and watch it.) If you've seen it, you likely recall the essence of the epilogue: “It was during the reign of George III that the aforementioned characters lived and argued; good or bad, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now.”

      Deep Red

      Credit: Cineriz

      There’s