Academy Award for Best Picture (1970s) facts for kids
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the most important Oscars. The Oscars are special prizes given to people who work in the movie industry. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) gives out these awards every year. Winning Best Picture means a movie was chosen as the best film of that year.
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Best Picture Winners of the 1970s
Let's look at the amazing movies that won the Best Picture Oscar during the 1970s. This was a time when many classic films were made!
1970: Patton
The winner for 1970 was Patton, a powerful movie about a famous general from World War II. It was produced by Frank McCarthy for 20th Century-Fox.
- Other great movies nominated that year were:
- Airport
- Five Easy Pieces
- Love Story
- M*A*S*H
1971: The French Connection
In 1971, the thrilling police movie The French Connection took home the top prize. Philip D'Antoni produced it for 20th Century-Fox.
- Other nominees included:
- A Clockwork Orange
- Fiddler on the Roof
- The Last Picture Show
- Nicholas and Alexandra
1972: The Godfather
The iconic crime drama The Godfather won Best Picture in 1972. This highly praised film was produced by Albert S. Ruddy for Paramount.
1973: The Sting
The fun and clever movie The Sting won in 1973. It's about two con artists trying to trick a gangster. Tony Bill, Michael Phillips, and Julia Phillips produced it for Universal.
- Other nominees included:
- American Graffiti
- The Exorcist
- A Touch of Class
- Cries and Whispers
1974: The Godfather Part II
For the first time, a sequel won Best Picture! The Godfather Part II continued the story from the first movie and won in 1974. Francis Ford Coppola, Gray Frederickson, and Fred Roos produced it for Paramount.
- Other films nominated were:
- Chinatown
- The Conversation
- Lenny
- The Towering Inferno
1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
The powerful drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was the big winner in 1975. Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas produced this film for United Artists.
- Other nominees included:
- Barry Lyndon
- Dog Day Afternoon
- Jaws
- Nashville
1976: Rocky
The inspiring underdog story Rocky won Best Picture in 1976. This movie showed that anyone can achieve their dreams. Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff produced it for United Artists.
- Other great movies nominated were:
- All the President's Men
- Bound for Glory
- Network
- Taxi Driver
1977: Annie Hall
The unique romantic comedy Annie Hall won the award in 1977. It was produced by Charles H. Joffe for United Artists.
- Other nominees included:
- The Goodbye Girl
- Julia
- Star Wars
- The Turning Point
1978: The Deer Hunter
The intense war drama The Deer Hunter won Best Picture in 1978. It was produced by Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley, Michael Cimino, and John Peverall for Universal.
- Other films nominated were:
- Coming Home
- Heaven Can Wait
- Midnight Express
- An Unmarried Woman
1979: Kramer vs. Kramer
To close out the 1970s, the family drama Kramer vs. Kramer won Best Picture in 1979. Stanley R. Jaffe produced this movie for Columbia.
- Other nominees included:
- Apocalypse Now
- All That Jazz
- Breaking Away
- Norma Rae
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