10 Greatest Movie Masterpieces of 1979, Ranked

1979 marked the end of what the piece calls the greatest decade in Hollywood history and laid the groundwork for the industry’s obsession with blockbusters in the ’80s. Many releases that year reflected that shift; films such as Moonraker, Rocky II, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Black Hole clearly tried to bank on Star Wars, which had set the all-time box office record two years earlier.

Still, 1979 offered acclaimed films across drama, comedy, action and science fiction, and several of its most praised titles were also financial successes. The list begins with The China Syndrome, a film about corporate conspiracy and environmental danger that became even more resonant after a real-life incident paralleled its story, and which showcased strong turns from Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas.

Mad Max emerges as the origin of a visually striking franchise while remaining an intimate, painful revenge story that confirmed Mel Gibson as a major star. Kramer vs.

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