How 1978 produced films that became lasting classics

Collider says 1978 was a year when the ambitions of New Hollywood collided with the birth of modern blockbuster culture, producing a string of films now regarded as classics.

Political paranoia, post‑Vietnam trauma and distrust of authority shaped many stories, but they increasingly shared space with crowd‑pleasing spectacle. The piece argues that what unites these classics is confidence—in strong directorial vision, bold tonal choices and the belief that popular cinema could still be unsettling, political or formally daring. It highlights titles such as Halloween (a foundational slasher built on minimalism and a relentless musical theme), Superman (credited with laying groundwork for serious superhero cinema), Dawn of the Dead (which expanded the zombie genre into satirical social critique), The Deer Hunter (an ambitious exploration of war and trauma) and Days of Heaven (noted for its golden‑hour cinematography).

Some films were controversial or initially dismissed—Midnight Express drew criticism for its portrayal of Turkish authorities, The Driver was a box office flop, and Grease was initially dismissed by some critics—but over time many have grown in influence. Nearly fifty years later, the best of these 1978 films remain reference points for filmmakers, the article says.

Key Topics

Culture, Halloween, Superman, New Hollywood