Hollywood films in 1976 were in interesting times.
The “New Hollywood” era began a few years earlier, giving rise to new voices in film. However, the "classic Hollywood" regulars like John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart were still appearing on the big screen.
In 1975, Jaws premiered as the first summer blockbuster. Star Wars would become a cultural phenomenon in 1977. That made 1976 an interesting time for moviegoers. No one could guess what lay ahead.
Big blockbusters like Rocky and A Star is Born dominated the box office, while future classics like Taxi Driver and All the President's Men gained critical acclaim.
KAXE’s film “experts” Heather Johnson, Andrew Dziengel and Julie Crabb reunited after early 2026’s Oscar special to discuss the films that made a big impact in 1976 and beyond.
They discussed eight special films and the Academy Award winners. Listen to the full conversation above.
(Stay tuned for a look at the horror movies of 1976 in October!)
Topics
- Film crew intro (0:00-3:57)
- All the President’s Men (3:58-8:39)
- Rocky (8:40-12:24)
- Network (12:25-15:49)
- Taxi Driver (15:50-21:14)
- Bad News Bears (21:14-25:11)
- The Shootist (25:12-29:04)
- A Star is Born (29:05-32:11)
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (32:12-35:31)
- Academy Award winners (35:32-48:40)
