10 Hilariously Bad ’70s Action Movies You’ll Love to Hate

by

In the 1970s, there was a unique pleasure found in watching films that were initially criticized but later proved to be delightfully entertaining rather than unwatchable. The term “bad” didn’t imply that these movies were not worth watching; instead, it often meant they were excessively enjoyable. These films came in various forms: grandiose productions that overestimated their own gravitas, action films on a shoestring budget that showcased every imaginable absurd stunt, and movies teeming with fight scenes, practical effects, and dialogue so cheesy it verges on poetry. Despite falling short in traditional criteria—whether due to uneven pacing, over-the-top acting, or storylines that challenge logic—these films often excelled in providing sheer entertainment.

When it comes to describing movies, the term “terrible” can be rather ambiguous. It might suggest poor technical skills, a confusing narrative, or simply an excessively outrageous production. It could mean that a movie strives for the level of Jaws but ends up more like Orca, or it might attempt broad, daring moves – as in Moonraker sending James Bond into space – and miss spectacularly yet entertainingly. Some of these films are self-indulgent projects like Meteor, some are failed genre attempts such as The Omega Man, and some are purely products of their time like Cleopatra Jones. However, none of them are dull or uninteresting.

Instead of labeling these films as bad, consider them as cinematic time capsules from the disco era. They’re brimming with over-the-top extravagance, debatable special effects, and action scenes that flout all reason. These aren’t films that shone at the Oscars or made top-of-the-decade lists. However, if you’re in search of action sequences that push the envelope, characters who act as if their lives hinge on it, and a nostalgic peek into a bygone era, then these ten ’70s action movies that are so bad they’re good might just hit the spot for you.

10
‘Orca’ (1977)

Building on the craze of ‘Jaws’, the movie ‘Orca’ aimed to surpass Spielberg’s shark thriller by introducing a more complex antagonist, one with intelligence, emotions, and a desire for vengeance. The story revolves around a fisherman (Richard Harris) who inadvertently kills a pregnant killer whale, triggering a relentless pursuit by the distraught male orca. Unlike the mindless violence of ‘Jaws’, this whale doesn’t merely attack—it strategizes, it demolishes, and it ensures Harris pays for his actions. With its chilling coastal backdrop, a somber Ennio Morricone soundtrack, and a truly ominous plot, ‘Orca’ strives to be more than just another monster movie; it aspires to be an emotional epic.

The Jaws Knockoff That Bit Off More Than It Could Chew

The issue lies in the fact that the film Orca is overly dramatic about its subject matter, which is quite absurd (portraying a killer whale as a relentless avenger, similar to John Wick at sea). Despite this preposterous premise, the movie maintains an unyielding seriousness, resulting in moments that are unintentionally humorous – for instance, the orca igniting a harbor or the film’s attempt to evoke empathy towards a destructive force. The whale seems more like a supervillain, capable of incredible devastation, but the movie insists we view it as a tragic character. The over-the-top seriousness, paired with some rather suspect special effects, transforms Orca from a thriller into an unlikely contender for an evening of unintentional laughter.

9
‘The Swarm’ (1978)

The 1970s marked the peak of disaster movies, and “The Swarm” pushed this trend to its zenith by telling a ludicrous tale: it centers around a catastrophic swarm of murderous bees causing chaos across the United States. Featuring A-list actors such as Michael Caine, Henry Fonda, and Richard Widmark, the movie chronicles the efforts of scientists and military personnel trying to thwart an intelligent swarm of bees that lead to train derailments, the destruction of entire towns, and bafflingly elude every reasonable effort at eradication. With excessive running time and scenes depicting bee-induced catastrophes on a grand scale, “The Swarm” aspires to deliver high-impact disaster drama but ends up providing inadvertent humor instead.

The Disaster Movie That Stung a Little Too Hard

What makes The Swarm both terrible and amusing is its unwavering dedication to the absurdity of its concept. Director Irwin Allen, famous for The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, treats killer bees with the same weight as a nuclear disaster, resulting in overly dramatic performances, lengthy discussions about bee behavior that border on scientific debates, and dramatic shots of bees that are obviously just normal-sized insects crawling over a camera lens. This leads to an extremely exaggerated disaster movie where Michael Caine shouts furiously about bees while miniature effects and bee attack scenes test the limits of what viewers can take seriously. It’s terrible, it’s excessive, and it’s hysterically funny with the right company.

8
‘Moonraker’ (1979)

By the end of the ’70s, James Bond had managed to outlive numerous lethal adversaries, absurdly advanced gadgets, and seemingly impossible getaways. However, Moonraker took things up a notch by sending 007 soaring into space. Following the triumph of Star Wars, producers sought to infuse some science fiction flair into the Bond franchise, resulting in this peculiar installment where Roger Moore’s Bond confronts a power-mad billionaire (Michael Lonsdale), who aims to eradicate mankind and repopulate Earth with his genetically enhanced space colony. This film is marked by laser skirmishes, weightless combat, and a scene where Bond leaps from an airplane without a parachute—why not, right?

The Bond Film That Jumped the Shark (Into Space)

In contrast to some Bond movies that exude sophistication and suspense, Moonraker is a wildly extravagant affair. Each action scene pushes the boundaries of plausibility to the extreme, such as transforming a Venetian gondola chase into a hovercraft pursuit or staging a space station laser fight that resembles a low-cost imitation of Star Wars. The antagonist, Drax, speaks each line as though he’s already tired of global conquest, and the steel-toothed henchman, Jaws, evolves from a terrifying assassin to an outright cartoon character. The film seems to be a test of how far viewers will stretch their imagination—and this makes it one of the most preposterous, yet enjoyable, Bond films to watch with companions.

7
‘The Omega Man’ (1971)

In this adaptation based on Richard Matheson’s novel “I Am Legend”, Charlton Heston plays the character Dr. Robert Neville, one of the few remaining uninfected humans in a world overrun by a plague that has transformed people into night-dwelling, light-averse mutants during the day. During the day, Neville patrols the empty streets of Los Angeles, ruthlessly eliminating mutants. At night, he secludes himself within his fortified apartment as The Family, a cult-like group of albino mutants, taunt him from the dark corners. With its haunting, vacant cityscapes and undercurrents of existential anxiety, “The Omega Man” is a relic from the ’70s era of paranoia, dealing with topics such as biological warfare and societal breakdown.

Charlton Heston vs. The Hippie Vampires

The unique blend of being both dreadful and entertaining in “The Omega Man” lies in its excessive emphasis on the “Charlton Heston versus the world” dynamic. With his recent success in “Planet of the Apes,” Heston portrays Neville as a full-fledged action hero, complete with brash one-liners, an endless stockpile of ammunition, and a romantic angle that seems utterly misplaced. Simultaneously, the film’s mutants, who are intended to be fearsome, resemble castoffs from a rejected horror movie set featuring hippie themes, donning monk-like robes and hurling molotov cocktails with as much intensity as a street performance group. The result is a peculiar, inconsistent fusion of intelligent sci-fi and campy exploitation, making it an ideal choice for group viewings, sparking debates among viewers about whether Heston might secretly be the antagonist in this tale.

6
‘Cleopatra Jones’ (1973)

Cleopatra Jones isn’t merely a secret agent; she’s also a trendsetting figure with the authority to use lethal force. In this iconic blaxploitation action film, Tamara Dobson plays the role of a jet-setting, karate-skilled federal operative who battles drug lords, corrupt authorities, and any obstacle that hinders justice. When the vicious drug magnate “Mommy” (portrayed by the eccentric Shelley Winters) attempts to demolish Cleopatra’s realm, our protagonist retaliates with thrilling car chases, extravagant gunfights, and a sense of fashion that would make even James Bond envious.

Blaxploitation, Badassery, and a Whole Lot of Fur Coats

Cleopatra Jones is undoubtedly enjoyable, yet it’s also evidently a reflection of its era with a comedic twist. The action sequences are extravagant, occasionally bizarre, as Cleopatra dispatches villains using moves that bend the rules of physics and logic. The dialogue is quintessential ’70s funk slang, filled with sharp wit, clever one-liners, and grandiose bad guy monologues. Fashion-wise, Dobson flaunts lavish fur coats, towering hats, and full glam make-up even during gunfights. Despite not being conventionally good, the movie is an addictive mix of campiness, charm, and coolness, demonstrating that Cleopatra Jones deserved more sequels than she received.

5
‘The Eiger Sanction’ (1975)

If you were to imagine a child born from the combination of James Bond’s charm and Free Solo’s daring climbing feats, it would resemble The Eiger Sanction. Clint Eastwood takes on both directing and acting duties as Jonathan Hemlock, an art professor turned government assassin who finds himself coerced into one final assignment: scaling the perilous Eiger mountain in Switzerland to take out a fellow climber-spy. Throughout his journey, Hemlock encounters deceitful maneuvers, illogical romantic entanglements, and some of the most implausible spy tactics ever captured on celluloid.

Clint Eastwood Spies, Kills, and Climbs Mountain

The reason why “The Eiger Sanction” is delightfully terrible is its persistent seriousness amidst the presentation of one ludicrous situation after another. Eastwood, always portraying a tough, stoic character, plays Hemlock as if he’s a man of refined arts and culture who just so happens to be an expert assassin—one moment discussing fine art and the next conquering a treacherous peak.

The film’s action scenes are captivating (authentic climbing scenes achieved with real stunts) and absurd (nearly every fight appears to be slow-motion choreographed). Additionally, the romantic aspect is rather clumsy, as it primarily involves Eastwood charmlessly wooing every woman he encounters, akin to a brick wall. The movie aspires to be both a gritty spy drama and an adrenaline-pumping mountain adventure, but this dual identity results in an unintentionally comical artifact of ’70s action overindulgence.

4
‘Death Race 2000’ (1975)

In the bleak future depicted in the movie ‘Death Race 2000’, America has transformed into a ruthless, totalitarian regime where the favored pastime is a lethal cross-country auto race. The competitors, such as Frankenstein (David Carradine) and the unhinged Machine Gun Joe (a young Sylvester Stallone), don’t only vie for speed but also for points by running down pedestrians. With extravagant vehicles, excessive violence that borders on cartoonish, and a biting satire that critiques America’s fascination with spectacle, ‘Death Race 2000’ is the wild, unexpected spin-off of the ‘Mad Max’ series that you didn’t realize was missing from your collection.

The Bloodiest Road Trip of the Future

The unique charm of Death Race 2000 lies in its delightfully tacky nature. Its storyline is remarkably thin, the special effects are amusingly low-budget (think ketchup as blood and mannequins being run over), and the characters are nothing but exaggerated stereotypes. Yet, this is precisely what makes it stand out. Directors Paul Bartel and Roger Corman didn’t aim for high art; instead, they crafted a grindhouse masterpiece filled with preposterous action, over-the-top performances, and a dark humor that transforms into genius. It’s a film that is absurd, violent, and fully self-aware, making it an ideal choice for late-night viewing sessions with friends who enjoy cinematic pandemonium.

3
‘Black Belt Jones’ (1974)

In my perspective, Black Belt Jones represents an exhilarating fusion of blaxploitation action and martial arts chaos, resulting in something that’s just absurdly entertaining. Following his captivating performance in Enter the Dragon, Jim Kelly assumes the role of Black Belt Jones – a suave, karate-mastering hero who stands up against mobsters aiming to seize control of his dojo in our community. Packed with stunning fight sequences, a groovy soundtrack, and dialogue so campy it could fuel a decade’s worth of action flicks, Black Belt Jones embodies the essence of a guilty pleasure.

Karate Kicks, Funky Jokes, and the Best ‘Fro in Action Cinema

Black Belt Jones is all about unadulterated fun, with over-the-top sound effects that make each punch and kick feel like an earthquake, and eccentric henchmen who seem to invite their epic takedowns in the most dramatic fashion. The movie is brimming with incredibly cool one-liners (“I’m gonna make you sweat one way… or the other”), absurdly slow-motion fight scenes, and a finale featuring a car wash as an unexpected weapon. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, but that’s precisely why it’s so enjoyable – it’s a nostalgic glimpse into ’70s action movie extravagance, best experienced while laughing along with a group of friends over each ludicrous scene.

2
The Warriors (1979)

In a vibrant yet dangerous replica of New York City bathed in neon lights, the movie “The Warriors” narrates the story of an insignificant street gang that gets wrongly blamed for the assassination of a prominent crime lord. As all other gangs across the city pursue them relentlessly, the Warriors embark on a perilous journey from the Bronx to Coney Island. Along their path, they encounter various themed groups such as the Baseball Furies (characterized by face paint and bats), the Hi-Hats (resentful mimes), and the Lizzies (a cunning band of seductresses who love ambushes). The movie resembles a real-life video game, with each new district presenting a fresh hurdle, leading to one of the most legendary confrontations in ’70s film history.

Can You Dig It? The Ultimate Street Gang Showdown

Initially met with criticism upon its debut, “The Warriors” has since gained a cult following. It was criticized for being too stylized, unrealistic, and even contributing to actual street gang violence. Admittedly, the costumes worn by the gangs seem like they were taken from a Broadway wardrobe, and the fights appear more like dance routines than genuine brawls. Yet, this very absurdity is what makes it so entertaining.

This movie blends the raw intensity of ’70s action flicks with a vibrant comic book style, transforming every fight into an epic confrontation between iconic figures. The dialogues are extravagantly exaggerated (“CAN YOU DIG IT?”), the synthesizer-dominated soundtrack sets the perfect mood, and the film’s undying dedication to its eccentric concept makes it a standout. If you’re yearning for an action movie that revels in its own ridiculousness yet maintains a dose of authentic excitement, The Warriors is an excellent pick.

1
‘Meteor’ (1979)

Following the success of movies like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, Hollywood jumped on the disaster movie bandwagon, and Meteor was no exception. This film adopted the formula by setting Earth against a colossal space rock on a collision course. With Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, and Karl Malden in the lead roles, it portrays NASA scientists and global leaders racing against time to prevent an asteroid from obliterating mankind. Amidst this, the storyline adds a layer of Cold War politics as the U.S. and Soviet Union are forced to put aside their differences and collaborate to use nuclear weapons to save the world.

A Disaster Movie That Disastrously Missed the Mark

Regardless of its big-name actors, Meteor is more akin to observing paint drying on screen—that is, until the moment when the asteroid begins causing chaos, which is when things get interesting. The dialogue here leans heavily toward melodrama, with Connery delivering his lines as if engaged in political debates that seem to have been discarded from a James Bond film. Additionally, the special effects are so low-budget that the destruction scenes appear as though they were filmed by capturing a miniature city being toppled over by a broom.

The movie aspires to deliver an edge-of-your-seat, worldwide thriller, yet it turns out to be a drawn-out, excessive prelude to a string of comically botched explosions. It’s one of those catastrophe films where the actual catastrophe is the script, but that only adds to the enjoyment when you watch it with companions who savor the over-the-top display of Hollywood missteps.

Read More

2025-03-03 01:03