List of American films of 1971

This is a list of American films released in 1971.

On April 10, 1972, at the 44th Academy Awards, The French Connection won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The other nominees were A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show and Nicholas and Alexandra.

A–B[]

Title	Director	Cast	Genre/note
200 Motels	Tony Palmer, Charles Swenson	Frank Zappa, Ringo Starr, Theodore Bikel	comedy, musical	United Artists
The Anderson Tapes	Sidney Lumet	Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam, Alan King	crime, drama	Columbia
The Andromeda Strain	Robert Wise	Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne, Paula Kelly	science fiction	Universal. book by Michael Crichton
Bananas	Woody Allen	Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalbán	comedy	United Artists
The Barefoot Executive	Robert Butler	Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn	comedy, family	Disney
The Battle of Love's Return	Lloyd Kaufman	Lloyd Kaufman, Lynn Lowry, Oliver Stone	comedy	Independent
Bedknobs and Broomsticks	Robert Stevenson	Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson	musical, fantasy	Disney
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me	Jeffrey Young	Barry Primus, David Downing, Susan Tyrrell	Drama	Paramount
The Beguiled	Don Siegel	Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman, Darlene Carr, Jo Ann Harris	drama	Universal; remade in 2017
Believe in Me	Stuart Hagmann	Michael Sarrazin, Jacqueline Bisset	Drama	MGM
The Big Doll House	Jack Hill	Roberta Collins, Pam Grier	sexploitation	New World Pictures
Big Jake	George Sherman	John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Richard Boone	western	National General
Billy Jack	Tom Laughlin	Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Kenneth Tobey, Howard Hesseman	action	Warner Bros. 2 sequels
Black Noon	Bernard L. Kowalski	Roy Thinnes, Yvette Mimieux	Horror, Western	Made for TV
Bless the Beasts and Children	Stanley Kramer	Bill Mumy, Barry Robins, Miles Chapin	drama	Columbia. Based on novel
Blood and Lace	Philip Gilbert	Gloria Grahame, Melody Patterson	horror	A.I.P.
Blood Thirst	Newt Arnold	Robert Winston, Yvonne Nielson, Judy Dennis	horror	Independent
Born to Win	Ivan Passer	George Segal, Paula Prentiss, Karen Black	comedy	United Artists
Boys in the Sand	Wakefield Poole	Casey Donovan, Peter Fisk, Danny Di Cioccio	Adult	Poolemar.
The Boy Friend	Ken Russell	Twiggy, Christopher Gable, Max Adrian	comedy	MGM. Made in Britain.
Brian's Song	Buzz Kulik	James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Shelley Fabares, Jack Warden	biography, drama	Columbia. Originally made for TV; remade in 2001 under the same name.
The Bridge in the Jungle	Pancho Kohner	John Huston, Katy Jurado, Charles Robinson	Adventure	United Artists
Brother John	James Goldstone	Sidney Poitier, Will Geer, Bradford Dillman	drama	Columbia
B.S. I Love You	Steven Hilliard Stern	Peter Kastner, Joanna Cameron, Louise Sorel	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Bunny O'Hare	Gerd Oswald	Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Cassidy	crime, comedy	AIP

C–G[]

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Cain's Cutthroats	Ken Osborne	John Carradine, Scott Brady, Don Epperson	western	Independent
Carnal Knowledge	Mike Nichols	Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margret, Art Garfunkel, Candice Bergen, Rita Moreno	drama	Embassy. From Jules Feiffer play; Ann-Margret Oscar-nominated
Chandler	Paul Magwood	Warren Oates, Leslie Caron, Alex Dreier	Thriller	MGM
Catlow	Sam Wanamaker	Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy	western	MGM. From Louis L'Amour novel
The Christian Licorice Store	James Frawley	Beau Bridges, Maud Adams, Gilbert Roland	Drama	National General
Chrome and Hot Leather	Lee Frost	William Smith, Kathrine Baumann, Marvin Gaye	biker film	AIP
City Beneath the Sea	Irwin Allen	Stuart Whitman, Rosemary Forsyth, Robert Colbert	adventure science fiction	Warner Bros. Made for TV; Remake of 1953 film
Clay Pigeon	Lane Slate	Telly Savalas, Robert Vaughn, Burgess Meredith	action	MGM
A Clockwork Orange	Stanley Kubrick	Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Adrienne Corri, Miriam Karlin	drama	Warner Bros.
Cold Turkey	Norman Lear	Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Pippa Scott	comedy	United Artists. Music by Randy Newman
Cry Uncle!	John G. Avildsen	Allen Garfield, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Debbi Morgan	comedy	Independent
Day of the Wolves	Ferde Grofe, Jr.	Richard Egan, Martha Hyer, Jan Murray	crime drama	Independent. Hyer's final film
The Deserter	Burt Kennedy	Bekim Fehmiu, John Huston, Richard Crenna, Ricardo Montalbán, Chuck Connors	western	Paramount Dino De Laurentiis production
Desperate Characters	Frank D. Gilroy	Shirley MacLaine, Kenneth Mars, Sada Thompson	drama	Paramount
Diamonds Are Forever	Guy Hamilton	Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood	action	United Artists
Dirty Harry	Don Siegel	Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Reni Santoni, Harry Guardino, John Vernon	drama, action	Warner Bros.; first in 5-film series
Doc	Frank Perry	Stacy Keach, Faye Dunaway, Harris Yulin	western	United Artists
Doctors' Wives	George Schaefer	Dyan Cannon, Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman	drama	Columbia
Dollars	Richard Brooks	Warren Beatty, Goldie Hawn, Gert Fröbe	crime, comedy	Columbia
Dracula vs. Frankenstein	Al Adamson	Lon Chaney, Jr., J. Carrol Naish, Regina Carrol	horror	Independent. Chaney's final horror film
Drive, He Said	Jack Nicholson	William Tepper, Karen Black, Bruce Dern	drama	Columbia
Duel	Steven Spielberg	Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Carey Loftin	thriller	Universal. Originally made for TV
Escape from the Planet of the Apes	Don Taylor	Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Sal Mineo	science fiction	20th Century Fox. Planet of the Apes sequel
Evel Knievel	Marvin J. Chomsky	George Hamilton, Sue Lyon, Bert Freed	biography	Independent
Fiddler on the Roof	Norman Jewison	Topol, Norma Crane, Molly Picon, Paul Mann, Leonard Frey, Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh	musical	United Artists. Based on Broadway show; won 3 Oscars
Fools' Parade	Andrew V. McLaglen	James Stewart, Kurt Russell, George Kennedy	crime, drama	Columbia. From Davis Grubb story
Four Rode Out	John Peyser	Sue Lyon, Leslie Nielsen, María Martín	western	MGM. Co-production with Spain
The French Connection	William Friedkin	Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey	crime, drama	20th Century Fox. Won 5 Academy Awards
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight	James Goldstone	Jerry Orbach, Leigh Taylor-Young, Robert De Niro	comedy	MGM. From Jimmy Breslin novel
The Gatling Gun	Robert Gordon	Guy Stockwell, BarBara Luna, Woody Strode	Western	Independent
Going Home	Herbert B. Leonard	Robert Mitchum, Brenda Vaccaro, Sally Kirkland	drama	MGM
The Grissom Gang	Robert Aldrich	Kim Darby, Scott Wilson, Tony Musante	crime	Cinerama
A Gunfight	Lamont Johnson	Kirk Douglas, Johnny Cash, Karen Black	western	Paramount

H–M[]

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Hannie Caulder	Burt Kennedy	Raquel Welch, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Culp, Strother Martin, Jack Elam, Christopher Lee	western	Paramount
Happy Birthday, Wanda June	Mark Robson	Rod Steiger, Don Murray, Susannah York	comedy	Columbia. Based on Kurt Vonnegut play
The Hard Ride	Burt Topper	Robert Fuller, Sherry Bain, Tony Russel	action	AIP
Harold and Maude	Hal Ashby	Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon, Vivian Pickles	comedy	Paramount. 2 Golden Globe nominations
The Hellstrom Chronicle	Walon Green	Lawrence Pressman	mockumentary	Independent
The Hired Hand	Peter Fonda	Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Verna Bloom	western	Universal
The Horsemen	John Frankenheimer	Omar Sharif, Leigh Taylor-Young, Jack Palance	adventure	Columbia. Based on Joseph Kessel novel
The Hospital	Arthur Hiller	George C. Scott, Diana Rigg, Barnard Hughes	drama	United Artists. Oscar for screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky
How to Frame a Figg	Alan Rifkin	Don Knotts, Joe Flynn, Yvonne Craig	comedy	Universal
The Hunting Party	Don Medford	Gene Hackman, Oliver Reed, Candice Bergen	western	United Artists
The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant	Anthony Lanza	Bruce Dern, Pat Priest	sci-fi	AIP
Jennifer on My Mind	Noel Black	Michael Brandon, Tippy Walker, Steve Vinovich	Drama	United Artists
Johnny Got His Gun	Dalton Trumbo	Timothy Bottoms, Diane Varsi, Donald Sutherland	drama, war	Cinemation. Cannes Grand Prix award
Kidnapped	Delbert Mann	Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Donald Pleasence	drama	AIP
Klute	Alan J. Pakula	Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Roy Scheider	mystery	Warner Bros. Oscar for Fonda
Kotch	Jack Lemmon	Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr	comedy	Cinerama Only film directed by Lemmon
The Last Movie	Dennis Hopper	Dennis Hopper, Toni Basil, Julie Adams	drama	Universal
The Last Picture Show	Peter Bogdanovich	Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd, Cloris Leachman, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, Randy Quaid	drama	Columbia. Based on novel by Larry McMurtry; Oscars for Leachman, Johnson
The Last Rebel	Larry G. Spangler	Joe Namath, Jack Elam, Woody Strode	Western	Columbia
The Last Run	Richard Fleischer	George C. Scott, Tony Musante, Trish Van Devere	action	MGM
Lawman	Michael Winner	Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Lee J. Cobb, Sheree North, J.D. Cannon, Albert Salmi, Robert Duvall	western	United Artists
Le Mans	Lee H. Katzin	Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch	action	National General
Let's Scare Jessica to Death	John D. Hancock	Zohra Lampert, Kevin O'Connor, Gretchen Corbett	horror	Paramount
The Light at the Edge of the World	Kevin Billington	Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, Samantha Eggar	adventure	MGM; based on Jules Verne novel
Little Murders	Alan Arkin	Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, Doris Roberts, Elizabeth Wilson, Vincent Gardenia	comedy	20th Century Fox; written by Jules Feiffer
The Love Machine	Jack Haley, Jr.	Dyan Cannon, John Phillip Law, Robert Ryan	drama	Columbia. Based on Jacqueline Susann novel
Made for Each Other	Robert B. Bean	Renée Taylor, Joseph Bologna, Paul Sorvino	romantic comedy	20th Century Fox. Written by Taylor and Bologna; Remake of 1939 film
Making It	John Erman	Kristoffer Tabori, Carol Arthur, Bob Balaban	Drama	20th Century Fox
Man and Boy	E.W. Swackhamer	Bill Cosby	Western	Columbia
Man in the Wilderness	Richard C. Sarafian	Richard Harris, John Huston, Henry Wilcoxon	western	Warner Bros.
The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker	Lawrence Turman	Richard Benjamin, Joanna Shimkus, Adam West	drama	20th Century Fox
McCabe & Mrs. Miller	Robert Altman	Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, William Devane, René Auberjonois, Keith Carradine	western	Warner Bros.; Oscar nomination for Christie
The Mephisto Waltz	Paul Wendkos	Alan Alda, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Parkins	horror	20th Century Fox
The Million Dollar Duck	Vincent McEveety	Dean Jones, Sandy Duncan, Tony Roberts	family	Disney
Minnie and Moskowitz	John Cassavetes	John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Seymour Cassel	romantic comedy	Universal
Mrs. Pollifax-Spy	Leslie H. Martinson	Rosalind Russell, Darren McGavin, Nehemiah Persoff	mystery	United Artists. Russell's final film
Murders in the Rue Morgue	Gordon Hessler	Jason Robards, Herbert Lom	suspense	AIP
My Old Man's Place	Edwin Sherin	Arthur Kennedy, Mitchell Ryan, William Devane	Drama	Cinerama

N–S[]

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Necromania	Ed Wood	Maria Arnold, Ed Wood	horror	Independent
A New Leaf	Elaine May	Walter Matthau, Elaine May, James Coco, Jack Weston, Doris Roberts	comedy	Paramount. 2 Golden Globe nominations
The Night God Screamed	Lee Madden	Jeanne Crain, Alex Nicol, Daniel Spelling, Michael Sugich, Barbara Hancock, Dawn Cleary, Gary Morgan	psychological horror	Cinemation Industries
Night of Dark Shadows	Dan Curtis	Kate Jackson, David Selby, Lara Parker	mystery	MGM. House of Dark Shadows sequel
Octaman	Harry Essex	Pier Angeli, Jeff Morrow	sci-fi	Independent. Angeli's final film
The Omega Man	Boris Sagal	Charlton Heston, Rosalind Cash, Anthony Zerbe	sci-fi	Warner Bros. Based on novel I Am Legend
One More Train to Rob	Victor McLaglen	George Peppard, Diana Muldaur, John Vernon	western	Universal
The Organization	Don Medford	Sidney Poitier, Barbara McNair, Sheree North	Crime	United Artists.
The Panic in Needle Park	Jerry Schatzberg	Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Kiel Martin	drama	20th Century Fox. Pacino's second film
Pink Narcissus	James Bidgood	Don Brooks, Charles Ludlam	fantasy	Independent
Play Misty for Me	Clint Eastwood	Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills	thriller	Universal. First film directed by Eastwood
Plaza Suite	Arthur Hiller	Walter Matthau, Lee Grant, Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Harris	comedy	Paramount. Written by Neil Simon
Pretty Maids All in a Row	Roger Vadim	Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson, Telly Savalas	Mystery comedy	MGM. Written by Gene Roddenberry
Private Duty Nurses	George Armitage	Katherine Cannon, Robert F. Simon	Thriller	New World Pictures
Punishment Park	Peter Watkins	Scott Turner	mockumentary	Independent
The Pursuit of Happiness	Robert Mulligan	Michael Sarrazin, Barbara Hershey, Robert Klein	Drama	Columbia
Raid on Rommel	Henry Hathaway	Richard Burton, John Colicos, Wolfgang Preiss	war	Universal
Red Sky at Morning	James Goldstone	Desi Arnaz, Jr., Catherine Burns, Richard Crenna	drama	Universal. Golden Globe for Arnaz
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler	Bob Wynn	Angie Dickinson, Bradford Dillman, Leslie Nielsen	sci-fi	Independent
The Return of Count Yorga	Robert Kelljan	Robert Quarry, Mariette Hartley	horror	AIP. Sequel to 1970 film
A Safe Place	Henry Jaglom	Jack Nicholson, Tuesday Weld, Orson Welles	drama	Columbia
The Sandpit Generals	Hall Bartlett	Tisha Sterling, Dorival Caymmi, John Rubinstein	drama	AIP
Scandalous John	Robert Butler	Brian Keith, Alfonso Arau, Michele Carey	Comedy drama	Disney
The Seven Minutes	Russ Meyer	Edy Williams, Yvonne De Carlo, Tom Selleck	drama	20th Century Fox. Based on Irving Wallace novel
Shaft	Gordon Parks	Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn	crime, action	MGM. Oscar for Best Song
Shoot Out	Henry Hathaway	Gregory Peck, Pat Quinn, Susan Tyrrell	western	Universal. Hathaway's next-to-last film
Simon, King of the Witches	Bruce Kessler	Allyson Ames	horror	Independent
The Ski Bum		Zalman King, Charlotte Rampling, Dimitra Arliss	Drama	Embassy
Skin Game	Paul Bogart	James Garner, Louis Gossett, Jr., Susan Clark	western, comedy	Warner Bros.
Something Big	Andrew V. McLaglen	Dean Martin, Brian Keith, Ben Johnson, Carol White, Honor Blackman	western	National General. Music by Burt Bacharach
Sometimes a Great Notion	Paul Newman	Paul Newman, Henry Fonda, Lee Remick, Michael Sarrazin, Richard Jaeckel	adventure	Universal. 2 Oscar nominations; based on Ken Kesey novel
Soul to Soul	Denis Sanders	Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Carlos Santana	documentary	Independent
Star Spangled Girl	Jerry Paris	Sandy Duncan, Tony Roberts	comedy	Paramount. Written by Neil Simon
The Steagle	Paul Sylbert	Richard Benjamin, Chill Wills, Cloris Leachman	Comedy	Embassy
Straw Dogs	Sam Peckinpah	Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, David Warner	Thriller	Cinerama. Remade in 2011
Such Good Friends	Otto Preminger	Dyan Cannon, James Coco, Jennifer O'Neill	comedy, drama	Paramount Elaine May script
Summer of '42	Robert Mulligan	Jennifer O'Neill, Gary Grimes, Jerry Houser	drama	Warner Bros.; Oscar for Best Musical Score
Summertree	Anthony Newley	Michael Douglas, Brenda Vaccaro, Barbara Bel Geddes	drama	Columbia
Support Your Local Gunfighter!	Burt Kennedy	James Garner, Suzanne Pleshette, Harry Morgan	comedy	United Artists
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song	Melvin Van Peebles	Melvin Van Peebles, John Amos	crime drama	Cinemation Industries

T–Z[]

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
THX 1138	George Lucas	Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Ian Wolfe, Don Pedro Colley	science fiction	Warner Bros., Lucas's first film
T.R. Baskin	Herbert Ross	Candice Bergen, Peter Boyle, James Caan	drama	Paramount
Taking Off	Miloš Forman	Lynn Carlin, Buck Henry, Georgia Engel	comedy	Universal
There's Always Vanilla	George A. Romero	Raymond Laine	drama	Independent
They Might Be Giants	Anthony Harvey	George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward	mystery	Universal; from James Goldman play
The Todd Killings	Barry Shear	Robert F. Lyons, Richard Thomas, Belinda Montgomery	Thriller	National General
The Touch	Ingmar Bergman	Elliott Gould, Bibi Andersson, Max von Sydow	drama	Cinerama
The Touch of Satan	Tom Laughlin	Michael Berry	horror	Independent
A Town Called Bastard	Robert Parrish	Robert Shaw, Stella Stevens, Telly Savalas	western	Independent
The Trojan Women	Michael Cacoyannis	Katharine Hepburn, Vanessa Redgrave, Geneviève Bujold, Irene Papas	drama	Cinerama
Two-Lane Blacktop	Monte Hellman	Warren Oates, James Taylor, Dennis Wilson	drama	Universal
Valdez Is Coming	Edwin Sherin	Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Jon Cypher	western	United Artists. Elmore Leonard story
Vanishing Point	Richard C. Sarafian	Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger	action	20th Century Fox. Remade in 1997
The Velvet Vampire	Stephanie Rothman	Celeste Yarnall, Michael Blodgett	Horror	New World Pictures
Villain	Michael Tuchner	Richard Burton, Ian McShane	crime	MGM
Von Richthofen and Brown	Roger Corman	John Phillip Law, Don Stroud, Corin Redgrave	war	United Artists
Wake in Fright	Ted Kotcheff	Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty	Thriller	United Artists
Welcome to the Club	Walter Shenson	Jack Warden, Kevin O'Connor, Al Mancini	Comedy	Columbia
Werewolves on Wheels	Michel Levesque	Billy Gray, Stephen Oliver, Barry McGuire	horror, action	Independent
What's the Matter with Helen?	Curtis Harrington	Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Winters, Dennis Weaver	thriller	United Artists
Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?	Ulu Grosbard	Dustin Hoffman, Jack Warden, Barbara Harris	comedy	National General. Oscar nomination for Harris
Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name?	Ernest Pintoff	Red Buttons, Sam Waterston	mystery	Cannon Films
Wild Rovers	Blake Edwards	William Holden, Ryan O'Neal, Karl Malden, Joe Don Baker, Tom Skerritt	western	MGM; Edwards' only western
Willard	Daniel Mann	Bruce Davison, Ernest Borgnine, Elsa Lanchester	horror	Cinerama. Followed by Ben
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory	Mel Stuart	Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum	musical, fantasy	Paramount; from story by Roald Dahl; remade in 2005
Women in Cages	Gerardo de Leon	Pam Grier, Jennifer Gan, Roberta Collins	action	New World Pictures
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat	Peter Locke	Allen Garfield, Richard Pryor	drama, comedy	Independent
The Young Graduates	Robert Anderson	Bruno Kirby, Dennis Christopher	Drama	Crown International
Zachariah	George Englund	John Rubinstein, Dick Van Patten, Don Johnson	western	Cinerama. From Herman Hesse novel
The Zodiac Killer	Tom Hanson	Hal Reed, Bob Jones, Ray Lynch, Tom Pittman	crime drama	Independent

External links[]

1971 films at the Internet Movie Database