As part of a year-long exploration, I’m looking at my 50 favorite films from the 1970s. Periodically throughout the year I’ll be sharing my favorite films in 10-film chunks. Today, I’m looking at No. 30 to No. 21.

No. 30 Serpico (1973)
About: The 1970s were good for Al Pacino. In this one, he plays Frank Serpico, a real-life New York Cop who spent his career battling corruption in the department. It’s an interesting and tough watch with a great lead performance.

No. 29 Annie Hall (1977)
About: This classic Woody Allen film is one of his most iconic and for me his best. He and Diane Keaton have a good rapport and I find the story interesting. It’s one of the most memorable films of the 1970s.

No. 28 The China Syndrome (1979)
About: This film has an all-star cast that includes Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and the great Jack Lemon. It’s a film about the downside of nuclear energy. I remember being captivated when I first saw it and I enjoy the performances.

No. 27 Rocky (1976)
About: The original film feels different than most of the rest of the franchise in a good way. It’s a classic for a reason; a film that won Best Picture. It’s a good performance from Sylvester Stallone and a fun film.

No. 26 The Jerk (1979)
About: This comedy starring Steve Martin features a bunch of hilariously iconic scenes. Even those that haven’t seen the film have probably heard the first line, uttered by Martin’s clueless Navin. It’s a film that makes me laugh.

No. 25 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
About: The classic film based on Roald Dahl’s novel features a great lead performance from Gene Wilder. We’ve seen others inhabit the role, but he’ll always be Willy Wonka for me.

No. 24 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
About: This is a tough drama about the dissolution of a family and a father caught in between career success and caring for his son. Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman are great. It’s a tough and emotional film but one that deserves to be seen.

No. 23 The Deer Hunter (1978)
About: This was the final film for John Cazale, but it’s mostly about the performances from Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken. Again, not an easy watch, which is a theme for the decade, but a powerful film.

No. 22 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
About: The comedy troupe produced a number of wacky comedy tales for the big and small screen. This is my favorite, and one of the most iconic of the decade. There are a lot of hilarious sequences here.

No. 21 Norma Rae (1979)
About: This role won Field her first Academy Award. Here, she plays a factory worker fighting for the rights of herself and other workers. It’s a powerful performance in a movie that really engaged me.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.