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. 10 to No. 1.

No. 10: Alien (1979)
About: Ridley Scott delivered a masterful film with Alien. It’s one of the best scary films of the 1970s, and a science-fiction classic that created a franchise spanning decades. I love the performances and the production. This is a classic.

No. 9: Halloween (1978)
About: John Carpenter originally meant this to be an anthology series. Instead, this film and the character of Michael Myers created a franchise that produced original films through last year. This first one sets the blueprint. It’s one of the best of the genre and one of the best of the decade.

No. 8: Superman (1978)
About: You’ll believe a man can fly. That was the promise of this film from Richard Donner, and it delivered. You have to believe, and you have to be inspired. I love Christopher Reeve in the role and the way this film comes together.

No. 7: Network (1976)
About: I am a big fan of journalism films. This is a different kind of film and a different kind of story but it’s incredibly powerful. It’s a great example of the kind of storytelling we saw in the decade and remains a personal favorite.

No. 6: Chinatown (1974)
About: This classic features a great performance from Jack Nicholson. It’s an incredible film noir and has a big twist that’s unforgettable. I like the story and the performances. This is a classic from the decade.

No. 5: Star Wars (1977)
About: This was an amazing and ambitious film. As an adult, I have a greater appreciation for the craft and storytelling here. This is probably the best film directed by George Lucas and it would be impossible to imagine this list without Star Wars on it.

No. 4: All the President’s Men (1974)
About: I mentioned my love of journalism films above, and this is one of the best ever made. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are great here. This was an important real-life story that was adapted into an incredible piece of entertainment.

No. 3: The Godfather, Part II (1974)
About: How do you top one of the greatest films ever made? That was the task for Francis Ford Coppola here, and he does a great job. This one expounds on the story and builds the world. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are great here. This is one of the best films of the decade and one of the greatest sequels ever made.

No. 2: The Godfather (1972)
About: A classic and one of my favorite films. It was a close call between this and my No. 1 overall choice. I love the story and the way Coppola puts this together. It’s a great adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel.

No. 1: Jaws (1975)
About: Ultimately, this gained the top spot because of my love for the film. It’s been nearly 50 years, and this remains an iconic classic. The production, the classic lines and the performances all still grab people today. I love what Steven Spielberg did here, and it is my favorite film from the 1970s.

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.