If you saw any of these movies when they premiered in theaters, then I have good news and bad news. The bad news is: you’re officially old. The good news? Every younger horror fan is wildly jealous! Take a trip down memory lane or discover a new old classic as we say happy birthday to these seven movies.
7. Jaws (1975)
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Writers: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb
- Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Do we even need a description here? I mean, come on— it’s Jaws. This movie single-handedly stopped a whole generation from swimming in the ocean. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” has transcended quote status and cemented itself as an idiom. Every imaginable parody of the iconic poster has appeared on ironic tees and quirky wall art across the world. It has its own theme park ride, people!
Its fiftieth birthday is the perfect time to revisit Jaws (or finally get around to actually watching it.) And if you think there’s no way it can be scary to a modern audience…well, make sure you don’t have submechanophobia.
6. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- Director: Jim Sharman
- Writers: Richard O’Brien, Jim Sharman
- Cast: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
The only movie that gives its audience lines… the cult sensation to end all cult sensations… it’s… The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
Rocky Horror stars the incomparable Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, whose sickening signature look is practically a Halloween rite of passage for the drag-curious. Buttoned-up couple Brad and Janet stumble upon Frank’s castle one fated night, sending them on a dizzying ride that’s equal parts raucous comedy, irreverent horror, and transgressive sci-fi. Oh, yeah— it’s also one of the greatest musicals ever made.
Rocky Horror is a cultural touchstone because it is unapologetically, authentically queer in a way that very few films have managed to capture. It’s stirring to any demographic, but it’s truly hard to explain the impact of watching it as a young LGBTQ person. Frank’s flamboyant snubbing of the status quo is more than encouraging; it’s liberating.
Being different isn’t just fine— it can be a heck of a lot of fun. Be sure to catch a live viewing for the full, unforgettable experience. Don’t forget your script!
5. The Stepford Wives (1975)
- Director: Bryan Forbes
- Writers: Ira Levin, William Goldman
- Cast: Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson
The Stepford Wives left such a mark on popular culture that “Stepford wife” became an archetype of its own!
A happy young family moves to the town of Stepford, Connecticut. The husband joins the very literal “good ol’ boys” club, and it’s all downhill from there. The film’s stark commentary on misogyny, marriage, and the oppressively impossible standards society holds for women resonated deeply with the original audience. Unfortunately, it’s more relevant than ever today.
It’s more than worth the watch (or rewatch), but in case you can’t find the time: if you’ve ever doomscrolled through tradwife TikTok, you’ve basically watched a remake of The Stepford Wives. Those lifeless eyes…
4. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
- Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Writers: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Sergio Citti, Pupi Avati
- Cast: Paolo Bonacelli, Giorgio Cataldi, Uberto Paolo Quintavalle
Based on the monument to human depravity penned by the Marquis de Sade in the late eighteenth century, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom gained instant infamy upon release— and for good reason.
Not a single plot point is suitable to be described here. The gist: a group of teenagers are subjected to every conceivable manner of abuse and perversion. It’s the ultimate “feel-bad” film, and the casting of actual teenagers makes it nearly unwatchable, but make no mistake: this is no mere shocker. Rich in sociopolitical commentary and philosophical subtext, Salò remains a topic of study for scholars and critics to this day.
If you decide to watch, just know that while you might appreciate it, you absolutely will not enjoy it. Trigger warning: everything.
3. Shivers (1975)
- Director: David Cronenberg
- Writer: David Cronenberg
- Cast: Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, Lynn Lowry
One of visionary director David Cronenberg’s earliest works, Shivers is a standout of his catalogue—quite impressive in a lineup that includes such legends as The Fly, Scanners, and Videodrome.
Before It Follows proposed the concept of a sexually transmitted ghost, Shivers offered up… sexually transmitted mind-control parasites?! Oh, yes. It’s every bit as disgusting and deranged as you’d imagine.
In fact, it’s so twisted that it got David Cronenberg kicked out of his apartment for violating the lease’s morality clause. Now, that’s an endorsement if I’ve ever heard one!
2. Deep Red (1975)
- Director: Dario Argento
- Writers: Dario Argento, Bernardino Zapponi
- Cast: David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia
Dario Argento is a legend of the genre. Though he’s most known for Suspiria (1977), he made several defining contributions to horror history, including the 1975 giallo Deep Red.
On paper it’s a clever whodunnit. But much like Suspiria can’t be accurately summarized as “murder mystery at a ballet school,” Deep Red is more than the sum of its parts. In classic Argento style, the film is beautifully composed and visually striking. It delivers on gore and thrills while weaving elevated art—not in spite of the horror elements, but because of them. The film also marked Argento’s first collaboration with the progressive rock band Goblin, who would go on to score Suspiria two years later.
Casual fans and movie buffs alike will find plenty to love in Deep Red, which manages to feel innovative and refreshing a full fifty years after its debut.
1. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
- Director: Peter Weir
- Writers: Cliff Green, Joan Lindsay
- Cast: Rachel Roberts, Anne-Louise Lambert, Vivean Gray
A small group of schoolgirls disappears during an excursion to Hanging Rock, inviting a supernatural evil that bleeds into the lives of those left behind. Such is the premise of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the haunting period piece that drew the global eye to the comeback of Australian cinema. In fact, it was voted the best Australian movie of all time by the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).
The movie’s visual style is soft and hazy, full of idyllic nature scenes bathed in a golden-hour glow. Horror is typically concerned with demons, not angels, but the heavenly imagery of the environs—reinforced by the classical score and costumes of flowing white gowns— proves to be singularly unsettling against the dark contrast of the plot.
It’s gorgeous and thought-provoking. It’s one of those movies you relate to like a beguiling missed connection: it catches you off guard, sweeps you off your feet, then leaves you longing for just a little bit more. Fifty years later, we’re still thinking about Picnic at Hanging Rock, and fifty years from now, we’re sure to be doing the same.