Best Drama Movies of 1973

The highest-rated drama films from 1973, ranked by MovieMagicScore based on authentic viewer ratings.

Drama 1972 Drama 1974 All Time Drama

Action Comedy Horror Science Fiction Thriller Romance Animation Documentary Fantasy Crime

The Sting

1973

A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.

8.0

Papillon

1973

A man befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence on a dreadful prison island, which inspires the man to plot his escape.

7.8

Amarcord

1973

In an Italian seaside town, young Titta gets into trouble with his friends and watches various local eccentrics as they engage in often absurd behavior. Frequently clashing with his stern father and defended by his doting mother, Titta witnesses the actions of a wide range of characters, from his extended family to Fascist loyalists to sensual women, with certain moments shifting into fantastical scenarios.

7.9

Paper Moon

1973

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.

7.9

Serpico

1973

New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

7.5

Day for Night

1973

A committed film director struggles to complete his movie while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.

7.8

The Holy Mountain

1973

The Alchemist assembles together a group of people from all walks of life to represent the planets in the solar system. The occult adept's intention is to put his recruits through strange mystical rites and divest them of their worldly baggage before embarking on a trip to Lotus Island. There they ascend the Holy Mountain to displace the immortal gods who secretly rule the universe.

7.5

High Plains Drifter

1973

A gunfighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago. After gunning down three gunmen who tried to kill him, the townsfolk decide to hire the Stranger to hold off three outlaws who are on their way.

7.3

The Long Goodbye

1973

In 1970s Hollywood, Detective Philip Marlowe tries to help a friend who is accused of murdering his wife.

7.4

#10

The Spirit of the Beehive

1973

In 1940, in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a young girl living on the Castilian plain is haunted after attending a screening of James Whale's 1931 film Frankenstein and hearing from her sister that the monster is not dead, instead existing as a spirit inhabiting a nearby barn.

7.6

#11

Lady Snowblood

1973

Yuki's family is nearly wiped out before she is born due to the machinations of a band of criminals. These criminals kidnap and brutalize her mother but leave her alive. Later her mother ends up in prison with only revenge to keep her alive. She creates an instrument for this revenge by purposefully getting pregnant. Yuki never knows the love of a family but only killing and revenge.

7.5

#12

Mean Streets

1973

A small-time hood must choose from among love, friendship and the chance to rise within the mob.

7.1

#13

Magnum Force

1973

"Dirty" Harry Callahan is a San Francisco Police Inspector on the trail of a group of rogue cops who have taken justice into their own hands. When shady characters are murdered one after another in grisly fashion, only Dirty Harry can stop them.

7.1

#14

American Graffiti

1973

A couple of high school graduates spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.

7.0

#15

Belladonna of Sadness

1973

An evil feudal lord rapes a village girl on her wedding night and proceeds to ruin her and her husband's lives. After she's eventually banished from her village, the girl makes a pact with the devil to gain magical ability and take revenge.

7.3

#16

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

1973

Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid.

7.2

#17

Only Old Men Are Going to Battle

1973

Alexey Titarenko is very talented pilot and brave leader of "Singing group". He also must look after some new cadets and fight together with them against German Luftwaffe planes. Close to Alexey always are his friends, they are all from different parts of the country, but they all became real brothers.

7.9

#18

Jesus Christ Superstar

1973

As played out by a theatre troupe, the last days of Jesus Christ are depicted from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene.

7.1

#19

Charley Varrick

1973

Charley Varrick robs a bank in a small town with his friends, but instead of obtaining a small amount of money, they discover they stole a very large amount of money belonging to the mob. Charley must now come up with a plan to not only evade the police but the mob as well.

7.3

#20

La Grande Bouffe

1973

Four friends gather at a villa with the intention of eating themselves to death.

7.1

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Best Drama Movies of 1973

This ranking features the top drama movies released in 1973, sorted by MovieMagicScore viewer ratings. Looking for more? Browse all genres from 1973 or see the best drama movies of all time.