The Most Underrated College Movies of the 1970s, Ranked

10. "The Paper Chase" (1973)
Harvard Law School – a haven of elite intellects and bursting egos. Now, drop in a first-year student named Hart. The guy's smart, but, boy, does Professor Kingsfield give him a run for his money.

Contracts law has never been this intense! So, Hart's in the thick of it, juggling classes, love, and a professor that might've been made in the fires of Mordor. And did I mention the love interest is Kingsfield's daughter? Oops.

Some say it's about the struggle; others think it's a tragic romance with law books. Either way, buckle up!

9. "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978)
A romp, a ruckus, a downright riot. Welcome to Faber College, where the Delta Tau Chi fraternity is, let's just say, not the crème de la crème. When Dean Wormer decides to expel the entire fraternity, all bets are off.

Toga parties, horse pranks, and all-out rebellion. But between the laughs, ever thought about how this reflects the spirit of the '70s? The age of rebellion, youth angst against establishments? Or maybe it's just about having a whale of a time in college. Tomato, to-mah-to.

8. "Love and Death" (1975)
It ain't strictly college, per se, but intellectual debates? Check. Questioning existential angst? Double check. The setting's in Russia before the Napoleonic wars.

Now, bring in Woody Allen as Boris and Diane Keaton as Sonja. They're cousins. They debate. They fall in love. They plot to assassinate Napoleon. Classic college shenanigans, right?

It's a satire, a rom-com, a tragedy – a genre potluck, if you will. If Russian literature had a baby with slapstick comedy, this would be it.

7. "The Sterile Cuckoo" (1969)
Okay, stretch the 1970s bracket a smidge. Picture Pookie Adams: quirky, talkative, a bit of a square peg in a round hole. Now she meets Jerry at college, a quiet reserved chap. Sparks fly. Pookie's eccentricities clash with Jerry's introversion.

Love's in the air, but so is a truckload of drama. College is the backdrop, and growing up is the game. A dash of melancholy, a splash of romance, and a dollop of self-discovery. Worth a watch? Like asking if the cuckoo's really sterile.

6. "Getting Straight" (1970)
Vietnam protests. Hippie culture. And the college campus as the boiling pot. Harry Bailey's been to war, now he's back to school. The goal? Nail a master's degree. The problem? Distractions. Love, politics, student uprisings – the whole shebang.

Ever felt like juggling life was like balancing on a seesaw made of jelly? Harry can relate. Some might argue it's a tad preachy. Others? A snapshot of an era in ferment. Dive in and fish out your own take.

5. "Revenge of the Cheerleaders" (1976)
Remember the halcyon days when cheerleaders ruled the school? Toss in some rivalry. The tale unfolds in Aloha High, where our cheerleaders aren't just pom-pom twirling damsels. They're on a mission to save their school and, well, their reputation.

It's cheeky, it's campy, it's chock-full of '70s zest. Some brush it off as fluff, but isn't fluff part of the college charm?

4. "Jeremy" (1973)
Cello-playing Jeremy. Ballet-loving Susan. Two misfits, one big city. Their paths cross, and what unfurls is a tender tale of first love.

It's the sort of story where you can feel the heartbeat of New York. The hustle, the arts, and the raw innocence of young love. Critics? They've been split. Some say it's saccharine, while others claim it's a haunting melody you won't forget.

3. "The Harrad Experiment" (1973)
What if college was less about grades and more about, well, relationships? Welcome to Harrad College, where students are paired off as roommates, but here's the kicker: it's co-ed rooming. Experimental? You betcha.

It's all about breaking barriers and understanding the opposite sex. The film's a daring delve into '70s attitudes towards love, relationships, and freedom. Some laud it as progressive, others label it as risqué. But isn't college all about pushing boundaries?

2. "Our Time" (1974)
The age-old tale of love triangles. But let's add some spice. Set in a girls' boarding school, Abigail and Muffy are best buds. Then there's a guy, of course.

Drama unfurls with all the passion and pain of adolescent love. It's a tale as old as time but sprinkled with the zest of the '70s. Boarding schools, friendships, and the pangs of first love – sounds like a classic brew, doesn't it?

1. "Between the Lines" (1977)
Who said college life is just about students? Dive into the world of an alternative Boston newspaper, run by and for the youth. It's the '70s, so there's rock, roll, and a sprinkle of revolution.

Journalism meets drama as the staffers navigate love, ambition, and corporate takeovers. Ever thought how media shapes the young mind? This film's got answers. Or at least, it's got some darn good questions.