The breakdown of the Production Code and the new ratings system set the scene for anti-establishment political themes, the use of rock music, and sexual freedom deemed "counter-cultural" by the studios during the 70’s. Behind this revolution was all the cynicism and mistrust towards authority which pervaded American culture.
The decade is most known for excelling in the crime-drama genre. The early part of the decade focused on increasingly realistic, gritty films.
The end of the decade brought Jaws and Star Wars which were the precursors for the Blockbuster era.