[drjimmy]

Go back another 10 years to the highest grossing films of 1974:

1. Blazing Saddles
2. Towering Inferno
3. Trial of Billy Jack
4. Young Frankenstein
5. Earthquake
6. Godfather: Part II
7. Airport 1975
8. Grizzly Adams
9. Longest Yard
10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre

I love some of these flicks, especially the two Mel Brooks entries and The Longest Yard. But except for The Godfather II, there isn't much in the way of artistic masterpieces here. Fantastic movies like Chinatown, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and The Conversation didn't make the top 10 list. Those who claim movies were much better "back then" either weren't alive back then or haven't really noticed that there has always been and will always be schlock, and that box office receipts are no way to judge a movie's quality.

[Borges]

Exactly. Movies that make the most money are usually teenager driven. TPOTC was unique. Though there are exceptions, great movies generally don't cost a lot...or make a lot.