With the arrival of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, shortly followed by George Lucas’s Star Wars, the “New Hollywood” movement birthed the blockbuster as we know it today. But despite multiple New Hollywood productions finding success for their studios and filmmakers, not all of these films were critical or commercial triumphs—including debuts or otherwise early films from soon-to-be major players in the industry.
This second New Hollywood starter pack shines a light on films, many by iconic filmmakers, that are—for various reasons—considered less popular than those discussed last time around. Our criteria: the below films have each been logged on by under 50,000 members (as of publication date). Though current popularity is hardly indicative of historical trends, it’s safe to say that each film could be considered “lesser-known” and did not make as much money upon its original release as most of the films in the first starter pack; if our last round served as a New Hollywood primer, consider this one a deeper dive.
It’s not quite a list of “deep cuts,” which will be discussed next time around, but this second starter pack serves as a B-side of sorts to the established New Hollywood canon; the selected titles, listed chronologically, are frequently eccentric, consistently creator-driven and—in more than a few cases—were met with controversy when first released due to their content, excessive spending or the talent involved.