# The Best Director Oscar winners of the 1970s

The ten directors who won the Academy Award for Best Director for films from 1970 to 1979.

- 18 votes · 10 items
- Mar 24, 2026 · H. Gunawan
- https://even.best/en/l/1205/the-best-director-oscar-winners-of-the-1970s

## Top 10

1. **William Friedkin — The French Connection** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 1971 film. Chasing heroin smugglers in New York.
2. **Woody Allen — Annie Hall** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — 1977 film. A New York romantic comedy.
3. **Miloš Forman — One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 1975 film. The top five Oscars.
4. **John G. Avildsen — Rocky** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — 1976 film. Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa.
5. **Franklin J. Schaffner — Patton** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — 1970 film. General George S. Patton in the Second World War.
6. **George Roy Hill — The Sting** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1973 film. Paul Newman and Robert Redford as con men.
7. **Francis Ford Coppola — The Godfather Part II** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1974 film. Young Vito Corleone.
8. **Michael Cimino — The Deer Hunter** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 1978 film. Three friends and the Vietnam War.
9. **Robert Benton — Kramer vs. Kramer** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 1979 film. Divorce and child custody.
10. **Bob Fosse — Cabaret** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — 1972 film. He beat Coppola's The Godfather.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.