Movie of the Year: 1971A New Season BeginsWelcome to 1971—The Year Hollywood Broke the Rules

The Taste Buds—Mike, Ryan, and Greg—are back, and this time they’re traveling to one of the most daring and unpredictable years in film history: 1971. With the studio system collapsing and the counterculture in full swing, filmmakers were rewriting the rules, blending art and rebellion into something thrillingly new.

In this season premiere, the Taste Buds launch the 1971 Movie of the Year bracket, cutting 96 movies down to 64 in a massive showdown of ambition, artistry, and pure cinematic chaos. From cult curiosities to forgotten gems, this first round is where history’s deep cuts get their moment in the spotlight.

The Cultural Crossroads of 1971

1971 wasn’t just another year—it was a cultural collision. The Vietnam War raged, Nixon ruled the airwaves, and young directors were taking cameras into uncharted territory. As the Taste Buds remind us, this was the year American cinema shifted from polished studio spectacle to gritty realism, giving rise to New Hollywood.

Every film in this season premiere carries that revolutionary spark. Some came from the underground; others from studios trying desperately to keep up with changing times. Together, they form a portrait of a moment when film wasn’t just entertainment—it was rebellion.

Deep Cuts and Dangerous Roads: The Films of Round One

Before the heavy hitters arrive in later rounds, the Taste Buds dig into the unsung heroes of 1971—the strange, the soulful, and the subversive.

• Two-Lane Blacktop: A road movie stripped down to its raw nerves, where the open highway is both promise and punishment.
• Wake in Fright: An Australian fever dream that makes the outback feel like purgatory.
• The Hired Hand: Peter Fonda’s quiet Western about regret, redemption, and a way of life that’s already dying.
• Taking Off: Miloš Forman’s offbeat exploration of American youth, alienation, and generational divide.

Each of these films tells part of the story of 1971: a year where cinema stopped being polite and started getting real.

The Bracket Begins

With 96 contenders on the board, the Taste Buds must make impossible choices. Which obscure masterpieces deserve to advance? Which early casualties will haunt the rest of the season? The first round is brutal, brilliant, and full of surprises—as only a Movie of the Year bracket can be.

The Revolution Will Be Screened

1971 was a year of upheaval, experimentation, and discovery—and this season premiere captures that spirit perfectly. As the Taste Buds trim the list to 64, they set the stage for one of the richest and most unpredictable seasons in Movie of the Year history.

🎧 Listen now to the Movie of the Year: 1971 Season Premiere. Subscribe to the show, share your bracket predictions, and email your early favorites to [email protected]—because the revolution of 1971 has just begun, and only one film will rise to the top.