What was the number one movie in 1970?

The Top Movie of 1970: A Year of Action and Outlaws

While On Her Majesty’s Secret Service briefly held the number one spot in early January 1970, the film that truly defined the year at the box office was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this charismatic blend of action, humor, and outlaw charm captured audiences like few others that year.

Released in the fall of 1969, the film gained massive momentum in 1970, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Its stylish direction by George Roy Hill, witty script by William Goldman, and the undeniable chemistry between its leads helped it dominate the charts. It wasn’t just a hit—it won four Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score for Burt Bacharach’s iconic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.”

On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the sixth installment in the James Bond series and the only one starring George Lazenby as 007, did open the year at number one. But despite its bold choices—especially Bond’s romance with Tracy and the film’s emotional climax—it couldn’t maintain the same long-term box office power as Newman and Redford’s ride into the sunset.

1970 was a turning point in Hollywood. The old studio system was fading, and a new wave of character-driven, morally complex storytelling was rising. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid embodied that shift—less about spectacle, more about soul.

So while box office charts in January favored espionage, by year’s end, it was the tale of two fading outlaws that audiences remembered most. It wasn’t just the top movie—it was the spirit of the season, and ultimately, the year.