Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Adventure · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

Pete's Dragon (1977)

In the Pacific Northwest, a young woodcarver shares stories of a dragon with the local children. His daughter, Grace, doesn’t believe in such creatures until she encounters Pete, an orphaned boy who insists he lives with a dragon. Intrigued, Grace and her friend Natalie begin to investigate Pete’s extraordinary claims. They soon find themselves on a heartwarming journey where they must discover the truth behind Pete's fantastical tale and the bond he shares with the dragon.

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Comedy · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Madame Rosa (1977)

A retired prostitute, Auschwitz survivor and foster mother lives in a sixth‑floor walk‑up in Pigalle. Her favorite charge, Momo, an Algerian boy she raises as Muslim, helps her as she ages, earning pennies on the street with a puppet and promising never to sell himself. Film editor Nadine befriends him and his estranged father appears. As she nears death, fearing hospitals, Momo must step in.

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Comedy · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Petey Wheatstraw (1977)

Petey Wheatstraw is compelled to marry Satan’s ugly daughter to become the devil’s son‑in‑law. Born from a watermelon’s afterbirth, he becomes a martial artist but can’t defeat the murderous duo Leroy and Skillet. Satan revives their victims, orders the marriage and sends henchmen after Petey when he tries to escape. Rudy Ray Moore’s stand‑up humor drives the chaotic story.

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Mystery · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Blue Sunshine (1977)

After a party guest snaps and murders three women, innocent Jerry becomes the prime suspect and flees. As the city is plagued by bizarre killings, he races to prove his innocence. His investigation reveals that victims are losing their hair and turning into violent psychopaths, a phenomenon linked to LSD taken a decade earlier.

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Fantasy · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)

When a sour‑sweet wind sweeps through Whoville, the Whos lock themselves indoors, fearing the prowling Grinch. Young Eukariah must answer a call to the outhouse, but the wind carries him into a face‑to‑face encounter with the terrifying Grinch and his spooks. Determined to protect his town, Eukariah confronts his deepest fears and battles the Grinch to restore safety.

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Thriller · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The Serpent’s Egg (1977)

Set in Berlin in 1923, the film follows American circus acrobat Abel Rosenberg as he grapples with his brother’s suicide. Amid the Weimar Republic’s social decay, he confronts unemployment, depression, alcoholism and a mounting terror that feels unmistakably Bergman‑like.

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Romance · Bittersweet tone · Ambiguous ending

Wifemistress (1977)

Antonia discovers that her husband has been leading multiple secret lives, and she gradually adopts those roles herself. The story follows a vineyard manager who marries the owner’s very young daughter, after which the patriarch dies, igniting deceit and infidelity. As the husband watches from afar, his wife flourishes socially in his absence, and the tangled web of lies deepens.

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Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Office Romance (1977)

Anatoly Novoseltsev, a shy single father and clumsy clerk at a Moscow statistics bureau, hopes a promotion will come if he can win over his stern, seemingly heartless boss, Ludmila Kalugina—known as “Meany” by staff. With the encouragement of coworkers Olya and Yura, his awkward attempts to soften her attitude unexpectedly uncover a hidden, vulnerable side of Kalugina even she has not recognized.

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History · Melancholic tone · Bleak ending

The Dream of the Red Chamber (1977)

Pao-yu is in love with his cousin, Lin Tai-yu, but his family has other marital plans for him that will leave both broken-hearted.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)

Avoid the Bed at all costs. On the fringe of an estate, beside a crumbling mansion, stands a lone stone building with a single room. Inside lies a demonic bed that craves flesh, blood and life essence of unsuspecting travelers. When three vacationing women seek shelter for the night, they become trapped in a nightmare, feeding the Bed’s hunger.

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Crime · Tense tone

The Night They Took Miss Beautiful (1977)

Criminals hijack a plane carrying five beauty‑contest finalists, unaware that a government operative is also aboard with a deadly virus intended for bacterial warfare. When the hijackers learn of the hidden bio‑weapon, the flight spirals into a battle between the agents and the criminals, with an outbreak threatening everyone on board.

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Action · Tense tone · Happy ending

Parvarish (1977)

A dedicated police officer raises the son of a notorious bandit as his own. A miscommunication causes his biological son to believe he is the bandit's child, leading him to a secret criminal life, while the adopted boy matures into a police officer, setting up a dramatic clash of loyalty and destiny.

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Romance · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Yamagola (1977)

Leader Satyam, President, opposes ex‑president Rudrayya. He loves Rudrayya’s daughter Savithri and plans marriage, so Rudrayya hires a hitman. After Satyam’s death he reaches heaven, angers Indra, and is sent to hell, where he rallies workers against Yama, shuts down hell and returns to Earth. Yama and Chitragupta visit Earth, Satyam, a name, teaches Rudrayya a lesson.

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Sci-Fi · Tense tone · Happy ending

Damnation Alley (1977)

Following a devastating World War III, the landscape is a desolate wasteland. Two Air Force pilots, Jack Burroughs and Brent McCoy, are tasked with a dangerous mission: to travel from Los Angeles to Albany, New York. Albany is believed to be the last refuge of humanity, and their journey across the ravaged country is fraught with peril as they face unknown dangers and a hostile environment.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

A schoolteacher named Theresa, feeling unfulfilled, seeks excitement and connection through anonymous encounters in nightclubs and bars. Her quest for a man she calls "Mr. Goodbar" leads her down a dangerous path, blurring the lines between desire and recklessness. As she becomes increasingly consumed by this pursuit, her life spirals out of control, threatening her career and relationships.

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Thriller · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Equus (1977)

A psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, is called to investigate the horrific blinding of six horses with a metal spike in a Hampshire stable. The crime was committed by Alan Strang, an unassuming seventeen‑year‑old stable‑boy, the only son of a domineering yet timid father and a genteel, devout mother. As Dysart delves into Alan’s psyche, he confronts the boy’s deep‑seated demons and, in the process, is forced to examine his own suppressed doubts and the limits of his profession.

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Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Starship Invasions (1977)

Captain Rameses leads the Legion of Winged Serpent, an alien force seeking Earth for their dying race. The League of Races, a guard patrol, warns him he’s violating a galactic treaty. Rameses triggers a telepathic invasion that drives humans to suicide. The League enlists UFO expert Professor Duncan, sparking a clash of alien forces over Earth’s fate.

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Drama · Hopeful tone

Anand Ashram (1977)

A romantic family drama spanning three generations.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Rolling Thunder (1977)

A young director faces intense challenges while attempting to complete his ambitious short film. Unexpected chaos erupts during production, threatening to derail his creative vision and push his determination to its limits. He must navigate a series of escalating problems while striving to maintain his artistic integrity and deliver the film he envisioned.

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Mystery · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Proof of the Man (1977)

After an American is murdered at a Japanese inn, Tokyo police detective Munesue follows the trail to New York City. There he teams up with NYPD detective Shuftan, and together they combine their expertise to track down the killer and solve the case.

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Romance · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Kokila (1977)

Kokila, a diligent medical student, shares a home with Vijayakumar, her paying guest, and both are deeply in love with plans to marry. Their future suddenly shifts when Vijayakumar and the household maid both depart, leaving Kokila to confront an unexpected upheaval in her personal and domestic life.

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Comedy · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

A Piece of the Action (1977)

Retired police officer Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) devises a risky plan to reform wayward youth by forcing two career criminals—Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier) and Dave Anderson (Bill Cosby)—to work for him. Though he has never caught them, Burke uses his knowledge of their shady pasts to blackmail the pair into volunteering, hoping they’ll guide the juveniles onto a straight‑and‑narrow path.

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Fantasy · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

Oh, God! (1977)

A struggling musician, Bobby Shelton, makes a deal with Harry O. Tophet, who turns out to be Satan, promising seven years of incredible fame in exchange for his soul. As Bobby's career skyrockets, he finds himself trapped and desperate to undo the pact. He then turns to God for help, hoping for divine intervention to escape the devil's grasp and reclaim his life.

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Thriller · Bleak tone · Bleak ending

Sleeping Dogs (1977)

When a reclusive man named Smith finds himself hunted with nowhere to run, he is pulled into a violent clash between guerrilla fighters and right‑wing extremists in New Zealand. Framed for murder and labeled a revolutionary conspirator, Smith clings to a philosophy of non‑violence while trapped between the warring factions.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Prey (1977)

After a strange green light flashes across the English sky, the day after the eerie illumination, a bizarre young man—an alien predator—appears at the isolated country home of two lesbian housemates. Driven by an inexplicable, savage hunger, his presence turns their quiet lives into a terrifying struggle for survival.

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Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Julia (1977)

Feeling trapped in her routine job, Julie Powell decides to challenge herself by cooking every recipe in Julia Child's classic "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." The film weaves together Julie's modern culinary journey with the inspiring story of Julia Child, who famously brought French cuisine to American audiences with courage and a generous helping of butter.

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Romance · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

A Little Night Music (1977)

The Tony‑Award‑winning musical now adapts to film, following actress Desirée Armfeldt as a tangled web of romantic intrigue surrounds her. She is adored by lawyer Fredrik Egerman and the aristocratic Count Carl‑Magnus Malcolm. When Desirée returns to Fredrik’s town for a performance, old passions flare and the estranged lovers confront their past.

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Drama · Melancholic tone · Sad ending

Bobby Deerfield (1977)

After a devastating crash, celebrated Formula One driver Bobby Deerfield, portrayed by Al Pacino, finds himself facing a life-altering recovery. While hospitalized, he encounters Lillian, a resilient woman battling her own challenges. Their unexpected connection forces Bobby to confront his self-assuredness and fragility, prompting him to re-evaluate his life and opening him up to the possibility of love amidst the turmoil of his situation.

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Drama · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Winter Woman (1977)

Adapted from Cho Hae‑il’s serial novel, the film follows Yi‑hwa, daughter of a Christian preacher, whose conservative upbringing is challenged by a sexual awakening. Conservative critics condemned it, yet its left‑leaning subtext was ignored in favor of erotic content. It became the top‑grossing Korean film of the 1970s and made Chang Mi‑hee a star.

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Drama · Dark tone · Sad ending

The American Friend (1977)

In Hamburg, American expatriate Tom Hopper is involved in art forgeries when he's drawn into a murder plot. He’s tasked with finding a suitable hitman, and his search leads him to Jonathan Ganz, a man with cancer who wants to secure his family’s future. As they plan the job, their partnership becomes increasingly complex, blurring the lines between right and wrong and testing their loyalties in this suspenseful thriller.

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Thriller · Light tone · Bittersweet ending

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977)

John Cleese plays the modern descendant of Sherlock Holmes in a comedic detective drama of international power politics and intrigue. Unlike his famed grandfather, he constantly bungles every job. The cast also includes Arthur Lowe as the “bionic” grandson of Dr. Watson, Stratford Johns as the Police Commissioner, and Connie Booth as Mrs. Hudson.

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Drama · Melancholic tone · Bleak ending

To an Unknown God (1977)

José, a fifty‑year‑old gay magician, feels compelled to travel back to Granada, the city of his childhood. He returns hoping to confront the painful memories of tragic events that have haunted him, yet also perhaps to finally lay those wounds to rest.

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Mystery · Tense tone · Bleak ending

Curse of the Black Widow (1977)

Beware the… Tony Franciosa plays a detective who’s on the trail of a murderer whose mutilated and predominantly male victims are found encased in silken cocoons…

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Music · Light tone · Happy ending

Sextette (1977)

Unsatisfied until she’s loved by all mankind, one man at a time, glamorous screen siren Marlo Manners honeymoones with Sir Michael Barrington, her sixth husband. Their stay coincides with a conference at the hotel, where a Russian delegate threatens to derail negotiations unless he can have another fling with Marlo. A tape documenting Marlo’s affairs haunts her, and her manager desperately tries – and fails – to destroy it.

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Action · Tense tone · Happy ending

Snuff Bottle Connection (1977)

Amid diplomatic talks between China and Russia, rogue operatives on each side push toward conflict. Special agent John Liu is dispatched to uncover the Russian double‑agent and his collaborator hidden deep within the ancient Forbidden City.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

16 Vayathinile (1977)

Mayil, a sixteen‑year‑old village girl, is quietly cherished by her physically disabled cousin Chappani and the local tough Parattai. She becomes entangled with a city doctor who manipulates and abandons her, prompting her to recognize Chappani’s sincere devotion while Parattai also vies for her affection.

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Romance · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri (1977)

Two pals, Nagaraj and Sampath, live life on their own terms. Nagaraj, being careless, lives without committing to anyone, but Sampath, who does, loses his partner.

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Drama · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

A Spiral of Mist (1977)

Maria Teresa, trapped in an unsatisfying marriage to the impotent lawyer Marcello, finds her life mirrored by the fiery Valeria. When Valeria is slain during a frantic chase, suspicion falls on her husband as the possible killer. Despite the danger, Maria Teresa decides to aid him, entangling herself further in the mystery.

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War · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

March or Die (1977)

Just after World War I, Major Foster trains fresh recruits for his French Foreign Legion unit, then receives orders to return to his former remote outpost in French Morocco. There he must guard an archaeological dig from El Krim, a charismatic Rifian chieftain seeking to rally the tribes against the colonial authorities. The dangerous assignment tests his command and the legionaries’ loyalty.

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Comedy · Light tone · Ambiguous ending

The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977)

You’re in for the ride of a lifetime! An old trucker steals his truck for one last cross-country run, with a madam and her crew on board.

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