I’m in my 50s and remember it clearly.
And when I hear people bashing it, I try so hard to not let it bother me. I really do. But when I think of that little movie - which was so special to me that I call it God’s Little Movie Gift - being bad-mouthed…I…just…go…BESERK!
mmm
I’m 48. I saw it several times over the years - it used to air on TV after its theatrical run. I also remember “Billy Jerk” and “Billy Paul” on SNL.
Horrible, steaming pile of crap movie for sure. I think the pitch probably went something like this: “Hey, you know that popular show ‘Kung Fu’? How about a modern-day Kung-Fu, and we’ll mix in a bunch of hippie stuff to make it ‘deep’. The kids will love it!”
It was a very bad movie, but it came out in a time filled with even worse movies, and at least there were people being booted in the head. That and the hit soundtrack made it memorable.
I’m 45 and I saw Billy Jack at the movies–may have been on re-release or something. Any political message flew way over my head. I liked the fight scenes.
Saw it. Liked it. It didn’t age well.
I saw all the Billy Jack movies.:o
I’m 50.
I remember enjoying all the rhe Billy Jack movies when I was a kid, I don’t dare comtemplate re-watching them for fear I’d want to invent a time-machine to go back to the 1970’s and shoot myself.
Saw it a year ago or so on Netflix streaming - boy does it suck! But it made me laugh.
I saw it on its first TV release – I was in the 14 to 16 range – and I didn’t think it was that bad althought I figured in real life the Arizona cops would have shot him dead at the end. That would have made for a better film in my opininon. Don’t know what I would think of it at the age of 51. On the other hand, “One Tin Soldier” is a crime against humanity.
I saw as much as I could bear to watch. I used to work at the same place as the woman who, years earlier, played the young blonde gal who uttered the line, “Oh man, this council really sucks.”
I’m 46. I saw it at summer camp in 1976 or 1977. I thought it kicked royal ass back then.
I have not seen it since.
We also sang “One Tin Soldier” a lot in elementary school.
I saw it in the theater when it came out. I’m 55.
I am morally compelled to recommend that you seek out The Trial of Billy Jack, which is that rarest of all gems - a movie so irretrievably awful that it has its own charm. I have never been able to find Billy Jack Goes to Washington, perhaps fortunately.
I have even seen Born Losers, the movie only which Billy Jack was based. Almost equally silly, but with Evil Bikers instead of Evil Townspeople.
You have to consider that most of these came out during the 70s, the lowest point in the whole history of Western culture. Leisure suits, disco, and Billy Jack. All three a kick in the head.
ETA: If I am not mistaken, the SNL “Billy Paul” skit had Paul Simon, and aired after Billy Jack’s first TV screening.
Regards,
Shodan
52 - I saw Billy Jack, Born Losers, and The Trial Of Billy Jack. I thought they were great at the time but have since changed my mind 
I saw it at the drive-in, the way it was meant to be appreciated.
It was awsome.
At the time.
I’m 66. I saw it at the drive-in too, as well as Last House on the Left, Born Losers, Easy Rider, and Night of the Living Dead. 
I am 28 and I have not only seen it, I own the trilogy! Billy Jack Goes to Washington is my favorite*.
*not actually true, it’s a terrible movie, but an awesome idea.
I’m 53, I saw it. It seemed like a good thing at the time (being a very young teen) but by college when I saw it again, I found it pretty lousy.
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We also sang “One Tin Soldier” a lot in elementary school.
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44 and ditto.
I didn’t see the movie in the theater but I saw it when it came on TV, this being back when movies coming on network TV was a big deal.
Never saw BJGT-Washington but I’ve always wanted to because it promises to be a must-see. “We need to fill a Congressional seat… what’s the name of that Indian activist who got convicted of terrorism a while back? See if he’s available.” Supposedly Tom Laughlin spent a fortune on the sets to get the most realistic Senate chamber set in the biz; he later leased it to other movies. IIRC he lost the fortune he made on the first Billy Jack with the Washington pic.
Based on the success of this thread and what seems to me to be a plurality of disapproval of the quality of the movie, may I suggest another thread that tries to find other “dogs” from that era that excel in their awfulness. Billy Jack may lead the parade, but I suspect we each have at least one other to put alongside it for a “Do Not See” prize.
It’s fun to see that the age range has little bearing on how dismal this thing is/was.