Fiddler on the Roof (1971), directed by Norman Jewison, follows Tevye, a Jewish milkman played by Topol. As his daughters choose their own futures, he tries to hold his family and traditions together while persecution threatens their community. The cast also includes Norma Crane, Leonard Frey and Molly Picon.

Turopoljska Street in Lekenik provided a setting for Anatevka, with real wooden houses becoming part of the screen village. Branko Lustig worked on the Croatian production. Alongside Lekenik, filming took place in Mala Gorica near Petrinja, Krašić, Zagreb and woodland near Daruvar.

At the 1972 Academy Awards, the film won for cinematography (Oswald Morris), adapted musical score (John Williams) and sound (Gordon K. McCallum and David Hildyard), from eight nominations.