Oscar-winning filmmaker, actor, and composer,Clint Eastwood, is a Hollywood icon who is universally recognized for his Western classics such asThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,The Outlaw Josey Wales, andUnforgiven. Eastwood initially made his mark in cinema with his signature role as the Man with No Name inSergio Leone’s spaghetti WesternDollars trilogy, becoming one of the greatest stars of the Western genre.
Even though Eastwood eventually ventured into other genres, ranging from romantic dramas to action-packed thrillers, he still reigns as one of the most recognizable faces of the Western genre. Out of the star’s extensive list of exceptional Western films, includingPale Rider,For a Few Dollars More, andTwo Mules for Sister Sara, these are the ten must-see Eastwood Western movies, ranked!
11’Honkytonk Man' (1982)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Eastwood directs and stars inHonkytonk Manas a country Western singer, Red Stovall, who, after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, is given the opportunity to make it big at the Grand Ole Opry. As he and his nephew (Kyle Eastwood) travel through the American South towards Tennessee, Stovall hopes he will be able to find fame and success along the way before his illness takes hold of him.
The 1982 Western musical comedy,Honkytonk Man, is based on the 1980 novel of the same name, written byClancy Carlile, who also wrote the film’s screenplay. Eastwood establishes a steady, smooth pace which correlates with the film’s heartfelt plot, and while it’s not a work of perfection,Honkytonk Manis a heartfelt, feel-good movie that leaves an everlasting impression on audiences, rightfully earning it a place on this list of essential Eastwood Westerns.
Honkytonk Man
10’Two Mules for Sister Sara' (1970)
Directed by Don Seigel
When a gunslinger, Hogan (Eastwood), saves a young nun named Sara (Shirley MacLaine)from a group of men attacking her, he allows her to accompany him to a nearby camp of Mexican revolutionaries who have hired Hogan to help fight against the invading French Army. As the two travel together, Sara begins to engage in certain vices, such as drinking and gambling and exhibiting behavior that isn’t becoming of a nun, leading Hogan to question her true identity.
Two Mules for Sister Sarais a marginalized American-Mexican Western that marked the second collaboration between director,Don Siegeland Eastwood. Overall, the film has an all-around sharp and intense tone expected of a gunslinger Western, but it does have its brief moments of comedic relief, notably from MacLaine’s character. Considering Eastwood’s implicitly brilliant performance and the unique blend of humor and thrilling action,Two Mules for Sister Sarais one Eastwood Western that deserves more recognition than it typically receives.
Two Mules for Sister Sara
9’Hang ‘Em High’ (1968)
Directed by Ted Post
Eastwood stars inHang ‘Em Highas a retired lawman, Jed Cooper, who is accused of a crime he didn’t commit and left for dead by a group of men. Cooper is miraculously saved by Marshal Dave Bliss (Ben Johnson), who takes him to Fort Grant, where a judge (Pat Hingle) determines that Cooper is innocent. When Bliss and the judge offer Cooper a job as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, he graciously accepts and sets out to find the men who tried to kill him, promising not to abuse his power and bring the men to justice.
Hang ‘Em Highis a gripping Western that went on to become the biggest opening of any United Artist movie in history, even surpassing all theJames Bondmovies at the time. Despite some mixed reviews from critics,Hang ‘Em Highwas a financial success and a fitting homage to the traditional classic Western.Between its balanced plot of thrilling action and human morality and a solid performance by Eastwood,Hang ‘Em Highranks as an outright must-see Eastwood Western.
Hang ‘Em High
8’High Plains Drifter’ (1973)
When a drifter (Eastwood) arrives in a small mining town, he’s initially given a less-than-warm welcome by the townspeople, but after they learn about his skills as a gunslinger, they ask him to help them fight off a group of bandits who have been terrorizing their town for some time. The drifter agrees to help them but, unbeknownst to them, he has his own score of revenge to settle with his new corrupt employers.
Eastwood directs and stars in the Western horror movie,High Plains Drifter, which isa hybrid of a ghost story and thrilling revenge Western that sets it apart from other Eastwood Westerns. Eastwood effectively establishes a consistently haunting tone through his ingenious and stylish camerawork while also delivering a captivating performance that effortlessly blended with the film’s ominous atmosphere.High Plains Drifterwas one of the highest-grossing Westerns of the 1970s and today, reigns as a mesmerizing Eastwood Western that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
High Plains Drifter
7’Pale Rider’ (1985)
When the greedy owner of a mining company, Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart), hires a group of outlaws to force the residents of a small town off their land, a mysterious stranger known as Preacher (Eastwood) arrives and helps protect the people from the outlaw’s violent attacks. Eventually, Preacher tries to negotiate with LaHood on behalf of the townspeople, but when he comes back with LaHood’s terms, the people refuse them, leading LaHood to send his men after Preacher and the others.
Eastwood directs and stars in one of the best Westerns of the 1980s,Pale Rider, which was both a critical and commercial success. The title of the film is a reference to theFour Horsemen of the Apocalypse,with Eastwood’s character serving as the symbol of Death, which essentially adds a supernatural element to the seemingly traditional Western tale. The stunning scenery of the snow-covered mountains and hushed wilderness elevates the mythical aspect ofPale Riderwith a sense of spiritual elegance and allure that only a filmmaker of Eastwood’s caliber could capture.
Pale Rider
6’A Fistful of Dollars’ (1964)
Directed by Sergio Leone
Eastwood stars in Sergio Leone’sA Fistful of Dollarsas the notorious Man with No Name who arrives in a small Mexican village which is plagued by a civil war between the town’s sheriff, John Baxter (Wolfgang Lukschy), and a group of bandits led by men known as the Rojo Brothers. The intense power struggle presents an opportunity for the Man with No Name (or Joe in this film) and decides to pit both sides against each other for his own financial gain.
A Fistful of Dollarsis considered to be one of the greatest and most influential films of all time and is also credited for popularizing the spaghetti Western genre. Despite some initial negative reviews,A Fistful of Dollarsessentially rejuvenated the Western genre, defining a new era of the classic genre, and also established Eastwood’s status as a promising leading man as well as a major box-office draw.Eastwood gives an intensely profound performance, conveying his character with a sense of mystery and enticement that effectively captures audiences’ attention and pure curiosity.
A Fistful of Dollars
5’The Outlaw Josey Wales’ (1976)
After a Missouri farmer, Josey Wales, witnesses his family being brutally murdered by Union soldiers, he joins the Confederate Army and fights as a means to avenge his family. When the Civil War comes to an end, Wales and his men lay down their weapons, but the Union men attack and kill everyone in Wales' party. Wales manages to escape but is soon a wanted man with a hefty bounty on his head, leading to bounty hunters and soldiers relentlessly pursuing him across the country.
The Outlaw of Josey Walesis a savage Western directed by and starring Eastwood, whoseriveting performance ranks high alongside his iconic role as The Man With No Name. Eastwood showcases his mastery of the Western genre, effortlessly capturing the lawless nature of the Wild West and the ominous atmosphere that sets the chilling, violent tone of a torrid tale of vengeance.The Outlaw Josey Walesalso embodies Eastwood’s signature style of epic shoot-outs and fancy gun play, leaving audiences suspended by pure adrenaline and anticipation.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
3’For a Few Dollars More' (1965)
Eastwood returns as the Man with No Name inFor a Few Dollars Moreas a reputable bounty hunter known as Manco who pursues an escaped outlaw, El Indio (Gian Maria Volonté), and his gang of men who have been terrorizing people throughout the region. When Manco encounters another bounty hunter, Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef), who is also after El Indio, they initially see each other as rivals, but eventually, their mutual determination to track down the vile outlaw turns into an unlikely partnership.
For a Few Dollars Moreis a thrilling follow-up to Eastwood’s Man with No Name and also featuresan intriguing dynamic between Eastwood and Van Cleef’s characters that is genuinely fascinating. Similar to Leone’s other films,For a Few Dollars Moredelivers an array of captivating characters who each have a unique backstory, adding immense depth to the film’s plot. The movie also has a mesmerizing musical score composed byEnnio Morricone, whose incorporation of tinkling chimes into El Indio’s character elevates the film’s ominous atmosphere and effectively lures audiences in with its hauntingly beautiful tune.
For A Few Dollars More
2’Unforgiven' (1992)
When a woman is brutally disfigured by two men in the town of Big Whiskey, the corrupt sheriff, Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), gives them a slap on the wrist, forcing the woman’s friends to secretly collect and offer a reward for anyone who can capture and kill the men for their heinous crime. As word reaches a former gunslinger turned farmer, William Munny (Eastwood), he and his friend, Ned (Morgan Freeman) decide to take on the job, but when they arrive in the small town, Daggett and his men are not supportive of their act of vigilantism.
Eastwood’sUnforigvenisone of the best slow-burning Westernswhich swept the Academy Awards, earning nine nominations and winning four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Hackman’s astounding performance. The film accurately portrays the unforgiving and gritty nature of the lawless Wild West, and Eastwood’s performance is something of pure shock and awe. Eastwood tactfully builds up his character’s grandeur by initially refraining from little to no action.When he finally reveals Munny’s savage reputation, it is a genuine sight to behold and a valiant spectacle of revenge and redemption, makingUnforgivena must-see Eastwood classic.
