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All of Eastwood’s Westerns have their merits. The best of the bunch are often (rightfully) recognized as examples of Eastwood’s stellar acting and directorial capabilities. When in the mood for a Western flick, any of these movies would be an excellent choice.
Updated September 12, 2021 by Mark Hospodar:With a career that spans almost six decades, moviegoers have witnessed plenty of memorable moments courtesy of Clint Eastwood. Of course, many of those moments come from Eastwood’s extensive resume of Western films. Fans don’t have to wait long for Clint Eastwood’s next movie, though. Cry Macho, a neo-western film starring the 91-year-old actor, is set to hit theaters as well as HBO Max on September 17, 2021. It’s based upon the 1975 novel of the same name, which revolves around the efforts of a former rodeo star to reunite a son with his estranged father.
12 Paint Your Wagon (1969)
Although Clint Eastwood is most famous for playing intimidating, no-nonsense characters, the actor has been known to perform in more lighthearted roles, too. Paint Your Wagon, a Western musical about two prospectors hunting for gold, is a famous example of Eastwood showcasing his comedic side.
The film also co-stars Lee Marvin, another actor not exactly known for playing warm and cuddly characters on screen. Putting the two stars together in a film that features plenty of musical numbers certainly doesn’t lack entertainment value. Paint Your Wagon isn’t the most serious Western in existence, but fans of the genre — or of old Hollywood musicals — should get a kick out of it nonetheless.
11 Joe Kidd (1972)
Joe Kidd isn’t the most memorable film on Clint Eastwood’s resume. It tells the story of a former bounty hunter (Eastwood) who gets mixed up in a violent dispute between peasants and a wealthy landowner. It’s a familiar story often depicted in the Western genre and the film does little to distinguish itself from the rest.
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Fans of Clint Eastwood will still enjoy his customary, steely determination in the face of adversity. Robert Duvall also brings his usual A-game playing the film’s main antagonist. Nevertheless, Joe Kidd’s by-the-numbers approach to the Western genre makes it among the weakest of the bunch.
10 Hang ‘Em High (1968)
Hang ‘Em High is a different kind of Western film involving Clint Eastwood. Unlike some of his other movies where he is nigh untouchable, Eastwood’s character in Hang ‘Em High is often quite vulnerable. He makes mistakes and even gets injured on several occasions.
Eastwood plays a newly-minted marshal who seeks to track down the gang that tried to lynch him. The movie can sometimes be a slow burn as his character, Jed Cooper, eventually tracks down his assailants one by one. It’s definitely worth watching Eastwood’s portrayal of a very human and fallible gunslinger.
9 Pale Rider (1985)
Pale Rider is a fairly unique Eastwood Western due to its religious, and even supernatural, motifs. The plot centers around the machinations of a greedy mining executive as he tries to unscrupulously eliminate all competition. Eastwood plays a mysterious character known only as “The Preacher.” He comes to the rescue by protecting the lives and interests of a small mining community that’s facing some hard times.
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There is a lot of interesting ambiguity in Pale Rider. The film implies that “The Preacher” is some sort of ghost, or even a guardian angel. The final duel between Marshal Stockburn and “The Preacher” suggests that the former had killed the latter at some point, judging by his apparent shock. It’s an underrated Western that doesn’t get enough love.
8 Two Mules For Sister Sara (1970)
Not all of Clint Eastwood’s Westerns were entirely gritty. Two Mules for Sister Sara adds periodic dashes of humor in just the right places. As usual, Eastwood plays a taciturn and hard-bitten drifter, who rescues a wayward nun on his travels and allows her to tag along.
The setting of the film is rather unique. It takes place during the French intervention in Mexico, and the subsequent domestic unrest it created. The movie’s lighter tone compared to some of Eastwood’s other films may not appeal to everybody. Nevertheless, the on-screen chemistry between Shirley MacLaine and Clint Eastwood is hard not to enjoy.
7 A Fistful Of Dollars (1964)
The first entry in “The Man with No Name” trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars helped put Clint Eastwood on the map. Audiences witnessed for the first time Eastwood’s trademark flick of the poncho before he subsequently guns down his opponents. The self-assured effortlessness he exudes in this film would become a familiar character trait for his future roles.
The plot of A Fistful of Dollars involves a deadly feud between two rival families. As a freelancer, The Man with No Name plays the rivals off against each other for his own benefit. The iconic final duel at the end of the film against Ramon Rojo is difficult to forget.
6 The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
The Outlaw Josey Wales is an action-packed revenge tale set after the events of the American Civil War. Eastwood plays the eponymous outlaw in his quest to avenge the murder of his family. Along the way, he puts his twin Colt 1851 Navy revolvers to famous, and deadly, use.
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The film explores how the destructive legacy of the Civil War affected not only the land itself, but its people as well. The death of Wales’s family in the first place is fueled by the enmity between North and South. On a more surface level, the amount of satisfying action sequences makes the film highly enjoyable to watch.
5 High Plains Drifter (1973)
Similar to Pale Rider, High Plains Drifter has seemingly supernatural overtones to it. However, whereas The Preacher is a force for good, The Stranger is bent on revenge. Eastwood’s character aims to punish the residents of a small mining town for a past misdeed. It’s only revealed gradually through flashbacks what exactly the townspeople have done.
It’s actually quite a chilling tale, rich in both symbolism and metaphor. The audience slowly puts the puzzle pieces together in much the same way the townsfolk do on-screen. It would be a disservice to the reader to spoil anything else about the plot. It’s best to experience it first-hand.
4 The Beguiled (1971)
Eastwood aficionados shouldn’t miss out on The Beguiled. Set during the American Civil War, a wounded Union soldier (Eastwood) takes shelter inside an all-female boarding school deep behind enemy lines. Mounting jealously develops between the women as they compete for the affections of their unexpected guest.
The film relies less on traditional Western action, and more on the steadily boiling tension of a thriller. The Beguiled possesses plenty of twists and turns that should keep fans of both genres on the edge of their seats.
3 For A Few Dollars More (1965)
For a Few Dollars More is the second entry in “The Man with No Name” trilogy. This time around, Eastwood’s mysterious loner is a bounty hunter looking to cash in by eliminating a violent band of outlaws. He faces stiff competition from Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef), a rival bounty hunter after the same gang.
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Seeing Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef on the screen together is always great. Van Cleef was a big draw for the Spaghetti Western genre in his own right. It’s a film with few slow moments as the motivations of all the key players are gradually revealed. The explosive finale also dishes out some satisfying payoffs.
2 Unforgiven (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood himself, Unforgiven tells the story of a notorious former outlaw who gets drawn back into his old ways. Repentant for his past actions, but struggling to live a normal life, William Munny (Eastwood) embarks on a bounty hunting mission to save his failing ranch.
The plot of Unforgiven is simple but poignant. It explores the idea of what it means to be redeemed and whether or not such a thing is even possible. The film shows how frighteningly quickly Munny is able to regress to his former self when the situation demands it. Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Clint Eastwood are at their finest in this movie.
1 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
One of the greatest Westerns of all time, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the final entry in “The Man with No Name” trilogy. Three men race to discover hidden Civil War gold buried in an isolated cemetery. Alliances between the men are made and broken multiple times along the way.
The final standoff at the end of the film is a piece of cinematic history. To this day, the ending scene is still often imitated in other films and media. Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach deliver superb performances as The Man with No Name’s vicious rivals. Regardless of the genre, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a masterpiece of filmmaking that still stands the test of time.
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