Clint Eastwood is undoubtedly an icon of the Western movie genre. His icy cold demeanor in “The Man with No Name” trilogy captivated audiences and solidified his role as a gun-slinging stalwart in Hollywood. Over the course of the succeeding decades, Eastwood would add to his resume a stellar list of Western films that still stand the test of time.
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.
10 Joe Kidd
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.
Yet 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 the weakest of the bunch.
9 Hang ‘Em High
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.
8 Pale Rider
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.
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 a very much underrated Western that doesn’t get enough love.
7 Two Mules For Sister Sara
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. He 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.
6 A Fistful Of Dollars
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.
5 The Outlaw Josey Wales
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.
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.
4 High Plains Drifter
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.
3 For A Few Dollars More
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.
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
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
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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