With a storied and legendary career that has spanned over six decades,Clint Eastwoodhas earned his status as one of the icons of Hollywood cinema. At the start, a mysterious gunslinger, acting in spaghetti Westerns,to starring and directing in some of the most critically acclaimed filmsin recent memory. Whether in front or behind the camera, Eastwood has gone on to define and elevate not just specific genres but the whole film industry as a whole.
Some ofClint Eastwood’s best films, such as his work inThe Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, andGran Torino, explore complex and dark characters while anchoring them in situations and various actions that place them in layered moral dilemmas.It’s this nuance and creativity that makes so many ofEastwood’s career-defining filmsbetter the second time around, and why he has gone on to progress and define so many genres in his iconic filmography.
Space Cowboys
Cast
Space Cowboys, directed by Clint Eastwood, follows four retired Air Force test pilots who are called back into action to repair an aging Soviet satellite. Starring Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner, the film combines elements of adventure, science fiction, and drama as the team overcomes past rivalries and personal challenges to complete the mission.
In a film directed, produced, and starring Eastwood, he portrays the character Colonel ‘Frank’ Corvin, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot. Corvin, along with three fellow retired pilots, goes on one final mission into space to repair and prevent an old Soviet satellite from decaying andfalling out of space and crashing into Earth. The four men must deal with their own personal and work struggles while trying to complete the mission.
Clint Eastwood’s 15 Best Movies, Ranked
Clint Eastwood is one of Hollywood’s most iconic filmmakers and movie stars. In nearly 70 years of working on films, here are his best.
A critically acclaimed box office success,Space Cowboysis definitely one ofEastwood’s most underrated filmsand not one often mentioned when discussing his career.The film balances humor, action, and the space narrative beautifully, conveying the aging pilots' struggle with their Herculean task. It is a special mix of nostalgia best viewed multiple times to appreciate all the comedy moments, and Eastwood shines both as an actor and through his expert direction.
Every Which Way But Loose
Every Which Way But Loose is a 1978 action-comedy starring Clint Eastwood as Philo Beddoe, a trucker and bare-knuckle fighter who embarks on a cross-country journey. Accompanied by his pet orangutan Clyde, Philo faces a series of humorous and challenging encounters while searching for love. Sondra Locke and Geoffrey Lewis co-star in this film, directed by James Fargo, which blends action, comedy, and adventure.
Directed by James Fargo, this 1978 action comedy stars Eastwood as Philo Beddoe, a long-distance trucker and bare-knuckle boxing brawler. Beddoe travels across the country looking for a lost love interest with his brother Orville and Clyde, his pet orangutan.Along the way, he encounters a bunch of wild situationsand even wilder characters, including local police and biker gangs, looking for trouble.
Internationally known for his dark and grizzled characters in spaghetti Westerns, the fact that Eastwood then stepped out in an uncharacteristically offbeat role was both shocking and refreshing. While some thought it was a mistake,his character was played to a tee by Eastwood, with a perfect mix of comedic timing and fighting action. A smash hit at the box office,Every Which Way But Loose, a1970s comedy that not many people remember, is a chance for any Eastwood fan to see him spread his wings and one that takes multiple watches to fully appreciate his unique, comic persona.
In the Line of Fire
In the Line of Fire is a thriller film where a veteran Secret Service agent, Frank Horrigan, played by Clint Eastwood, is haunted by his failure to protect President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Decades later, he is assigned to investigate a mysterious threat on the life of the current US President, while a psychopathic assassin, Mitch Leary, played by John Malkovich, begins to stalk and taunt him.
In the political action thrillerIn The Line Of Fire, Eastwood takes the role of haunted Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan. Horrigan is the lone agent left on the service who was on detail when President Kennedy was assassinated andlet his failure on the day turn him to alcohol and depression. His spark is reunited when a new would-be assassin (John Malkovich) has plans to murder the current president, setting off a cat-and-mouse game to make amends and stop the assassination.
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Back in his more usual grove, Eastwood and Malkovich share incredible chemistry throughout the film, even though their screentime together is limited. Eastwood shines in a gritty and captivating performance as aman devastated by past traumawith a chance at some form of redemption. It’s a weaving political thriller that is tense throughout and rewatchable for its incredible cast and fast-paced, constant action.
A Perfect World
A Perfect World stars Kevin Costner as an escaped convict who kidnaps a young boy. As the two form an unlikely bond during their run from the law.
Another film directed and starring Eastwood,A Perfect World, sees him take up the role of Chief ‘Red’ Garnett, a hardcore Texas Ranger who is pursuing an escaped convict, ‘Butch’ Haynes (Kevin Costner),who kidnaps a young boy called Phillipand takes them on the road in an attempt to disguise himself and evade capture. The film is an extremely complex narrative about the relationship between the convict and the boy and between the law enforcement who are in hot pursuit.
A Perfect Worldexplores many-layered themes of morality and justice as the relationship between the Butch and Phillip is shown to develop.Phillip, having no father figure in his life, is oddly drawn to Butch, even enjoying wearing a stolen Halloween costume, a tradition he has never been allowed to participate in, and starts to grow in confidence throughout the story. Costner is masterful in his performance, playing off the confident and clever Garnett, and Eastwood’s direction is superb throughout, making this a film that can be revisited time and time again.
High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter, directed by Clint Eastwood, follows a mysterious stranger who rides into the small town of Lago and is hired to protect it from outlaws. As he assumes control, his presence reveals the town’s dark secrets. Eastwood stars in this Western that explores themes of vengeance and morality. The film blends traditional Western elements with a haunting atmosphere and complex character dynamics.
In this American Western film, Eastwood directs and stars as a brooding, mysterious stranger who rides into isolated mining town, Lago, and quickly murders the three gunslingers who were hired to protect the town.Without much choice, the townsfolk hire the stranger to protect the town from groups of outlawswho are due to be released from prison. The man with no name takes full advantage of the situation he has been given, basically able to do whatever he wants in the town, and the story descends further into violence and chaos.
6.5/10
Every Which Way But Loose(1978)
6.3/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
7.6/10
8.1/10
7.7/10
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly(1966)
8.8/10
High Plains Drifteris a film that touches on some sensitive subject matter throughout its runtime. It combines elements of Western traditionalism with more modern, action visuals to create acompelling visual spectacle with an interesting and thought-provoking narrative. Eastwood’s confident hand behind the camera leads to a perfectly paced film with some brutal action sequences and almost self-aware performances that make it one you’re able to pop on and return to many times without getting bored.
Escape from Alcatraz
Escape From Alcatraz is a gripping thriller that chronicles the ingenious escape of three prisoners from the formidable Alcatraz Island prison. Set against the backdrop of the infamous penitentiary, the film portrays the meticulous planning and execution of their daring breakout. Led by inmate Frank Morris, the plot delves into the challenges faced in orchestrating one of the most famous prison escapes in history, highlighting themes of determination and resilience.
In this prison thriller classic, Eastwood portrays Frank Morris in an adaption from a true story about his daring and brilliantly calculated escape from the most notorious prison in the world, Alcatraz.The film marks the fifth and last working collaboration between Eastwood and director Don Siegel(Dirty Harry) as they join up to create another piece of cinematic brilliant.
Escape From Alcatrazis an adaption of the 1963 non-fiction book of the same name by J. Campbell Bruce.
In potentially one of Eastwood’s best roles of his career, he positively nails the gritty and determined Morris, who has to go through hell and back to plan one of the most intricate escapes in history.The meticulous attention to detail, expert pacing, and tense and hostile atmosphereprovide the base for the masterfully choreographed escape plan. It is a film that is endlessly rewatchable for the story alone, combined with the brilliant cast and the seamless choreography, makes it a prize jewel in Eastwood’s stellar career.
Million Dollar Baby
Million Dollar Baby is an Oscar-winning sports drama directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. It follows Maggie Fitzgerald, a young female boxer, as she trains under the guidance of her trainer, Frankie Dunn, and tries to make it to the top.
Eastwood once again directs and stars in the iconic filmMillion Dollar Baby, a story about ‘Maggie’ Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), an underdog amateur boxer moonlighting as a waitress who has a dream to turn professional.Eastwood plays Frankie Dunn, the veteran boxing trainer with a chip on his shoulder who coaches Maggie all the way to the top, a chance at Welterweight gold, before a horrific accident in the ring leads Fitzgerald to become paralyzed from the neck down.
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From gunslinger one-liners to angry cop retorts, Clint Eastwood’s characters have plenty of memorable lines that are still being quoted decades later.
Million Dollar Babyeffortlessly blends sports drama with intense, personal relationships. The chemistry between Swank and Eastwood is something to behold and creates the foundation of a story that is both inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. The film has gone down as one of the best of all time,having been nominated for seven and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.Million Dollar Babyhas some of the most powerful quotes in film history, and it is made to be appreciated over multiple viewings.
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood stars in the western Dirty Harry as a no-nonsense San Francisco cop who takes the law into his own hands in pursuit of a serial killer, Scorpio. Directed by Don Siegel and featuring a memorable score by Lalo Schifrin, the film is known for its iconic catchphrases and intense action scenes, and has influenced countless films and TV shows in the years since its release.
In another epic collaboration with esteemed director Don Siegel, Eastwood takes up the role of Inspector Harry Callahan in the Neo-noir action thrillerDirty Harry.Right up there with his most iconic roles of all time, he plays a brutal, nonsense officer who is hunting down a serial killer in San Francisco. Based partially on the Zodiac Killer murders, Callahan dishes out his own brand of justice in his quest to find the culprit.
Dirty Harryis known for its iconic quote: “I know what you’re thinking: ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do you, punk?”
In a film that nails every aspect of its production, even down to itsmagnum handgun accuracy,Dirty Harrystands as one of the most iconic crime action films of all time.The gritty realism and gripping leading character set the standardfor all law enforcement films going forward. Callahan delivers some of the most memorable one-liners and dialogue in all of cinema, and Eastwood’s magnetic portrayal might be his best ever. A film that you may watch over and over again and always find something new to gain a fresh perspective on.
Gran Torino
Gran Torino stars Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran and retired auto worker who forms an unexpected bond with his Hmong neighbors. Set in a Detroit neighborhood, the film explores themes of racial tension, cultural exchange, and redemption. Directed by Eastwood, it delves into the complexities of aging, prejudice, and the search for connection in a changing world.
InGran Torino, Eastwood takes up the role of Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran who is angry and disillusioned with the world. When his young neighbor,Thao Vang Lor, is tasked by his menacing cousin to steal Kowalski’s prized Gran Torinocar, Lor is stopped by Walt, and in doing so, the two form an unlikely friendship with the grizzled old man turning protector to save Lor from the local gang life.
The film is a fascinating character study of a war veteran who struggles to make peace in the modern, multicultural world. It explores deep themes of race, redemption, and conflict, and the film is hard to imagine with anybody else in the lead role,as Eastwood brings the same gritty and violent demeanor that madeDirty Harrysuch an infamous role. The film blends introspective humor with incredible action, making it one of the best Clint Eastwood films to rewatch.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In the United States, a mysterious gunfighter tries to work together with a bandit and a bounty hunter to find a hidden treasure. The men are forced to forge a difficult alliance as each knows only part of the location. The big problem is that none of them has any intention of sharing the wealth once they’ve found it.
In potentially the most popular and well-known Western of all time,Eastwoodreturns to his ‘The Man With No Name’ character to deliver alongside his co-stars, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach, an epic story of three iconic gunslingers who join forces looking for buried treasure.Directed by the legendary Sergio Leone, it is the first film that really put Spaghetti Westerns on the map and set the new standard for Westerns and action films in general.
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If you watch this film once, you will want to watch it over and over.The film has many different layers of intrigue and suspense, the characters and their portrayals are unforgettablewith many iconic moments, the cinematography feels grand and modern, and the score is undeniably one of the most effective and evocative in history. The film is a masterpiece of cinema and continually offers something new to the viewer, even on the tenth rewatch.
