Dirty Harry
Legendary Hollywood actorClint Eastwoodhas conduct many classical pic – and go on to do so in his 90s – but how do they all rank from worst to good ? Best bang for his iconic westerly roles , Eastwood got his get-go as a corroborate actor in the ' 50s , made a name for himself in the ' 60s as the leading human race With No Name inSerge Leone ’s Spaghetti WesternDollars Trilogy , and begin his directing vocation in 1971 with the sultry psychological thrillerPlay Misty For Me . Astoundingly , already roughly 20 years into his acting calling , 1971 marked only the outset of Eastwood ’s 50 + years as a film theater director .
While his filmmaking legacy is mostly associated with Western cinema , Eastwood has take on a motley of part and motion-picture show genres as an actor - theater director . Even so , it ’s fitting that Eastwood ’s first Academy Award was for what was tentatively hislast Western – at least until 2021’sCry Macho – which Eastwood dedicated at the clock time to his former westerly partner - in - criminal offence Serge Leone . Since then , Eastwood ’s name has been virtually synonymous with the westerly genre , though his filmmaking calling in the twenty-first century has track everything from urban murder mysteries to sports dramas to a Japanese warfare plastic film .
Ranked : Every Clint Eastwood Western , Ranked Worst To Best
No doubt , many of Eastwood ’s most iconic office – The humanity With No Name , Dirty Harry , etc . – originate from movies he did n’t direct . However , the moving picture he did direct , many of which he also star in , draw special captivation for picture show lovers , as they each put up a glimpse into the workings of the world ’s mind . On that note , here is every movie Clint Eastwood has directed , ranked from worst to best :
39. Firefox (1982)
A techno - thriller legal action moving picture based on Craig Thomas ' 1977 novel of the same name , Firefoxwas shot on a $ 21 million budget , of which $ 20 million went to the peculiar effects . With an anomalous rave review from Roger Ebert , who gaveFirefoxthree - and - a - half stars out of four , Firefoxlargely pandered to the anti - KGB sentiments of Cold War - era Americans to predominantly minus vital reception . While nowhere near the telling spectacle of its special effects - large contemporaries –Stars Wars , Blade Runner , etc . –Firefoxdoes stand out as one of Eastwood ’s more aesthetically " out there " films .
38. The Eiger Sanction (1975)
Closely competing withFirefoxforEastwood ’s bad directed film , The Eiger Sanctionis largely reckon as a misstep in Eastwood ’s career , not least of all because of the multiple wound sustain during production , including the end of 26 - year - old British climber David Knowles . With the actors – include Eastwood himself – performing many of the mountain - climb stunts themselves in this action mechanism thriller , The Eiger Sanctiontook many grave risks that , despite provoking mixed reviews , earned the plastic film praise for its mounting footage and tense military action sequences .
37. The Rookie (1990)
conscientious objector - starring Eastwood with Charlie Sheen , while also featuring a Lara Flynn Boyle hot off the success of David Lynch’sTwin Peaks , The Rookieis a buddy - pig action film that follows the Eastwood - and - Sheen detective twain on their journey to take down a German crime lord in Los Angeles . With strange casting decision ( Puerto Rican Raul Julia and Brazilian Sônia Braga play Germans ) and a threadbare , formulaic plot , The Rookiefared poorly with critic , despite a decent proceeds in the box business office .
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36. Blood Work (2002)
Based on the Michael Connelly novel of the same name , Blood Workis a 2002 mystery story thriller co - star Eastwood with Jeff Daniels , Wanda De Jesús , and Anjelica Huston . Thestory follows an FBI agentwho , after a ticker transplant , investigates a serial killer whale . Noted for its " lethargic pacing,“Blood Workseemed at the time to represent a late - career weariness in Eastwood ’s filmmaking stamina – though , thankfully , this prospect was wrong , as proven by the monumental life history - defining hits he ’d go on to direct follow this flick .
35. Jersey Boys (2014)
free-base on the 2005 Tony Award - winning nickelodeon musical , Jersey Boysfollows the real - life musical chemical group The Four Seasons , a four - man band represent of Frankie Valli , Bob Gaudio , Nick Massi , and Tommy DeVito . Of the original members , both Valli and Gaudio joined Eastwood as executive producers on the project while also draw up the film ’s music .
34. Hereafter (2010)
A phantasy disaster play film co - starring Matt Damon and Cécile de France , Hereaftertells three parallel stories about three people impact by decease : George ( Damon ) is a factory actor who can communicate with the beat , Marie ( de France ) is a French journalist who survives a near - death experience , and Marcus ( played by Frankie and George McLaren ) is a British schoolboy who loses someone close to him . While praise for its challenging , thought - provoking plot , Hereafterreceived overall motley reviews .
33. Breezy (1973)
Thethird picture directed by Eastwood , Breezyis a romantic drama involving a stripling hipster make Edith Alice " Breezy " Breezerman ( Kay Lenz ) and the divorced , middle - of age Frank Harmon ( William Holden ) who engage in an unconventional relationship that draws the anger of Harmon ’s peers . WhileBreezymay feel very out-of-date to forward-looking audiences , the movie is doubtless wizard in a way that ’s at once timeless while also serving as a distinct fourth dimension space capsule of the former - to - mid-70s – an era Eastwood has represented well in other timeless classics , such asDirty HarryandPlay Misty For Me .
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32. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
The film adjustment of John Berendt ’s book , Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evilfollows the young diarist John Kelso ( John Cusack ) as he travel to Savannah , GA to apparently track the city ’s Christmas solemnisation before becoming involved in a murder tribulation . A boxful billet failure , the film ’s quirky Southern subject topic mismatch with Eastwood ’s free directorial fashion , resulting in an odd pure tone that audiences witness either unintentionally enjoyable or objectionably stilted .
31. Absolute Power (1997)
Playing a gem stealer who witnesses Secret Service agents off a woman , Eastwood both directs and stars in the political criminal offense thrillerAbsolute Power , a moving-picture show adaption of David Baldacci ’s 1996 novel of the same name . When Eastwood study the book was being adapted into film by screenwriter William Goldman ( The Princess Bride ) , he state interest in make the movie with one caveat : that all the interesting , likeable characters killed off in the book last in the photographic film .
30. True Crime (1999)
Not to be mistaken with the critically tear apart Alicia SilverstoneTrue Crimefrom 1995,Eastwood’sTrue Crimereleased during a major yearin film history – which also saw the releases ofThe Matrix , Fight Club , Magnolia , and much more – though it was for the most part a corner office dud , gross only $ 16 million against a $ 55 million production budget . While Eastwood ’s failures typically come with extolment for his acting , most critics agreed that Eastwood was miscast in this otherwise decent mystery thriller .
29. The 15:17 to Paris (2018)
On August 15 , 2015 , three young Americans travelling through Europe prevented a would - be terrorist onslaught on a geartrain bound for Paris , saving upwards of 500 onboard passengers . Based on the autobiographyThe 15:17 to Paris : The True Story of a Terrorist , a Train , and Three American Heroes , Eastwood’sThe 15:17 to Parisstars Spencer Stone , Anthony Sadler , and Alek Skarlatos as themselves – the three Americans centrally involved in the true story – who make the most of an otherwise clunky screenplay .
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28. J. Edgar (2011)
A polarizing biographical play centre on J. Edgar Hoover , the mind of the FBI for almost 50 years , J. Edgarboasts a major star - power plaster cast – Leonardo DiCaprio , Armie Hammer , Naomi Watts , Josh Lucas , Judi Dench , and Adam Driver ( in his debut moving-picture show function ) – that pull in the film praise for its powerhouse performances while drawing unfavorable judgment for its bedevil story and weak storytelling . Despite the flick ’s miscellaneous review , J. Edgarmarks another imposingly ambitious title in Eastwood ’s eclectic filmography .
27. The Gauntlet (1977)
star alongside Sandra Locke ofThe Heart Is A Lonely Hunterfame , Eastwood plays the gruff cop Ben Shockley who must escort the sporting lady Augustina " Gus " Malley ( Locke ) , a witness in a pack trial , from Las Vegas to Phoenix in this " Classic Clint"action - thriller movie . praise as an endearingly " stunned movie " that focalize more on fun , in high spirits - stake action than cerebral depth , The Gauntletwas a smash with the public , whereas critic were in the main mixed .
26. Sudden Impact (1983)
The only Eastwood - directed film of the fiveDirty Harrymovies , Sudden Impactis the series ' penultimate film and one of the darkest of the saga , with " Dirty " Harry Callahan ( Eastwood ) investigate the murders of men who previously gang - raped a woman named Jennifer Spencer ( played by Sondra Locke again ) . When Callahan get himself romantically involve with Spencer , who ’s expose as the killer , Callahan finds his personal sense of justice at odds with his professional obligations as a police officer .
25. Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
direct and produced by Eastwood , Heartbreak Ridgeis an Eastwood affair through - and - through , with the war cinema even co - starring Eastwood as Marine Sgt . Thomas Highway alongside Marsha Mason , Everett McGill , and Mario Van Peebles . Centering on the story of Sgt . Highway as he prepares a platoon of undisciplined Marines for the American invasion of Grenada in 1983,Heartbreak Ridgeopened to generally positivist decisive and audience reception , with special praise going towards the up-and-coming , yet crank masculinity of Eastwood ’s performance .
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24. Space Cowboys (2000)
Featuring a star - studded cast , Space Cowboysfollows thestory of a group of Air Force pilotsplayed by Eastwood , Tommy Lee Jones , Donald Sutherland , and James Garner who dream of serving their country as the first Americans to launch into outer distance . Despite being press aside for a chimpanzee , the team stays true to their dreaming when , years later , they ’re granted the assignment to establish into space to stop an orbit Soviet artificial satellite from crash to earth .
23. White Hunter Black Heart (1990)
An dangerous undertaking play adjust from the 1953 Word of God by Peter Viertel , White Hunter Black Heartis a semi - biographical account of Viertel ’s experience while filming 1951’sThe African Queen , a classic pic that was shot on - localization in Africa during a time when location shoots outside of the United States were rare . Based on the real - lifetime director John Huston , Eastwood dally the gruff managing director John Wilson who becomes controversially more interested in shooting an elephant than shooting a film .
22. Invictus (2009)
A biographic sports play based on the 2008 bookPlaying the Enemy : Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nationby John Carlin , Invictusfollows the upshot in South Africa surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup , namely as they appertain to the Springboks squad who were augur to play ill after having only recently entered international rival stick to the dismantlement of South Africa ’s apartheid .
21. Bronco Billy (1980)
A westerly comedy directed by and starring Eastwood , Bronco Billyfollows Bronco Billy ( Eastwood ) , the leader of a failing Wild West show , as struggle to stay afloat amid declining public interest . After encountering Antoinette Lily ( Sondra Locke ) , a hoity - toity heiress , and charter her as his new assistant , Billy finds newfangled success after she agree to perform in one of his shows . A modest commercial success , Bronco Billy ’s self - referential quality in relative to Eastwood ’s vocation has qualify it as a extra bench mark rubric in his filmography .
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20. Honkytonk Man (1982)
Set during the Great Depression , Honkytonk Mansees Eastwood endearinglycostarring with his son Kyle Eastwood . A Western vocalist dying from tuberculosis , Red Stovall ( Clint Eastwood ) get on one last route trip with his nephew Whit ( Kyle Eastwood ) on a journeying to the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee , where Red hop to finally achieve celebrity as a instrumentalist .
19. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Directed , produced , and score by Eastwood , Flags of Our Fathersis an American war film about the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima , namely the five Marines and one Navy corpsman responsible for triumphantly raising the flag on Iwo Jima . A fellow film to Eastwood ’s later movieLetters from Iwo Jima , Flags of Our Fatherstakes the American point of view on the Battle of Iwo Jima for what would become a box power loser , despite positive reassessment from the critics .
18. Pale Rider (1985)
Anethereal American Western fantasy , Pale Riderdraws its rubric from the Book of Revelation , chapter 6 , verse 8 : " And I reckon , and behold a pale horse : and his name that sit on him was Death , and Hell conform to with Him . " As the proverbial pale passenger of death , one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , Eastwood ’s theatrical role Preacher is one of his more ghostly renditions of the cinematic cowboy . release in 1985,Pale Riderbecome one of the highest - gross Westerns of the ' 80s .
17. The Mule (2018)
Nearing the ripe age of 90 , Eastwood directed and produced 2018’sThe Mule , which he also starred in as the 90 - year - old plantsman Earl Stone , a bust and solitary honest-to-goodness man who accepts a job as a drug messenger for a Mexican combine . Taking on larger dispatch follow the success of his first messenger job , Stone finds himself garnering the aid of the DEA . The film is based on thetrue story of Leo Sharp , a World War II veteran who became a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel .
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16. Sully (2016)
A biographic dramatic play based on the 2009 autobiographyHighest Dutyby Chesley " Sully " Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow , SullystarsTom Hanks as Sullenberger , the pilot responsible for for the 2009 emergency landing of US Airway Flight 1549 on the Hudson River , a heroic feat that , while clear him praise as a literal - life sentence hero , subjugate him to an intense investigating calling into query his emergency - landing decision .
15. Changeling (2008)
Another Eastwood - direct picture show base on a rightful story , Changelingfollows the story of Christine Collins ( Angelina Jolie ) , a single female parent in 1928 Los Angeles who come back home one day to retrieve her son , Walter , missing . When her " son " is launch five months later in Illinois , Christine is horrified to pull in that the boy is n’t her genuine son , despite the fast-growing imperativeness of the authorities who claim to " observe " him .
14. Bird (1988)
Revealing Eastwood ’s penchant for malarky , Birdis a biographical photographic film about the notorious bebop master saxophonist Charlie " Bird " Parker , a genius creative person who truly have sex only two things in his life : malarky and diacetylmorphine . Tragically dying of a heroin overdose at the old age of 34 , Parker test the patience of his married woman , as bright depict in this Eastwood - directed biopic .
13. American Sniper (2014)
The controversial biographical warfare drama centered on Navy cachet sniper Chris Kyle ( Bradley Cooper ) , a sniper accredit with at least 160 confirmed putting to death , American Sniperinstigated a pocket-size cultivation state of war with its release in 2014 , with both its supporters and detractors making it a phenomenal box office success as the highest - grossing war film of all time – as well as Eastwood ’s highest - grossing photographic film to date .
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12. Cry Macho (2021)
discharge to both field andHBO Max , Cry Machostars a 91 - year - previous Eastwood as a wash - up horse breeder who gets involved in his ex - boss ' detainment battle , of a sort , over his youthful Logos , who ’s being hold captive by his alcoholic mother in Mexico . A amount - of - years route trip movie , Cry Machosees Eastwood lecturing the boy on what it mean to be " butch " with an authority that perhaps only Eastwood has , conceive his intensely butch filmmaking career .
11. Richard Jewell (2019)
Another controversial Eastwood - directed film , though not as controversial asAmerican Sniper , Richard Jewelltells the somewhat contemporarytrue story of Richard Jewell , the security guard who alert police of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics . Because no respectable deed goes unpunished , Jewell was later harassed by the FBI and the media , both of whom wrongfully profiled Jewell as the bombardment ’s leading defendant .
10. A Perfect World (1993)
Starring Kevin Costner as Butch , an escaped state captive from Texas who nobble a young boy ( T.J. Lowther),A Perfect Worldsees this unlikely duo modernize a surprising bond with law enforcement raging on their trail . As a compassionate Texas Ranger , Red Garnett ( Eastwood ) understands Butch ’s emotional dilemma , yet he continues pursuit after him in the name of the law and of the boy ’s safety .
9. High Plains Drifter (1973)
Similar to his iconic role as the Man With No Name is Leone’sDollars Trilogy , Eastwood plays a floater with no name in the WesternHigh Plains Drifter . Casually " drifting " into a small town where he realise his keep with his hired gun - slinging power , Eastwood ’s drifter helps protect the townspeople against bandit , while harboring a hugger-mugger preceding link to the townsfolk – unbeknown to the town ’s citizens .
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8. Mystic River (2003)
adjust from Dennis Lehane ’s 2001 novel of the same name , Mystic Riveris a neo - noir closed book crime drama starring Sean Penn , Tim Robbins , and Kevin Bacon as three childhood friend who develop up to find themselves involved in a execution – with one being the dupe ’s father , the other the murder ’s official investigator , and the third the leading defendant . Surprisingly moving with expertly crafted , hypnotic pacing , Mystic Riverset an early tone for Eastwood ’s impressive ability as a director in the 21st century .
7. The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
A standout carrying into action and directing effort from Eastwood , The Bridges of Madison Countyis a love story about a lensman who finds himself in a passably impeccant , brief love affair with a matrimonial womanwhile on an grant to take picture show of the historic bridges of Madison County . Though Eastwood ’s sweet side was n’t in question by this point in his otherwise action - tamp filmography , The Bridges of Madison Countyrevealed the actor ’s deeply romantic depths .
6. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
The fellow traveller picture toFlags of Our Fathers , Eastwood’sLetters from Iwo Jimatakes the Nipponese viewpoint on the Battle of Iwo Jima , told through the long - buried missives of the Japanese troops who fought and died at Iwo Jima . For a tale commonly told as a loyal deterrent example of the United States military artistry , Letters from Iwo Jimaproved Eastwood open of frankly and sympathetically render two side of a battle with one of the decade ’s most moving war fib .
5. Gran Torino (2008)
Another massively successful come to byEastwood , Gran Torinotells the storyof the retired auto worker and Korean War ex-serviceman , Walt Kowalski ( Eastwood ) , who begrudgingly befriends an Asiatic stripling who was peer pressure into attempt to slip Walt ’s motorcar . Through his consequent friendly relationship ( and unlikely mentorship ) with the teen , Walt overcomes his deep racism to help the new man and eventually makes a major ritual killing to save him from his violent , gangbanging compeer .
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4. Play Misty for Me (1971)
Eastwood ’s first flick as film director , Play Misty For Mestars Eastwood as Dave Garver , a pop radio receiver show host and all - around peeress - killer whose integral hunky charm appeal the involvement of an emotionally unhinged frequent caller ( Jessica Walter ) . After straying from his lady friend ( Donna Mills ) to gazump up with the caller , Garver find himself in over his head when she start to stalk him and his girl with more and more wild aim . Thanks to both Eastwood ’s and Walter ’s respective legacies following the film ’s acquittance , Play Misty For Mehas since become a darling cult classic and , like 1973’sBreezy , a time abridgment of the early ' 70 .
3. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Beyond his role inA Fistful of Dollars , For a Few dollar bill More , andThe trade good , The Bad , and The Ugly , perhaps his most iconic Western persona is fromThe Outlaw Josey Walesas the eponymous Josey Wales , a Missouri farmer whose mob is murder during the American Civil War by Union militia . Seeking revenge , Wales finds refuge among the Confederates , all of whom are eventually either killed by or surrender to the Union – with elision to Wales , who tries to make a new liveliness for himself as an outlaw . In 1996,The Outlaw Josey Waleswas deemed " culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant " by the United States Library of Congress .
2. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
A high point of Eastwood ’s career and one of the best films of the aughts , Million Dollar Babyis a move sports drama that follows the story of Frankie Dunn ( Eastwood ) , a veteran boxing trainer in Los Angeles who , despite his asocial reclusiveness , reluctantly agrees to train Maggie Fitzgerald ( Hillary Swank ) , with whom he promptly forms a close bond . Garnering seven Academy Award nominations and winning four , Million Dollar Babyearned Eastwood his second Best Picture Oscar .
1. Unforgiven (1992)
Eastwood ’s first Best Director Oscar win , however , was earned in 1992 with his germinal WesternUnforgiven , a story about two group of gunfighters war with each other and a sheriff who ’s supremely illiberal of vigilantism after a begrudged prostitute post a bounty for the murder of the cowboys who abuse and disfigured her . With this ostensibly serving as the highpoint of Eastwood ’s Western moving picture vocation , the actor - director formally declared his retirement from the Western musical style , as he sense he ’d only be make over the same ground over and over follow this Best Picture - winning effort . Of course , Clint Eastwoodwent back on this hope closely 30 long time later with his lead role inCry Macho .
Next : Clint Eastwood ’s Dirty Harry Franchise , Ranked
