5 Essential Clint Eastwood Movies For Newcomers

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Clint Eastwood has been a major star in movies since the 1960s, and it can be hard to know where to begin if you’ve never seen his films. The Dollars trilogy directed by Sergio Leone unexpectedly revolutionized the Western genre and launched Eastwood to iconic status, but it did just that.

Clint Eastwood quickly won over audiences with his quiet, intense style and distinctive squint. He stood out from other actors of his time. He’s famous for roles in films like the Dirty Harry series, Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby, and he’s been equally successful as a director. Since the early 2000s, he’s focused more on directing than acting.

Clint Eastwood is in his 90s, and his new thriller, Juror #2, is likely to be his final movie. Whether it is or not, he has an incredible body of work. If you’re new to his films, it can be hard to know where to start, but there are many excellent movies to choose from.

For A Few Dollars More (1965)

Many consider the second film in the Dollars trilogy, For a Few Dollars More, to be the most overlooked. It’s where Clint Eastwood (playing the famously quiet ‘Man with No Name’) and director Sergio Leone truly honed their skills after the first movie. Leone also had a bigger budget this time, allowing him to create a more impressive and visually striking film.

The film is visually stunning, and Lee Van Cleef’s character, Mortimer, brings a surprising emotional depth, driven by his quest for revenge. His presence also transforms For a Few Dollars More into something of an unusual buddy movie, pairing Eastwood and Van Cleef as bounty hunters united against a dangerous criminal.

Even though it’s over two hours long, this classic Spaghetti Western moves at a fast pace and features memorable characters and exciting scenes. It also marked a turning point for Clint Eastwood, establishing him as a major star. As a starting point for exploring Clint’s Western films, For a Few Dollars More is nearly flawless.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Film fans often consider Unforgiven and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly to be Clint Eastwood’s greatest Westerns, and with good reason. While The Outlaw Josey Wales doesn’t receive as much praise, it’s still a thoroughly entertaining Western film.

The movie features a lot of different elements. It begins as a classic revenge story, with Eastwood’s character eliminating his rivals with impressive guns and memorable lines. However, the film unexpectedly shifts direction, and the initially hardened Wales gradually finds a new family and reconnects with his compassionate side.

With thrilling action and tough-guy moments, The Outlaw Josey Wales also subtly delivers a powerful anti-war message. It’s a standout film for Clint Eastwood, both as an actor and director, and it’s remarkable how much emotion he conveys without relying on a lot of dialogue.

Sudden Impact (1983)

The first Dirty Harry movie is actually more complex than many people realize. Often, when people criticize the series, they’re really thinking of Sudden Impact. This sequel is gritty and shocking, and it boldly explores difficult issues surrounding justice and revenge.

This film really showcases what makes Clint Eastwood’s action hero character so iconic. It features Harry Callahan at his most ruthless, with more enemies taken down and his most memorable lines, like the famous “Go ahead, make my day.” The movie also highlights Eastwood’s recurring theme of questioning those in power, and it’s packed with more action than ever, even giving Harry a powerful new weapon.

The film definitely has a lot going on. It’s a bit like a sequel to Dirty Harry mixed with a version of Death Wish, but with the roles reversed. The plot centers around a woman seeking revenge on those who attacked her, and as she does, she unexpectedly falls for the detective investigating the case. The movie culminates in a powerful moral crisis for Clint Eastwood’s character.

While it’s not perfect – the plot feels like a series of separate events, the themes are quite obvious, and it could be shorter – Sudden Impact delivers a straightforward, impactful experience, as the title implies. It’s an easy film to enjoy, but be aware that it deals with some very dark subject matter.

In the Line of Fire (1993)

Starting with Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood’s films began to explore themes of aging and reflect his own aging process. Before that, his action movies, such as The Dead Pool, were different in focus.

He attempted to downplay the fact that he was getting older. But with films like Unforgiven and In the Line of Fire, Clint Eastwood realized that acknowledging and portraying his age actually made his characters more compelling.

Wolfgang Petersen’s 1993 thriller, In the Line of Fire, stars Clint Eastwood as a seasoned Secret Service agent hunting a presidential assassin. The film immediately sets itself apart from typical action movies, demonstrated by a scene where Eastwood’s character, Frank, struggles to keep up with the President’s motorcade.

The film features Clint Eastwood alongside a talented cast, including Rene Russo, John Mahoney, and John Malkovich. Malkovich is particularly captivating as the assassin, who develops a strange, one-sided connection with Eastwood’s character, both challenging and befriending him.

In the Line of Fire is a classic 1990s thriller, similar to The Fugitive, and a type of movie you rarely see made today – especially not with such ambition. It also stands out for having one of Clint Eastwood’s most relatable characters, and director Wolfgang Petersen brought out a different, more vulnerable side of the actor.

Gran Torino (2008)

After his 2002 film Blood Work didn’t perform well in theaters, Clint Eastwood primarily concentrated on directing. He became more selective about acting, only taking roles that truly interested him, which led him to Gran Torino. Similar to Unforgiven, this movie sees the actor grappling with how he’s perceived on screen.

The film centers around a grumpy Korean War veteran played by Eastwood, who initially dislikes most people but develops an unlikely friendship with his Hmong neighbor (Bee Vang). While Eastwood’s character, Walt, is strong and often makes witty remarks, it’s evident that his personality – and occasional prejudiced comments – have caused him to become isolated from those around him.

Clint Eastwood delivers a particularly strong performance in Gran Torino, which is saying something considering his character isn’t always engaging. The film shows him finding purpose again through a friendship with his Asian neighbors, and the way he chooses to save someone in the end – without resorting to violence – feels like a deliberate departure from his earlier, more aggressive roles.

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2025-11-01 19:20