Clint Eastwood has been acting since the 1950s, and it’s fair to say he’s made some underrated gems during that time. Clint first rose to fame with an extended run on TV series Rawhide, but it was the Dollars movie trilogy by Sergio Leone that made him a star. Clint Eastwood Westerns became a subgenre unto themselves, but perhaps more than any other actor, he quickly took control of his own destiny in front of and behind the camera.
Starting with 1971’s Play Misty for Me, Clint began to direct his own projects too. Being one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors and filmmakers means there has rarely been a year since his breakthrough when he hasn’t made a movie. That also means he’s made many films that have been neglected or forgotten. Of course, some of those lesser-loved outings – like Pink Cadillac or Clint’s worst action movie Blood Work – deserve their lack of recognition, but there are many ripe for rediscovery.
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Related All 9 Western Gunslingers Played By Clint Eastwood, Ranked By Deadliness
Western movie legend Clint Eastwood has played countless deadly Western gunslingers, all of whom were fearsome foes for outlaws in the Wild West.
10 Tightrope (1984)
Role: Detective Wes Block
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Tightrope is a 1984 thriller directed by Richard Tuggle, starring Clint Eastwood as Wes Block, a New Orleans police detective tracking a serial killer while grappling with his own personal demons. The film delves into the dark side of human nature as Block navigates the seedy underbelly of the city. Geneviève Bujold co-stars as Beryl Thibodeaux, a victim counselor who becomes intertwined in the investigation.
Director Richard Tuggle Release Date August 17, 1984 Writers Richard Tuggle Cast Clint Eastwood , Geneviève Bujold , Dan Hedaya , Alison Eastwood , Jenny Beck , Marco St. John Runtime 115 minutes
Once Eastwood began to move away from Westerns, the next logical genre was the cop thriller. The Dirty Harry movies remain his most famous in this regard, but Tightrope might just be Eastwood’s most undersung thriller. This strange mix of character study and erotic thriller casts Clint as a New Orleans detective investigating a series of killings involving sex workers. His character Block is also going through a painful divorce and uses the case as an excuse to visit sex workers at night – catching the attention of the killer in the process.
This 1984 thriller is a lurid slow burn, with Tightrope essentially suggesting Block’s own desires are manifesting the killer.
Tightrope is one of Clint’s rare slasher movies too, but those expecting an action-packed thrill ride are in for disappointment. This 1984 thriller is a lurid slow burn, with the film essentially suggesting that Block’s own desires are manifesting the killer. It’s a complex role for its star too, with the title referencing the supposed tightrope walk inside of everyone, with some suppressing their more primal impulses whilst others indulge in them.
It has been reported that Clint Eastwood took over directing on
Tightrope
after clashes with credited helmer Richard Tuggle.
9 A Perfect World (1993)
Role: Robert “Butch” Haynes
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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.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date November 24, 1993 Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers John Lee Hancock Cast Kevin Costner , Clint Eastwood , Laura Dern , T.J. Lowther , Keith Szarabajka , Leo Burmester , Bruce McGill , Bradley Whitford , Ray McKinnon , Mary Alice , John M. Jackson , Wayne Dehart , Linda Hart , Cameron Finley , Marco Perella , Margaret Bowman , James Jeter Runtime 138 minutes Budget $30 Million Expand
A Perfect World is Eastwood’s only film with Kevin Costner, with the latter being at the very peak of his stardom. On paper, it sounds like it should be an old-fashioned Western; instead, this Clint Eastwood-directed outing is a bittersweet period drama. Costner is the actual lead of A Perfect World, playing an escaped convict who kidnaps and then boyfriends a young boy, with Eastwood’s “Butch” being the Texas Ranger hunting him down.
…
A Perfect World
is one of Eastwood’s most lyrical and heartbreaking works and again proves there’s far more depth to his filmography than he’s often given credit.
Eastwood is very much playing a supporting part in this 1993 drama, which allows Costner to steal the show. He and young co-star T. J. Lowther do great work together, and while the drama was a critical and commercial success upon release, it rarely gets mentioned now. This is a real shame since A Perfect World is one of Eastwood’s most lyrical and heartbreaking works and again proves there’s far more depth to his filmography than he’s often given credit.
8 Bronco Billy (1980)
Role: “Bronco” Billy McCoy
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PGComedyDramaWestern
Bronco Billy is a 1980 Western comedy directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The film follows Billy, a man who aspires to be a modern-day cowboy and leads a traveling Wild West show. Despite facing numerous difficulties and the eccentricities of his troupe, Billy strives to keep the spirit of the Old West alive. Sondra Locke co-stars as a troubled socialite who joins the show under unexpected circumstances.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date June 11, 1980 Writers Dennis Hackin Cast Clint Eastwood , Sondra Locke , Geoffrey Lewis , Scatman Crothers , Bill McKinney , Sam Bottoms , Dan Vadis , Sierra Pecheur , Walter Barnes , Woodrow Parfrey , Beverlee McKinsey , Doug McGrath , Hank Worden , William Prince Expand
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Eastwood’s favorite Western of his own is about as far from the grittiness of The Outlaw Josey Wales or Unforgiven as it could possibly get. Instead, Bronco Billy is a surprisingly sweet comedy-drama, where Eastwood’s titular character runs a traveling circus and dreams of being a modern cowboy. Eastwood has stated this film is the closest he’s come to sharing a message with his audience and feels meta-textual in that Billy and his troupe of performers get to live out their acting dreams as part of his circus.
The film also plays with Eastwood’s tough guy persona and subverts it more than once. There’s a scene that would be unthinkable for Dirty Harry, where Billy has to beg a gloating sheriff to get his friend out of jail, all while being humiliated. Bronco Billy is a warm drama about an oddball and his oddball makeshift family, and true fans of the actor/director owe it to themselves to see it at least once.
Bronco Billy
is one of six movies Eastwood made with former partner Sondra Locke, which includes
The Gauntlet
and
Sudden Impact
.
7 Magnum Force (1973)
Role: Detective “Dirty” Harry Callahan
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Magnum Force follows San Francisco Police Inspector Harry Callahan, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, as he investigates a series of murders involving criminals who escaped justice. Directed by Ted Post, the film delves into themes of vigilante justice and corruption within the police force. As a sequel to Dirty Harry, it continues to explore the moral complexities and gritty realities of law enforcement.
Director Ted Post Release Date December 25, 1973 Writers Harry Julian Fink , Rita M. Fink , John Milius , Michael Cimino Cast Clint Eastwood , Hal Holbrook , Mitchell Ryan , David Soul , Tim Matheson , Kip Niven , Robert Urich , Felton Perry Runtime 124 Minutes
Dirty Harry was a monster hit upon release and remains one of Eastwood’s most defining works. It was also hugely controversial for its portrayal of a detective who feels he can take the law into his own hands. The Don Siegal-directed thriller was, of course, more nuanced than that, but the criticism stung Eastwood so much he made sure the sequel Magnum Force tackled the debate head-on. The film instead sees the rule-breaking San Francisco cop going up against a vigilante squad operating inside the force.
Magnum Force is far more of a B-movie than the original and pumps up the body count and action. It’s also incredibly violent and scuzzy at times, and while this makes it a guilty pleasure, it does have something to say about Harry’s brand of justice. He might always put the rights of the victimized above the victimizers, but unlike the sequel’s villains, he doesn’t believe that gives him the right to kill whoever he wants either. Magnum Force is the best of the Dirty Harry sequels for this blend of guilty thrills with a sprinkle of social commentary.
6 Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
Role: Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway
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RWarDrama Director Clint Eastwood Release Date December 5, 1986 Writers Joseph Stinson , Dennis Hackin , James Carabatsos Cast Clint Eastwood , Marsha Mason , Everett McGill , Moses Gunn , Mario Van Peebles , Eileen Heckart , Bo Svenson , Boyd Gaines Runtime 130 Minutes
The 1980s was an odd time for Eastwood, and while Pale Rider all but saved the Western genre, there were a lot of duds like his Burt Reynolds buddy comedy City Heat. An underrated Eastwood movie from this era is Heartbridge Ridge, where he plays a gruff marine nearing retirement and taking stock of his life. Eastwood’s Highway also has to train a bunch of useless recruits and shape them into an effective fighting force.
Heartbreak Ridge takes a jarring shift into a war movie in the final act, but Eastwood as director and star holds it all together.
Heartbreak Ridge is an odd blend of genres, with the training scenes feeling like Eastwood riffing on Police Academy, with more introspective moments like Highway pondering his life and what it will be outside the military. It also takes a jarring shift into a war movie in the final act, but Eastwood holds it all together as director. It has one of his most underrated performances too, because despite all of Highway’s macho bluster, he’s got a bigger heart than he wants to admit.
5 Sully (2016)
Role: Director Only
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Sully is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. The movie is based on the true story of the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549, in which Sullenberger successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew members on board.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date September 9, 2016 Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Todd Komarnicki , Chesley Sullenberger , Jeffrey Zaslow Cast Tom Hanks , Aaron Eckhart , Laura Linney , Valerie Mahaffey , Delphi Harrington , Mike O’Malley , Jamey Sheridan , Anna Gunn Runtime 96 Minutes Budget $60 million Expand
Also known as Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, this 2016 drama cast Tom Hanks as the real-life pilot whose emergency landing on the Hudson saved the lives of all onboard. Eastwood remains completely behind the camera on this one, letting Hanks lead an impressive cast that includes Aaron Eckhart, Anna Gunn, and Laura Linney. The film is in love with its humble subject, who is uncomfortable with the level of fame and attention the landing brings, while he and his co-pilot face an official investigation into whether it was a pilot error that led to the emergency landing.
This element is juiced up from the real-life event, and by all accounts, it wasn’t nearly so dramatic. Even so, Sully is a short but sweet drama, and Hanks couldn’t have been more perfectly cast as the everyman hero of the piece. Eastwood also lets the story unfold in his traditional, unfussy manner.
4 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Role: John “Thunderbolt” Doherty
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RCrimeComedyActionDrama
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a crime drama directed by Michael Cimino, featuring Clint Eastwood as a seasoned bank robber named Thunderbolt and Jeff Bridges as the energetic and charismatic drifter Lightfoot. Set in the American West, the film follows their partnership as they plan an ambitious heist while evading their vengeful former associates. The movie marks Cimino’s directorial debut and is celebrated for its strong performances and blend of action and humor.
Director Michael Cimino Release Date May 23, 1974 Writers Michael Cimino Cast Clint Eastwood , Jeff Bridges , Geoffrey Lewis , Catherine Bach , Gary Busey , George Kennedy , Roy Jenson , Eugene Elman Character(s) Thunderbolt , Lightfoot , Eddie Goody , Melody , Curly , Red Leary , Dunlop , Tourist Runtime 115 Minutes Expand
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a near-forgotten heist thriller that marked the debut of director Michael Cimino, while a young Jeff Bridges utterly steals the show. Cimino would become infamous for his Western bomb Heaven’s Gate about six years later, but with his debut, he crafted a fun buddy comedy with a darker edge. Clint is also doing great work in the film, but it’s to his credit that he – the much bigger star – steps back to give Bridges the limelight.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot’s
unexpectedly melancholy ending is sure to stick with viewers for some time.
The actual heist part of the story feels secondary to the friendship between its title characters, with some reviewers reading a homoerotic edge to it. Whether this was Cimino’s intention is up for debate, but either way, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot’s unexpectedly melancholy ending is sure to stick with viewers for some time.
Michael Cimino co-wrote the screenplay for
Magnum Force
alongside John Milius.
3 The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
Role: Robert Kincaid
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PG-13DramaRomance
The Bridges of Madison County is a romantic drama directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars alongside Meryl Streep. The film tells the story of Francesca Johnson, a lonely Iowa housewife, who has a life-changing, four-day romance with Robert Kincaid, a traveling photographer visiting to photograph the county’s historic bridges. Set in 1965, the film explores themes of love, loss, and the roads not taken, as Francesca must choose between her family commitments and her heart’s desire.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date June 2, 1995 Writers Richard LaGravenese , Robert James Waller Cast Clint Eastwood , Meryl Streep , Annie Corley , Victor Slezak , Jim Haynie , Sarah Zahn , Christopher Kroon , Phyllis Lyons Runtime 135 Minutes
The critical and box office success of Unforgiven gave Eastwood’s career a renewed vigor during the 1990s. This saw him largely step away from the action or thriller roles he had made his name on early in his career, and taking on more dramas or awards-friendly fare. The Bridges of Madison County is one of Eastwood’s biggest career swerves, being a tender and romantic drama about the short-lived affair his journalist has with a war bride named Francesca (Meryl Streep).
Plenty of Eastwood projects have featured romantic subplots, but The Bridges of Madison County is easily the most lovesick film he’s made. It’s slow and sentimental for sure, but Clint and Meryl share almost shockingly good chemistry, and the film’s sense of yearning and passion make it one of the most unique outings of his entire filmography.
2 Hang ‘Em High (1968)
Role: Marshal Jedediah Cooper
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WesternDrama
Hang ‘Em High is a Western film directed by Ted Post and stars Clint Eastwood as Jed Cooper, a man who seeks justice after surviving a lynching. The narrative explores themes of vengeance and morality as Cooper, appointed as a lawman, navigates his quest for retribution in the face of frontier justice. The film also features notable performances by Inger Stevens and Pat Hingle.
Director Ted Post Release Date July 31, 1968 Studio(s) United Artists , Malpaso Productions , Leonard Freeman Production Writers Leonard Freeman , Mel Goldberg Cast Clint Eastwood , Inger Stevens , Ed Begley , Pat Hingle , Ben Johnson Runtime 114 Minutes Expand
Hang ‘Em High was Eastwood’s first American studio lead role, following his run as The Man with No Name. His choice was a pitch-dark Western where his protagonist narrowly survives a lynching, and becomes a Marshal to round up his would-be killers. While later movies in his career would tackle the subject of vigilantism and capital punishment with more tact, there’s a nihilistic edge to this 1968 effort that makes it linger.
The lines between right and wrong become real blurry for Eastwood’s Cooper, and Hang ‘Em High feels closer in spirit to the Spaghetti Westerns than an American “Oater.” The film is somewhat let down by being flatly shot by director Ted Post, and it’s less fun than the likes of The Outlaw Josey Wales, but this gem is still worthy of a watch.
1 White Hunter Black Heart (1990)
Role: John Wilson
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PGDramaAdventure
White Hunter Black Heart is a 1990 dramatic film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Based on the novel by Peter Viertel, it follows a renowned filmmaker’s obsession with big-game hunting in Africa as he prepares for a new project. The film explores themes of ethical conflict and personal ambition, inspired by real events in John Huston’s life during the production of The African Queen.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date September 14, 1990 Writers Peter Viertel , James Bridges , Burt Kennedy Cast Clint Eastwood , Jeff Fahey , Charlotte Cornwell , George Dzundza , Alun Armstrong , Norman Lumsden , Edward Tudor-Pole , Roddy Maude-Roxby , Richard Warwick , Marisa Berenson , Richard Vanstone , Christopher Fairbank , Catherine Neilson , Clive Mantle , Timothy Spall , Alex Norton Expand
Eastwood released two movies in 1990, which very much followed his “one for me, one for them” formula. One film was The Rookie, a violent Lethal Weapon riff where his manly cop takes a naive officer (played by Charlie Sheen) under his wing; many shootouts and car chases ensue. It’s one of Eastwood’s hollowest works, but his other 1990 effect White Hunter Black Heart might be Clint’s most underrated film, period. While his character is called “John Wilson,” it was a secret to nobody that the film is a fictionalized take on real director John Huston.
The movie follows a young screenwriter following Wilson to Africa for a new movie project in the 1950s; it’s soon clear that Wilson is only interested in hunting an elephant, which becomes an unhealthy obsession. White Hunter Black Heart is an introspective period drama about masculinity and the obsessive, sometimes self-destructive impulses that drive artists. The film also has an almighty downer ending, where Clint Eastwood’s Wilson does the right thing – which still leads to a horrible tragedy that is all his fault.
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