As a legendary figure in the American film industry, it's safe to say that Clint Eastwood has done just about everything when it comes to movies. He first rose to prominence by starring in a Western TV series in the late 1950s (Rawhide) and then playing The Man With No Name in The Dollars Trilogy in the mid-1960s. From the 1970s onwards, he also became well-known for directing and producing movies, and he's occasionally composed music for his own work, too. Having a career that spans more than six decades makes it difficult to rank Eastwood's films, given the quantity and relative quality of them all. He's continued to work into his 90s, too, with the upcoming Juror No. 2 having been announced as his final project.

There are a ton of Clint Eastwood movies out there, both the ones he's directed and starred in (and of course, sometimes, he does both). The prolific nature of the man who is Clint Eastwood means diving into his filmography can be daunting, but there are some of the best Clint Eastwood movies out there, all serving as good entry points. In celebration of his vast filmography, what follows is a ranking of the greatest films he's starred in or directed (or both), starting with the good (no bad or ugly to be found here) and ending with the best.

30 'Cry Macho' (2021)

Appeared as Mike Milo

Cry Macho is likely going to be the final Western Clint Eastwood will ever make. No one's going to call it one of his greatest, but it's still surprisingly good and certainly bittersweet, with Eastwood directing and starring in this movie about an ex-rodeo star helping an old boss by traveling to Mexico to find said boss's missing son.

It's a fairly low-stakes and perhaps even relaxing film, which feels fitting, given its star and director was in his early 90s when it got made. It's a solid swansong to the genre that made Eastwood a star back in the 1960s film-wise, or as far back as the 1950s TV-wise, and is worth a watch for any fans of his who may have missed it.

29 'Every Which Way but Loose' (1978)

Appeared as Philo Beddoe

It's silly enough that perhaps some would call it more of a so-bad-it's-good movie rather than a genuinely good one, but either way, there is a certain stupid appeal to Every Which Way but Loose. It's a largely plot-free movie, and follows a man and his orangutan as they go through life causing chaos and getting into various fights.

It was nevertheless a hugely successful movie as far as the box office was concerned, and has a certain novelty for being perhaps the goofiest movie Eastwood ever starred in. He's best known for being a tough guy on-screen in generally serious movies, so there's a charm in watching him play a goofier sort of role in a very silly movie like this one.

Rent on Apple TV

28 'Sully' (2016)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Not quite a classic biopic/historical drama film, but still a pretty good one, Sully tells the dramatic real-life story of Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, a pilot played by Tom Hanks. The film details how he saved the lives of 155 passengers on board his plane by making a risky landing onto the Hudson River, and then follows the aftermath ofg the incident, including how Sullenberger was investigated in a manner that threatened his public image and career.

It probably peaks early, thanks to the entire crash sequence being its most thrilling aspect, but everything that follows is still reasonably compelling to watch. Grounded by a typically strong Hanks performance, decent direction from Eastwood, and a brief runtime of just 96 minutes, Sully largely works.

27 'Blood Work' (2002)

Appeared as Terry McCaleb

Standing as one of Clint Eastwood's more underrated movies, Blood Work shows the director in solid late-career form, given he was in his 70s by the time he made this one. It follows an FBI profiler coming out of retirement to investigate a case surrounding a serial killer, as he believes his own blood analysis may provide a clue to this person's identity.

It takes itself seriously, but there are a few offbeat moments throughout that give it some additional personality, and the supporting cast, which includes Jeff Daniels and Anjelica Huston, is also strong. It doesn't set the crime/thriller genre on fire by any means, but Blood Work still works, and makes for a good watch.

26 'Magnum Force' (1973)

Appeared as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan

The Dirty Harry series could often be relied on to provide solid action movie fare, and besides the original, the best in the series would have to be the second movie, Magnum Force. It's about Police Inspector Harry Callahan investigating a group of shady police officers, and making certain startling discoveries that continually place him in further danger.

It's the kind of movie where viewers will know what they're getting in for, and those expecting a gritty and fast-paced - if sometimes simplistic - Eastwood action movie will have a blast. The sequels released after this one represented something of a dip in quality, but fans of Eastwood will likely get a kick out of the first two Dirty Harry movies at least.

Rent on Apple TV

25 'Play Misty for Me' (1971)

Appeared as Dave Garver

Play Misty for Me was a significant Eastwood film, seeing as it was his directorial debut. He would grow as a director over the coming decades, arguably peaking as late as the 1990s or even the 2000s, meaning Play Misty for Me certainly isn't one of his very best, but it's more than solid.

It's a thriller about a disc jockey having an interaction with a particularly intense fan who becomes obsessed with him, with her behavior gradually escalating towards violence. It's worth watching for Arrested Development fans, as it has a very memorable performance by a young Jessica Walter as the fan/stalker in what's probably her most well-known movie role.

Watch on Netflix

24 'Two Mules for Sister Sara' (1970)

Appeared as Hogan

After spending much of the 1960s playing Western characters, Clint Eastwood ended up keeping the Western streak going by making his first role of the 1970s a Western one. The film in question is Two Mules for Sister Sara, which pairs a mercenary with a nun in the Old West, following the surprisingly explosive adventure they end up going on together.

Eastwood stars with Shirley MacLaine, who plays the title character and is arguably the Western's female protagonist. It delivers classic Western thrills, and feels pretty lean and no-nonsense overall. Even if it's not one of Eastwood's most famous Westerns, it's still worth checking out for anyone who considers themselves a fan of his.

23 'Space Cowboys' (2000)

Appeared as Colonel Francis D. "Frank" Corvin, Ph.D., USAF (Ret.)

Despite the title, Space Cowboys is certainly not a Western. It's instead a rare movie about space travel that's not science-fiction, with it following four men who used to be involved with the Air Force - and early steps towards space travel - in the late 1950s who are brought back into the fold some 40 years later for a dangerous mission.

It was directed by Eastwood and features him playing the lead role, with a strong supporting cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner. Its premise is a little out there and maybe kind of silly, but there's a certain amount of fun to be had with the movie, and at least the outlandish plot makes it stand out within Eastwood's filmography.

Rent on Apple TV

22 'Kelly's Heroes' (1970)

Appeared as Kelly