Published 2024-05-05T04:32:32.085Z Updated 2024-05-09T07:17:44.077Z

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Clint Eastwood, Director, Ranked

Clint's turning 94 on May 31st, and to celebrate, a list.

Taking a que from one of his mentors, Don Siegel, Eastwood is a quick, no-nonsense type, known for his minimalism and his use of natural, low-key lighting. His best work delves into the gray; he's also willing to tackle all manner of genre (westerns, romance, mystery, bio, drama, war) & lifestyles and outlooks (Breezy, Hereafter). Plus, there's his love of music, especially jazz.

In the 90s he upped his game, gaining wider respect for his skill behind the camera, and winning his first directorial Oscar with Unforgiven. He repeated the trick in 2004 (Million Dollar Baby) - and was nominated for Mystic River and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Currently my most watched director of 2024 - features at the top, TV work placed at the bottom - Juror No. 2 included as a placeholder until I see it.

1.Unforgiven 1992

★★★★★

My favorite western of all time, Eastwoods supreme masterpiece, which received 9 Oscar nominations, winning for Picture, Director, Supporting Actor and Editing
Saw this in the theater.

Read Review
2.Million Dollar Baby 2004

★★★★½

In the theater - and it wrecked me, I was inconsolable. Most crying I think I've ever done in a crowded house, and it was worse when I saw it in the privacy of my own home.
Baby received 7 Oscar nominations, winning for Picture, Direction, Best Actress and Supporting Actor.
3.Letters from Iwo Jima 2006

★★★★½

Received 4 Oscar nominations including Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and winning for Sound Editing.
4.High Plains Drifter 1973

★★★★½

It's a cruel and uncaring world carved out for us here.
Reading material: Brandon David Wilson's essay on the films 50th anniversary.
5.The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976

★★★★½
6.A Perfect World 1993

★★★★½
7.The Bridges of Madison County 1995

★★★★½

I remember Clint saying he didn't want Meryl to do an accent, but she did one anyway, lol. I don't know why she felt the need, as most of her performance is in body language and expression, and she's great in that, and Clint is laid back and proves he can do more than snarling tough guys.
Lovely, gentle love story that was released the same year as Before Sunset (another where 2 people just talk and get to know one another). It strangely only garnered 1 Oscar nomination (for Streep).
8.Gran Torino 2008

★★★★

In the theater
9.Hereafter 2010

★★★★

I know, I know, what the hell is this doing in the top 10? What can I say, I'm one of those rare cats that found it beautiful and profound.
Received an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Visual Effects

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10.Richard Jewell 2019

★★★★

A comeback effort, after years of fair to poor releases. Kathy Bates received an Oscar nomination for best Supporting Actress.

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11.Play Misty for Me 1971

★★★★

I watched this (his feature debut) and Breezy (his third) on the same night. Though new to the role, you can already see an assured directorial hand at work. Yes, they are products of the early 70s (dialogue, attitudes), regardless, I was engaged by both.
Note: Each film was scripted by Jo Heims, who also co-wrote (uncredited) Dirty Harry. Sadly, 5-years after Breezy's release, Jo died from breast cancer at the age of 48.
12.Mystic River 2003

★★★★

An adaptation of a novel that I didn't really care for. And it's a movie I admire more than like, and those types are always difficult to rank (yes, Clint is in the midst of his peak period as a director, but you know, as dated and rough as it is, I'd rather spend time with Breezy if I'm being perfectly honest). That said, it's hard to deny its artistic superiority. So, if your curious why it's a little lower than traditional rankings, that's why. 😉
In the theater - earned 6 Oscar noms, winning for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
13.Honkytonk Man 1982

★★★★
14.Pale Rider 1985

★★★½

This and High Plains Drifter are close cousins in one regard, the metaphysical - and I find the possibility of a supernatural element rather tantalizing. In High Plains, did his character crawl out of heaven -or hell- to exact his revenge? In Pale Rider, is he the spirit of death made flesh in an answer to a prayer? (an explanation was provided by Eastwood himself, but I didn't need it, I liked the unknowable aspects, the air of mystery)
It does sag in the middle, making it the lesser of his 4 westerns, but still a worthwhile watch, and one I caught in the theater.
15.Breezy 1973

★★★½
16.Changeling 2008

★★★½

Overlong 'n' overcooked in spots, and more black-and-white than the morally gray areas he excels at. The jerks are jerks, the good are good and evil is... but after reading the true story, that was pretty near the truth (though the a-hole cop, did start to doubt and investigate). Still. a harrowing film, well shot, edited and directed.
Saw in theaters.
17.White Hunter, Black Heart 1990

★★★½
18.Bird 1988

★★★½
19.Bronco Billy 1980

★★★½

Mostly goodhearted and funny, with bittersweet moments, my dad really liked this one. Locke and Eastwood were a cute comedy paring. Julliette Lewis makes her feature debut in a cameo (her father Geoffrey Lewis was in the film), you might also spot a couple of Clint's kids, Kyle and Alison.
20.Sudden Impact 1983

★★★½

It's only right Clint directing a Dirty Harry flick, this is the one where he utters the iconic catchphrase, "Go ahead, make my day!" Callahan's at his most Sledge Hammery in the first act, but things get increasingly dark and grim in this tale of rape and revenge. And while Eastwood's never been a homage type, this gives off Hitchcockian vibes with a finale set at a carousel. Sondra Locke is memorable, in this, the last of their 6 features together (there was a television episode in '85)
Another one I saw in a theater.
21.Cry Macho 2021

★★★½

I was aware of the low grades, but didn't mind this at all, rather enjoyed it. It touches on matters of masculinity, a subject that has found its way in several productions but takes on a different meaning at this late stage of his career.
22.Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil 1997

★★★½

I never read the book but apparently it's not a faithful adaptation (it missed the mark in some areas), but as courtroom drama it's pretty entertaining. Lady Chablis is a scene stealer and Spacey was very good.
23.The Gauntlet 1977

★★★

Ben Shockley: How's our Assistant D.A. these days?
Josephson: Shit! He couldn't convict Hitler.
Preposterous buddy comedy/road picture with a violent spin. Thousands and thousands of bullets fly in this flick, which was one I dug as a teenager (the doddering old man I've become liked it a little less).
24.The Mule 2018

★★★

There are plot contrivances, inconsistencies and repetitions, but Clint's Earl cracks me up, saying things he shouldn't say as the elderly will do, being out of touch, and just taking life easy, even when acting as a drug mule for some scary people.
It's a minor effort, but nevertheless, an enjoyable 2 hours spent.
25.Sully 2016

★★★

A workman like effort. The problem with biopics/true tales is the way they sensationalize or exaggerate certain things to ramp up the drama. Both Sully and American Sniper are guilty of this, and it undercuts a story for me.
26.Heartbreak Ridge 1986

★★★

Despite the cliches and contrivances and bad 'insult comedy' style vulgarities, there's an engaging energy here that drew me in, and once it settled in and found its heart, even better.
27.American Sniper 2014

★★★

An up and down movie that sometimes touches on the greatness of his glory days, while at others feels a bit forced, artificial. It did get Clint back on Oscar's radar, earning 6 nominations, including Best Picture, Leading Actor, Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Mixing, and winning for Sound Editing.
28.Absolute Power 1997

★★★

Clint assembled an all-star cast - and as a thriller it was all right.
Might have seen this at the theater, not sure, but looking at movies that were released around Valentine's Day of that year, we definitely went out to see Liar Lair (probably in March). Power would have been the only April release we'd have been drawn to.
29.True Crime 1999

★★★

Kind of in the same groove as the previous 2 - they're all decent releases.
30.Invictus 2009

Modestly successful but I wished it would have inspired me more than it did.
This and the next were rather vanilla in the telling.
31.Flags of Our Fathers 2006

Clint Eastwood, myth buster - I like the idea, but yeah, it was just kind of... there.
Nowhere near as compelling as its companion piece, Iwo Jima.
32.Space Cowboys 2000

Cute, innocuous, nothing to write home about, though not unwatchable.
33.The Eiger Sanction 1975

★★½

This is offensive, and it's supposed to be, as it's taking a piss out of Bond and other groovy spy flicks that are laced with homophobia, sexism and racism... this just rubs your nose in it. No, it's not deft satire, and it's discomforting even within that context (the rape line is a definite "YIKES!").
The slow burn adventure is dry as unbuttered toast, but the mountain scenery is breathtaking.
34.J. Edgar 2011

★★½

Hammer's old man make-up is laughable (DiCaprio's is better; he looks like actor George Mathews), and it flounders significantly in its final act, which is unfortunate, as the first hour-and-a-half wasn't bad at all.
35.Blood Work 2002

And this is where the crap kicks in.
I enjoyed the book and thought Eastwood could work his magic with it, but his screenwriter (Brian Helgeland) screwed up the adaptation. The best thing that came out of this is that in follow up novels, the movie became part of the series, as the butt of a joke, as a certain character was pissed at how he was made the villain. LMAO, cute way for the writer to express his disapproval.
In theaters - for a total of 8 or 9 (course I saw a few he acted in but didn't direct).
36.Firefox 1982
37.The Rookie 1990
38.Jersey Boys 2014

★★
39.The 15:17 to Paris 2018

★
40.Juror No. 2

A placeholder. This will be his final feature for Warners, it's possible it'll be his last anywhere, and because of that I plan to see it in theaters, no matter the reviews. Eastwood's long been a part of my film life, and this could be the last time I'll see one of his new releases on the big screen.
41.Piano Blues 2003

★★★

I'm just tossing his TV productions in at the end here. This was Clint's segment in a larger Scorsese production.
42.Vanessa in the Garden 1985

★★★

Spielberg wrote it, Eastwood directs this 25-minute piece.
The only one I haven't seen was a 12-minute 'making-of' doc he filmed in 1971, The Beguiled: The Storyteller

Clint Eastwood, Director, Ranked

1.Unforgiven 1992

2.Million Dollar Baby 2004

3.Letters from Iwo Jima 2006

4.High Plains Drifter 1973

5.The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976

6.A Perfect World 1993

7.The Bridges of Madison County 1995

8.Gran Torino 2008

9.Hereafter 2010

10.Richard Jewell 2019

11.Play Misty for Me 1971

12.Mystic River 2003

13.Honkytonk Man 1982

14.Pale Rider 1985

15.Breezy 1973

16.Changeling 2008

17.White Hunter, Black Heart 1990

18.Bird 1988

19.Bronco Billy 1980

20.Sudden Impact 1983

21.Cry Macho 2021

22.Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil 1997

23.The Gauntlet 1977

24.The Mule 2018

25.Sully 2016

26.Heartbreak Ridge 1986

27.American Sniper 2014

28.Absolute Power 1997

29.True Crime 1999

30.Invictus 2009

31.Flags of Our Fathers 2006

32.Space Cowboys 2000

33.The Eiger Sanction 1975

34.J. Edgar 2011

35.Blood Work 2002

36.Firefox 1982

37.The Rookie 1990

38.Jersey Boys 2014

39.The 15:17 to Paris 2018

40.Juror No. 2

41.Piano Blues 2003

42.Vanessa in the Garden 1985