The Best Forgotten Clint Eastwood Movies From Each Decade Of His Career (1950s – 2020s)

Over a 70-year career, it’s not surprising that some of Clint Eastwood‘s best films have faded from memory. He first became a major star through the Dollars trilogy directed by Sergio Leone, effectively becoming the last iconic Western movie star. But it was the Dirty Harry series that truly launched him into A-list status, and ultimately cemented his place as a cultural icon in the following years.

Clint Eastwood is incredibly productive, consistently releasing at least one film every year as either an actor or director. This dedication has resulted in many well-loved classics like The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven, along with a few less successful projects. Overall, his success rate is impressively high, meaning some of his good films haven’t received the attention they deserve and have been overlooked or forgotten.

1950s: Tarantula

Like most famous actors, Clint Eastwood started his career with small, often uncredited roles. One early film he appeared in was the enjoyable, and surprisingly spooky, 1955 monster movie, Tarantula. Directed by Jack Arnold, who also made Creature from the Black Lagoon, the film centers around a giant spider causing chaos in a desert town.

This film came out during the surge of monster movies in the 1950s, and because director Bert I. Gordon was a distinctive voice in the genre, it still feels surprisingly good today. However, fans expecting Clint Eastwood to play the typical strong, heroic role will be surprised – his part is unnamed and he appears masked throughout the film.

Despite a smaller part, Clint Eastwood still plays a crucial role as the pilot who destroys the giant tarantula at the end of the film. Though not a masterpiece, Tarantula remains enjoyable for fans of the genre, especially considering its special effects still look good after 70 years.

1960s: Hang ‘Em High

Clint Eastwood made his first American Western, Hang ‘Em High, after becoming known for the Dollars trilogy. The film explores a dark and complicated story: Eastwood’s character narrowly escapes being lynched and then relentlessly pursues the men who tried to hang him.

Unlike typical action-packed Westerns where Clint Eastwood simply defeats the villains, this 1968 film offers a stark and critical examination of justice and capital punishment in the Old West. It doesn’t provide simple solutions, and implies that Eastwood’s character finds no true relief even as he brings those he’s captured in for execution.

While Hang ‘Em High was a successful film for Clint Eastwood, it hasn’t received as much attention as his other Westerns. One of its main weaknesses is the fairly basic direction by television director Ted Post, which means it doesn’t have the same creative flair and visual style as the Italian Westerns it tries to imitate.

1970s: Thunderbolt And Lightfoot

By 1974, Clint Eastwood was at the peak of his career. He’d already starred in two successful Dirty Harry films and had begun directing movies like High Plains Drifter. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot marked a departure for Eastwood, as he explored a different side of himself on screen. The film is a comedic thriller about a seasoned thief who partners with a younger newcomer, played by Jeff Bridges, to attempt a big heist.

This film marks Michael Cimino’s first time directing, before he went on to make The Deer Hunter and Heaven’s Gate. While Thunderbolt and Lightfoot hasn’t held up perfectly over time – particularly in how it portrays women – it remains a delightful thriller with a surprisingly emotional ending.

Clint Eastwood is good in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, but Jeff Bridges truly shines. The film clearly showed Bridges had a promising future, and his Oscar nomination was completely deserved.

1980s: Tightrope

Before Clint Eastwood starred in Tightrope, he delivered the famous line “Make my day” in Sudden Impact, the fourth Dirty Harry film. Audiences might have expected Tightrope (released in 1984) to be another action-packed cop movie, but instead, it’s a dark and unsettling film about a serial killer, forcing Eastwood’s character to confront his own demons.

Okay, so Tightrope isn’t exactly steamy like Basic Instinct – it doesn’t have that same level of heat, if you know what I mean. But it definitely dips into similar unsettling territory. What I found really interesting is that it’s less about the thrills and more about Eastwood’s character. It’s a deep dive into this detective who seems like a normal family guy, but has this secret life… and that secret life ends up getting tangled up in the case he’s working on. It’s a fascinating character study, really.

Tightrope is a dark and atmospheric thriller where Clint Eastwood plays a role quite different from his usual tough-guy characters. It features chases and a climactic confrontation, but don’t expect another Dirty Harry. This 1980s film is one of Eastwood’s lesser-known, but still compelling, thrillers.

1990s: Absolute Power

Following the success of Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood began taking on roles that allowed him to still be a tough guy, but also showed he was getting older. Absolute Power (1997) is a good example of this. In the film, he plays a thief who unexpectedly sees the President (Gene Hackman) accidentally kill a woman. As you might expect, the President’s staff quickly tries to cover it up and silence the thief.

I really enjoyed Absolute Power! It’s a smart, grown-up thriller – the kind we don’t see much of these days. And the cast is incredible – seriously, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, and Judy Davis all in one movie! Clint Eastwood directs it so confidently, even though it takes its time unfolding. If you’re used to super-fast action like 24 or Reacher, it might feel a little slow, but I found it totally captivating.

Don’t expect a typical action movie from this film. It’s less about Clint Eastwood using guns and more about exploring his character – a thief who’s forced to examine his own values and ultimately tries to do what’s right, even if it means going against the government.

2000s: Letters From Iwo Jima

As a huge fan of war movies, I was really fascinated by Clint Eastwood’s take on the Battle of Iwo Jima. He already made Flags of Our Fathers showing the American side, but he felt like we needed the full story. So, he convinced the studio to let him make Letters from Iwo Jima, which shows the battle from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers. It was released just a few months after Flags of Our Fathers and really gave a more complete picture of everything that happened.

Letters from Iwo Jima is a lesser-known film by Clint Eastwood, which is unfortunate. It’s a bold move for him – a Japanese-language drama that portrays the enemy as people with their own stories. Critics generally liked it more than his other film about the battle, and Ken Watanabe’s performance as the lead actor received especially high praise.

Although Letters from Iwo Jima was successful in Japan, it didn’t do well when released in the United States. It’s a fantastic film by Clint Eastwood and deserves another look.

2010s: Sully: Miracle on the Hudson

Throughout the 2010s, Clint Eastwood shifted his focus from acting to directing, but he remained very busy making films. Many of these movies were based on true stories, and one of the most enjoyable was Sully: Miracle on the Hudson. The film stars Tom Hanks as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed a plane on the Hudson River after an emergency in 2009.

The movie Sully tells the true story of how Captain Chesley Sully and his first officer successfully landed a plane, saving all 155 people on board. The film portrays both the dramatic landing and the subsequent investigation. Although it was a popular and well-received film when it came out in 2016, Sully hasn’t remained a widely discussed movie, despite being a truly compelling and rewarding watch.

Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart give great performances, and the movie moves quickly at just 96 minutes. Even though it doesn’t accurately reflect what really happened, the scenes where Sully defends his actions are still exciting and captivating.

2020s: Juror No. 2

Eastwood’s latest film, Juror No. 2, might be his final movie. Despite Warner Bros. giving it a very limited release, the film was a surprising success. It’s a thought-provoking drama about a juror who begins to suspect he played a role in the murder he’s helping to decide.

Even in his nineties, Eastwood directs with complete confidence. The film tackles complex themes of justice and guilt without offering simple solutions. It also provides Nicholas Hoult with a standout role that showcases his acting range. Hoult proves he’s a serious actor, delivering a nuanced performance as a flawed character.

I was really impressed with Juror No. 2. It didn’t grab headlines, but it absolutely deserved more recognition. It’s a simple, powerfully acted story about what’s right and wrong, and it really showed me that Clint Eastwood, even after all these years – seventy, can you believe it? – is still a force to be reckoned with.

2026-04-27 20:33