Clint Eastwood Movies In Order: The Complete Filmography

Tracing Clint Eastwood's film career requires looking at over seven decades of cinema history, spanning small uncredited acting parts in 1950s monster features to directing complex courtroom dramas well into the 2020s. Navigating this massive body of work can get confusing because Eastwood didn't just star in iconic westerns and gritty police thrillers; he also built a massive, distinct catalog as an Academy Award-winning director, producer, and composer.

This chronological guide covers Clint Eastwood movies in order, breaking down his journey from an ambitious television cowboy in Rawhide to a Hollywood filmmaking titan. Whether you're looking for his breakthrough Italian westerns, his explosive action franchise hits, or his later-career character studies, here is how his legendary filmography lines up by release year.

The 1950s: Early Television and Minor Film Roles

Before becoming a cinematic icon, Eastwood spent years paying his dues in uncredited bit parts, television Westerns, and B-movies.

Revenge of the Creature (1955) - Played an uncredited lab technician.
Francis in the Navy (1955) - Played Jonesy.
Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) - Played a first Saxon.
Tarantula (1955) - Played a jet squadron leader.
Never Say Goodbye (1956) - Played Will.
Star in the Dust (1956) - Played Tom.
Away All Boats (1956) - Played a Navy medic.
The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) - Played Lieutenant Jack Rice.
Escapade in Japan (1957) - Played a Dumbo pilot.
Lafayette Escadrille (1958) - Played George Moseley.
Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958) - Played Keith Williams.

During this period, Eastwood also began landing recurring television work, most notably starring as Rowdy Yates in the hit CBS series Rawhide from 1959 to 1965, which established his rugged frontier presence for international audiences.

The 1960s: The Spaghetti Western Breakthrough

Eastwood’s career shifted overnight when Italian director Sergio Leone cast him as the laconic antihero in a low-budget European western. These films invented the "Spaghetti Western" subgenre and turned Eastwood into a global star.

A Fistful of Dollars (1964) - Played Joe, launching the "Man with No Name" archetype.
For a Few Dollars More (1965) - Played Manco alongside Lee Van Cleef.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) - Played Blondie in what many consider the defining epic of the western genre.
The Witches (1967) - Played Carlo in the segment "An Evening Like the Others".
Hang 'Em High (1968) - Played Marshal Jed Cooper, marking his first major American post-western project.
Coogan's Bluff (1968) - Played Walt Coogan, bridging western grit with modern policing.
Where Eagles Dare (1968) - Played Lieutenant Schaffer in a massive World War II action hit alongside Richard Burton.
Paint Your Wagon (1969) - Played Pardner in a musical comedy western.

The 1970s: Directorial Debut and Dirty Harry

By 1970, Eastwood formed his own production company, Malpaso Productions, allowing him more creative control. He stepped behind the camera for the first time and created another legendary cinematic persona: Inspector Harry Callahan.

👉 See also: Zoe Kravitz Catwoman Costume

Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970) - Played Hogan alongside Shirley MacLaine.
Kelly's Heroes (1970) - Played Private Kelly in a comedic WWII heist film.
The Beguiled (1971) - Played John McBurney in a dark Gothic drama.
Play Misty for Me (1971) - Played David Garver and made his directorial debut.
Dirty Harry (1971) - Played Inspector Harry Callahan, defining the modern cinematic renegade cop.
Joe Kidd (1972) - Played Joe Kidd in a traditional western.
High Plains Drifter (1973) - Directed and starred as The Stranger.
Breezy (1973) - Directed a contemporary romantic drama without starring in it.
Magnum Force (1973) - Returned as Harry Callahan in the first sequel.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) - Played John 'Thunderbolt' Doherty alongside Jeff Bridges.
The Eiger Sanction (1975) - Directed and starred as Jonathan Hemlock.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - Directed and starred as Josey Wales, widely considered a masterpiece of the western genre.
The Enforcer (1976) - Returned as Harry Callahan for the third time.
The Gauntlet (1977) - Directed and starred as Ben Shockley.
Every Which Way but Loose (1978) - Played Philo Beddoe alongside an orangutan in an unexpected box-office smash.
Escape from Alcatraz (1979) - Played Frank Morris in Don Siegel's tense prison thriller.

The 1980s: Continued Box-Office Dominance

The 1980s saw Eastwood balancing profitable crowd-pleasers with personal auteur projects, exploring everything from country music dramas to dark psychological thrillers.

Bronco Billy (1980) - Directed and starred as Bronco Billy McCoy.
Any Which Way You Can (1980) - Reprised his role as Philo Beddoe.
Firefox (1982) - Directed and starred as Mitchell Gant in a high-tech Cold War thriller.
Honkytonk Man (1982) - Directed and starred as Red Stovall.
Sudden Impact (1983) - Directed and returned as Harry Callahan, coining the famous "Make my day" catchphrase.
Tightrope (1984) - Played Wes Block in a gritty neo-noir thriller.
City Heat (1984) - Starred alongside Burt Reynolds as Lieutenant Speer.
Pale Rider (1985) - Directed and starred as The Preacher, revitalizing the western format.
Heartbreak Ridge (1986) - Directed and starred as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway.
Bird (1988) - Directed a biographical drama about jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (did not star).
The Dead Pool (1988) - Played Harry Callahan for the final time.
Pink Cadillac (1989) - Played bounty hunter Tommy Nowak.

The 1990s: Critical Validation and Oscar Glory

In 1992, Eastwood dismantled his own on-screen mythology with Unforgiven, cementing his transition from genre star to one of Hollywood's most respected serious directors.

White Hunter Black Heart (1990) - Directed and starred as John Wilson.
The Rookie (1990) - Directed and starred as Detective Nick Pulovski.
Unforgiven (1992) - Directed, produced, and starred as William Munny, winning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.
In the Line of Fire (1993) - Played Secret Service Agent Frank Horrigan.
A Perfect World (1993) - Directed and co-starred as Texas Ranger Red Garnett.
The Bridges of Madison County (1995) - Directed, produced, and starred as Robert Kincaid alongside Meryl Streep.
Absolute Power (1997) - Directed, produced, and starred as Luther Whitney.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) - Directed and produced a moody southern mystery.
True Crime (1999) - Directed, produced, and starred as Steve Everett.

The 2000s: The Master Filmmaker Era

During the 2000s and 2010s, Eastwood produced some of his most mature work, often shooting entire films with minimal takes and exploring complex themes of morality, aging, and heroism.

Space Cowboys (2000) - Directed, produced, and starred as Frank Corvin alongside Tommy Lee Jones and James Garner.
Blood Work (2002) - Directed, produced, and starred as Terry McCaleb.
Mystic River (2003) - Directed and produced a bleak, powerful drama that earned Sean Penn and Tim Robbins Oscars.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Directed, produced, and starred as Frankie Dunn, winning his second Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006) - Directed and produced a tactical look at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) - Directed and produced a companion film told entirely from the Japanese perspective.
Changeling (2008) - Directed and produced a tense period drama starring Angelina Jolie.
Gran Torino (2008) - Directed, produced, and starred as Walt Kowalski, a box-office giant.
Invictus (2009) - Directed and produced a biographical sports drama about Nelson Mandela and South Africa's rugby team.

The 2010s to Present: Modern Biopics and Late-Career Directing

Continuing to work at a rapid pace well past normal retirement age, Eastwood focused heavily on real-life modern American heroes and historical events.

Hereafter (2010) - Directed and produced a supernatural drama starring Matt Damon.
J. Edgar (2011) - Directed and produced a biographical drama about FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.
Trouble with the Curve (2012) - Starred as aging baseball scout Gus Lobel (directed by Robert Lorenz).
Jersey Boys (2014) - Directed and produced the musical adaptation about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
American Sniper (2014) - Directed and produced a massive commercial success chronicling Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.
Sully (2016) - Directed and produced the dramatization of the "Miracle on the Hudson" starring Tom Hanks.
The 15:17 to Paris (2018) - Directed and produced a unique thriller featuring the real-life heroes who stopped a terrorist attack.
The Mule (2018) - Directed, produced, and starred as Earl Stone, an elderly drug courier.
Richard Jewell (2019) - Directed and produced the biographical drama about the Atlanta Olympic bombing security guard.
Cry Macho (2021) - Directed, produced, and starred as Mike Milo.
Juror #2 (2024) - Directed and produced a tense legal thriller starring Nicholas Hoult.

For more information on film conservation and industry milestones, you can visit the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or check out career archives provided by the British Film Institute.

📖 Related: this guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Clint Eastwood's first movie as a director?

Clint Eastwood made his directorial debut with the psychological thriller Play Misty for Me in 1971, in which he also starred alongside Jessica Walter.

How many Academy Awards has Clint Eastwood won?

Eastwood has won four competitive Academy Awards: two for Best Director and two for Best Picture, earned for Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). He also received the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1994.

Did Clint Eastwood really sing in his movies?

Yes. Eastwood contributed vocals to several of his projects, most notably singing the theme song for Rawhide, performing tracks in Paint Your Wagon (1969), and contributing original musical themes or vocal performances to later films like Gran Torino.

What is Clint Eastwood's highest-grossing film?

American Sniper (2014) stands as his most commercially successful directorial effort, grossing over $540 million worldwide and shattering domestic box-office records for a war drama.