Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (2025)

Clint Eastwood

Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (1)

By Gabriel Sheehan

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Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (5)

One of the most successful actors and directors that the world has ever witnessed, Clint Eastwood remains a pop-culture icon even at the age of 94. Bursting onto the scene with his ice-cool breakout turn in Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy, Eastwood would go on to cement his status as cinema's quintessential badass with his bow as anti-hero cop Harry Callahan in the wildly popular Dirty Harry movie series. Complementing his best movie character roles with a string of acclaimed directorial efforts over the years, the American also boasts four Academy Award wins from 11 nominations.

A Western icon, many of Eastwood's best movies take place within the genre he made his name in. However, the actor has also demonstrated a penchant for starring in or directing a number of prominent war movies throughout his career. Typically bringing his accomplished style of film making to the table with great effect, Eastwood's performances, direction, or a combination of the two have been frequently lauded by fans and critics alike. While none of his war movie character roles rank among his highest grossing movies, the American's most financially successful directorial outing even lies within the war genre.

9 Lafayette Escadrille (1958)

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Lafayette Escadrille

NR

Drama

Romance

War

Lafayette Escadrille follows a hotshot young pilot who becomes romantically involved with a French prostitute during World War I, exploring the complexities of love and duty in a time of conflict. Released in 1958, this film takes its name from the famed American volunteer flying squadron.

Release Date
February 28, 1958

Runtime
93 minutes
Cast
Etchika Choureau, Tab Hunter, Marcel Dalio, David Janssen, Paul Fix, Veola Vonn, Will Hutchins, Clint Eastwood, Robert Hover, Tom Laughlin, Brett Halsey, Henry Nakamura, Maurice Marsac, Raymond Bailey, William Wellman Jr., Jody McCrea, Denny Devine, Phil Adams, Louis Mercier, Dick Rich, Lomax Study

Director
William A. Wellman

Writers
Albert Sidney Fleischman

A 1958 war outing from William A. Wellman, Lafayette Escadrille centers on the true story of the titular Air Force unit; a group of American volunteer pilots who fly on behalf of France during the First World War. The movie is notable for featuring Eastwood as minor supporting character George Mosely in just his third credited feature film appearance, but unfortunately, that's about the only thing that Wellman's picture has going for it.

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While the movie's array of death-defying aerial sequences received some praise, Lafayette Escadrille was largely panned by critics, with particular venom leveled towards the movie's wooden dialog and contrived plot. In an even more unenviable accolade, the film was also disowned by all surviving members of the real-life Lafayette Escadrille, underlining its status as Eastwood's weakest war film in sharp relief.

8 Firefox (1982)

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Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (8)

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Firefox

PG

Action

Adventure

Thriller

Firefox is a 1982 action thriller directed by Clint Eastwood, featuring Eastwood as Mitchell Gant, a former Vietnam War pilot. Tasked with a covert mission, Gant must infiltrate the Soviet Union and steal a highly advanced jet fighter, Firefox, rumored to be undetectable by radar.

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Release Date
June 18, 1982

Runtime
136 Minutes
Cast
Clint Eastwood, Freddie Jones, David Huffman, Warren Clarke, Ronald Lacey, Kenneth Colley, Klaus Löwitsch, Nigel Hawthorne
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
Action

Writers
Alex Lasker, Wendell Wellman, Craig Thomas

Based on the novel of the same name by Craig Thomas, 1982's Firefox saw Eastwood direct and star in this action-thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The man behind the Man with No Name stepped into the boots of Major Mitchell Gant on this occasion; a Vietnam War veteran pilot who is tasked with stealing the movie's titular high-tech fighter aircraft. Invisible on radars, the Firefox also boasts weapons controlled by a brain-computer interface.

...Firefox often feels formulaic and predictable; a crying shame, given the apparent promise of its central narrative.

While Eastwood's premise is undoubtedly gripping, Firefox's execution ultimately left a lot to be desired. While the film had its moments, the unique panache that the American was known for bringing to his movies was nowhere to be found. As such, Firefox often feels formulaic and predictable; a crying shame, given the apparent promise of its central narrative.

7 Kelly's Heroes (1970)

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10/10

Kelly's Heroes

PG

Adventure

Comedy

War

Kelly's Heroes is a war comedy film set during World War II, directed by Brian G. Hutton. Starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, and Donald Sutherland, the film follows a group of American soldiers who, upon discovering information about a hidden cache of Nazi gold, embark on a rogue mission to retrieve it. Balancing humor with action, Kelly's Heroes offers a unique take on the war genre.

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Release Date
June 22, 1970

Runtime
144 Minutes
Cast
Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland

Director
Brian G. Hutton

Main Genre
Adventure

Writers
Troy Kennedy Martin

Studio(s)
Katzka-Loeb, Avala Film, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A comedy-drama from Where Eagles Dare director Brian G. Hutton, 1970's Kelly's Heroes chronicles the unlikely tale of a heist during WWII. Eastwood stars as the titular Kelly, the disgraced leader of a rag-tag group of American soldiers who go AWOL to steal a vast trove of Nazi gold from a heavily fortified bank in a French town behind German lines.

Brian G. Hutton & Clint Eastwood Movie Collaborations

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Kelly's Heroes (1970)

Ambitiously subverting genre stereotypes, Hutton's satirical take on the most costly armed conflict in history was well received by critics. Kelly's Heroes deftly walks the line between laugh-out-loud comical and deathly serious, sidestepping its preposterous premise to produce a timeless gem. It's a story that shouldn't even begin to work on paper, but still manages to be relentlessly entertaining, a state of affairs aided by a typically assured leading bow from Eastwood in one of his best movies from the 1970s.

6 Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

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Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (10)

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10/10

Heartbreak Ridge

R

War

Drama

Heartbreak Ridge, directed by Clint Eastwood, follows a tough Marine gunnery sergeant who deals with conflict with his superiors and his ex-wife while leading an undisciplined recon platoon. Released in 1986, it portrays the challenges of instilling discipline and unity within a diverse group of soldiers.

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Release Date
December 5, 1986

Runtime
130 Minutes
Cast
Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill, Moses Gunn, Mario Van Peebles, Eileen Heckart, Bo Svenson, Boyd Gaines
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
War

Writers
Joseph Stinson, Dennis Hackin, James Carabatsos

Following an aging U.S. Marine's efforts to train a group of undisciplined soldiers for the invasion of Grenada, 1986's Heartbreak Ridge sees Eastwood direct and star in what is arguably one of his most criminally underrated movies. The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing more than $120 million against a budget of just $15 million and earning positive reviews from the vast majority of critics.

The movie's title is drawn from the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge during the Korean War, the engagement where Eastwood's character earned his Medal of Honor.

This state of affairs can largely be attributed to Eastwood, who turns in one of the most impressive acting performances of his illustrious career. Affording the action icon the opportunity to flex his hypermasculine muscles to the fullest extent as he licks his misfit group of soldiers into shape, Heartbreak Ridge's exemplary dialogue can also be attributed to the Gran Torino star's impeccable style of direction.

5 Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

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8/10

Flags of Our Fathers

R

Drama

Action

Adventure

War

Flags of Our Fathers is a war film directed by Clint Eastwood, based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. The movie recounts the Battle of Iwo Jima, focusing on the iconic photograph of the flag raising and the soldiers involved. Through a series of flashbacks, it delves into the personal and collective experiences of the men who became symbolic heroes, examining both their wartime actions and post-war lives.

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Release Date
October 20, 2006

Runtime
135 Minutes
Cast
Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Benjamin Hickey, John Slattery, Barry Pepper
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
Drama

Writers
William Broyles Jr., Paul Haggis, James Bradley, Ron Powers

A depiction of the Battle of Iwo Jima told from the perspective of American forces, 2006's Flags of Our Fathers is a polished war movie from Clint Eastwood. Unfortunately, the director proved to be his own worst enemy on this occasion. Released in the same year, Eastwood's companion piece Letters from Iwo Jima swiftly overshadowed its American oriented predecessor, both in terms of critical reception and box office returns.

However, while it may be regarded by some as little more than a forgettable war movie boasting great battle scenes, Flags of Our Fathers is actually one of Eastwood's finest war outings. While the box office bomb only garnered an approval rating of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes in contrast to Letters from Iwo Jima's 91%, the film still appeared on numerous critics' top ten lists for the year. Producing a heroic and respectful tribute to the real-life combatants, Eastwood's powerful direction helps render this offering a notable hidden gem for the genre.

4 The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

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Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (12)

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10/10

The Outlaw Josey Wales

PG

Western

Drama

Action

The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 Western film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Set during and after the American Civil War, the film follows Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer seeking revenge for the murder of his family by Union soldiers. As he becomes an outlaw, Wales forms an unlikely band of outcasts and confronts various adversaries while struggling with his quest for vengeance and a chance at redemption.

Release Date
July 14, 1976

Runtime
135 minutes
Cast
Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon, Paula Trueman
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
Western

Writers
Forrest Carter, Philip Kaufman, Sonia Chernus

Playing host to one of the most quotable Western movie characters of all time, 1976's The Outlaw Josey Wales represents a cocktail of Eastwood's best cinematic genres. The movie follows the titular character, a farmer turned formidable soldier following the murder of his wife and child during the American Civil War, who goes on to become a notorious outlaw and gunslinger after the war concludes.

The Outlaw Josey Wales' original director, Philip Kaufman, was fired at Eastwood's request. This led to "the Eastwood rule"; a new regulation that prevents an actor or producer from sacking the director to directly take their position.

Directed by and starring Eastwood as the eponymous character, The Outlaw Josey Wales is one of the American's most impressive offerings, irrespective of genre. Breathing life into his best Western character since the Man with No Name, Eastwood's leading bow and textbook direction combine to produce a visceral tale of revenge that holds up in terms of quality and watchability to this day. It may not be a war movie in the traditional sense, but it's an absolute triumph of a film.

3 American Sniper (2014)

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10/10

American Sniper

R

Biography

Drama

Action

War

American Sniper is based on the true story of U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his tour of duty in Iraq. The film explores his legendary career on the field as he battles hidden in enemy lines to protect his brothers in arms despite the growing bounty on his head and the havoc it wreaked on his personal life.

Release Date
December 25, 2014

Runtime
132minutes
Cast
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, E.R. Ruiz, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Max Charles
Director
Clint Eastwood

Writers
Jason Hall

Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures

Spearheaded by an Academy Award-nominated bow from Bradley Cooper, American Sniper dramatizes the life story of the late Chris Kyle; one of the most prolific snipers in U.S. military history, with over 150 confirmed kills. Eastwood remains in the director's chair for the 2014 flick, producing one of the most acclaimed war movies of the century to date with his evocative biographical offering on this elite marksman.

Earning six Oscar nominations, American Sniper received largely glowing reviews for Cooper's moving lead performance and Eastwood's direction. While certain segments of the movie play out like blatant military propaganda, it didn't stop American Sniper from becoming Eastwood's highest grossing movie of all time, with a whopping $574.4 million return at the box office. A stirring deep dive into the physical and mental scars left by armed conflict, the movie proved that Eastwood was still capable of directorial magic at the age of 84.

2 Where Eagles Dare (1968)

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Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (14)

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14

9.9/10

Where Eagles Dare

PG

War

Action

Adventure

Where Eagles Dare is a gripping action thriller set during World War II, following a group of Allied commandos on a daring mission to rescue an American general held captive in a mountaintop fortress. Battling treacherous weather and enemy forces, the team must navigate deception and betrayal in a high-stakes operation. The film blends intense combat sequences with strategic espionage, delivering a suspenseful and engaging wartime adventure.

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Release Date
March 12, 1969

Runtime
155 Minutes
Cast
Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Michael Hordern, Donald Houston, Peter Barkworth, William Squire, Robert Beatty, Brook Williams, Neil McCarthy, Vincent Ball, Anton Diffring, Ferdy Mayne, Derren Nesbitt, Victor Beaumont, Ingrid Pitt

Director
Brian G. Hutton
Main Genre
War

Writers
Alistair MacLean

Based on the novel of the same name by legendary author Alistair MacLean, Where Eagles Dare follows what is purportedly a daring mission to rescue a captured American general from a remote fortress solely accessible by cable car, only for the movie's narrative to swiftly morph into a web of subterfuge and deception. One of the best war movies of the 1960s, Brian G. Hutton's iconic entry sees Eastwood star as Lieutenant Morris Schaffer, the supporting protagonist to Richard Burton's Major John Smith.

Highest-Rated Movies On IMDb Based On The Works Of Alistair MacLean

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

7.6

The Guns of Navarone (1961)

7.5

Breakheart Pass (1975)

6.7

Ice Station Zebra (1968)

6.6

Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

6.4

Representing the archetypal strong and silent action-hero mold of 1960s cinema, the ice-cool Schaffer is one of Eastwood's most unashamedly awesome characters. The actor lends his trademark brooding intensity and stoicism to his take on this elite soldier, serving as an integral element of a fan-favorite movie that is universally revered as a classic for the genre and wider cinema as a whole.

1 Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Directed

Every War Movie Clint Eastwood Has Directed & Starred In, Ranked (15)

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Letters from Iwo Jima

R

Drama

Action

Adventure

Letters from Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood, offers a unique perspective on the World War II battle for Iwo Jima, depicting the struggle from the viewpoint of Japanese soldiers. Released in 2006, the film serves as a companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers, highlighting different wartime experiences.

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Release Date
February 2, 2007

Runtime
141 Minutes

Cast
Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryo Kase, Shido Nakamura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Takumi Bando, Yuki Matsuzaki
Director
Clint Eastwood
Main Genre
Drama

Writers
Iris Yamashita, Paul Haggis, Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Tsuyoko Yoshido

One of Eastwood's most criminally underrated offerings, 2006's Letters from Iwo Jima is a far superior companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers; a remarkable state of affairs given the fact that both movies were released in the same year. Chronicling the Battle of Iwo Jima from a Japanese perspective this time around, the war movie received critical acclaim. Earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Letters from Iwo Jima boasts a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 91%.

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Eastwood doesn't leave the director's chair for this one, but frankly, he doesn't need to. The American's superb direction aids in producing a raw and deeply human portrayal of the brutal WWII engagement. Drawing attention to the moral ambiguity of both sides, Letters from Iwo Jima invites endless introspection into the very nature of armed conflict itself. Carried by a powerhouse performance from Ken Watanabe, the masterful 2006 outing stands as Clint Eastwood's finest body of work in the war genre.

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