Clint Eastwood rose to the fame in the 1960s and he’s still at it, with his latest directorial effort, Juror No. 2, set for release in October. A maestro both in front of the camera and behind it, Eastwood has proven himself in countless genres, though biopics, action movies, and Westerns remain his specialty. The 1980s were something of a transitional period for him, seeing him grow in confidence as a director while also turning in iconic lead performances in blockbusters like the Dirty Harry sequels.
As a result, Eastwood’s 80s output varies in tone as well as quality, containing both duds and masterpieces. During this time, he continued to push boundaries and probe the edges of his comfort zone, blending the tough guy persona he was known for with more emotionally complex roles. During this period he tackled morally ambiguous characters and stories that delved into psychological territory. In the process, the decade laid the foundation for the classics he would make in the ’90s and 2000s. With this in mind, here are all of Eastwood’s ’80s movies, ranked.
10 ‘City Heat’ (1984)
Directed by Richard Benjamin
“It wouldn’t break my heart at all to scrape the street clean of your ilk.” City Heat is a crime comedy set in 1930s Kansas City. Eastwood is Lieutenant Speer, a tough-as-nails police officer who reluctantly teams up with his former friend, private detective Mike Murphy (Burt Reynolds), after Murphy’s partner is killed by mobsters. The pairing of Eastwood and Reynolds generated a lot of buzz and high expectations, but the end result received a muted reaction.
The plot is convoluted and not particularly engaging, and the stars don’t even spend much time on screen together during the first half. Things get better as the film rolls along, but by that point it’s already lost most viewers’ interest. Supporting players Rip Torn and Madeline Kahn were generally praised for their work, but, overall, City Heat makes for a forgettable missed opportunity. Reynolds himself described the movie as “Dirty Harry vs. the Wimp.”
9 ‘Firefox’ (1982)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“Let’s see what this baby can do.” Firefox (no relation to the web browser) is a techno-thriller featuring Eastwood as Mitchell Gant, a retired Vietnam War pilot who is recruited by the U.S. government to undertake a mission behind enemy lines. The objective is to steal a top-secret Soviet fighter jet called the Firefox, which is equipped with mind-controlled weaponry. Gant, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, struggles with his past while taking on the enormous challenge of sneaking into the Soviet Union.
Unfortunately, most of the characters here are paper-thin, though Eastwood’s natural charisma comepnsates for a lack of great dialogue. The plot is also a little slow, and focuses on a lot of unnecessary details. That said, the special effects are solid for the time and some of the action set pieces are well done, even if the climax does feel like something lifted out of Star Wars. Despite lukewarm reviews, Firefox was a big commercial hit, grossing $47m.
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8 ‘Bronco Billy’ (1980)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“Go ahead, let the tears fall in the beer.” On the more lighthearted end of the spectrum, Bronco Billy sees Eastwood playing the leader of a ragtag Wild West show traveling across the country. Despite the show’s financial struggles and a crew of misfit performers, Bronco Billy is a man who holds onto the ideals of the Old West, striving to bring joy and adventure to the audiences that still come to see his shows. Along the way, he meets a wealthy heiress, Antoinette (Sondra Locke), who becomes a reluctant part of the show after being abandoned by her husband.
The movie fuses Western tropes with comedy, alongside a hefty dose of sentimentality. While not amazing, Bronco Billy is not without its charms, serving up several enjoyable scenes and funny moments. It’s also interesting for being very self-referential. The title character feels like a stand-in for Eastwood himself, a Western performer in a world where audiences appear to be moving away from the kinds of classic stories he loves.
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7 ‘Tightrope’ (1984)
Directed by Richard Tuggle
“There’s a darkness inside all of us. Some have it under control. Others act it out.” Tightrope is a neo-noir thriller directed by Richard Tuggle, best known for writing Don Siegel‘s Escape from Alcatraz. It’s about New Orleans detective Wes Block (Eastwood). He’s on the trail of a serial killer who targets women, but as he delves deeper into the case, he realizes that the murderer’s twisted desires mirror his own suppressed darker urges. As Block grapples with his own demons, he struggles to keep his personal life, particularly his relationship with his two daughters, from falling apart.
While the film doesn’t quite reach the levels of psychological complexity it aspires, Tightrope is still a well-made thriller, with above average characterization. Eastwood is terrific in the role, depicting Block as a fundamentally decent man with a dark side, but who is still capable of learning and growing. He deserves props for taking on an uglier, more complicated protagonist than most stars would be comfortable with.
6 ‘The Dead Pool’ (1988)
Directed by Buddy Van Horn
“You’re out of bullets. And you know what that means.” The Dead Pool is the fifth and final installment in the Dirty Harry series. This time, Callahan is investigating a macabre game where celebrities and public figures are being killed off according to a “dead pool,” a list of names created by a film director betting on who will die next. As Callahan uncovers more, he becomes a target himself, having been added to the deadly list.
While not the worst entry in the franchise, The Dead Pool is nowhere near on the same level as the first two movies. Harry Callahan is still a mythic figure, one of the defining action characters of the decade (so much so that presidents even quoted his dialogue), but the story surrounding him here doesn’t do him justice. Fortunately, there are still several enjoyable action scenes, and a few neat jokes and winks to the audience, so it’s not a complete bust.
5 ‘Honkytonk Man’ (1982)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“Did you ever feel like you wanted to be somebody?” Eastwood leads this Western musical as Red Stovall, a country singer struggling with tuberculosis during the Great Depression. He dreams of making it big at the Grand Ole Opry, and the film follows his journey with his young nephew, Whit (played by Eastwood’s real-life son, Kyle Eastwood). As they travel across the country in a beat-up car, Red battles not only his illness but also his self-destructive tendencies, including his drinking and impulsive behavior.
Honkytonk Man is earnest and tender, something which is amplified by the inclusion of his actual son. Most critics appreciated its personal, melancholy tone and quiet plot, prioritizing emotion over action. However, this probably also explains why it was a commercial disappointment, with the worst opening of any Eastwood film. Audiences wanted an action hero, but instead got a sickly musician reflecting on his choices. At the very least, it’s a testament to the star’s range.
4 ‘Sudden Impact’ (1983)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“We’re not just gonna let you walk out of here.” Sudden Impact is the fourth Dirty Harry movie. This time around, Callahan is investigating a string of murders in which the victims are all men who have been brutally killed in a similar manner. The case leads Callahan to a woman named Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke), who is taking revenge on the men who sexually assaulted her and her sister years earlier.
Sudden Impact is notable for being the only film in the franchise directed by Eastwood himself, and for the famous line, “Go ahead, make my day.” Once again, the series explores themes of justice and vigilantism, with Harry treading a hazy line between right and wrong. There’s plenty of high-octane action and the thrills fans would expect, though Eastwood’s direction is occasionally a little rough around the edges. It’s entertaning without really pushing the series into any new territory.
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3 ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ (1986)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“You men do not impress me!” Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway (Eastwood) is a grizzled Marine veteran who has fought in several wars but finds himself struggling with life in peacetime. He’s assigned to train a group of undisciplined recruits, and despite their initial resistance, he gradually earns their respect and turns them into a cohesive unit. Their mission culminates with deployment to Grenada, where Highway and his men must prove their worth in battle.
This is a straightforward war movie, essentially divided into good and evil characters. The plot is not groundbreaking, but pulsing action scenes, solid dialogue, and a towering lead performance keep the audience engaged. Heartbreak Ridge very much feels like a product of its era, for better and for worse. Eastwood’s charisma and humorous moments are sure to please his fans, as always. Here, his character feels a bit like a younger version of Walt Kowalski from his later project Gran Torino.
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2 ‘Bird’ (1988)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“They always remember the martyrs longer.” Bird is something of an outlier in terms of Eastwood’s 80s output, but in the best way. It’s a biopic about legendary jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker (Forest Whitaker). The film explores Parker’s rise to fame as a saxophonist, as well as the personal demons that plagued him throughout his life, including drug addiction. The non-linear structure weaves together moments from Parker’s early career, his relationships, and his eventual tragic downfall, creating a n emotional portrait of a complex musical genius.
Whitaker rises to the occasion, as one would expect, winning him the Best Actor award at that year’s Cannes Film Festival. Eastwood’s direction is fittingly sensitive and nuanced, capturing both the highs and lows of Parker’s turbulent life. His appreciation for jazz also shines through (and the soundtrack is amazing), making Bird a real gem. It foreshadows some of Eastwood’s later biographical films, like American Sniper, and Richard Jewell.
1 ‘Pale Rider’ (1985)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
“I looked, and behold a pale horse. And his name that sat on him was Death.” When it comes to Eastwood’s best ’80s movies, it’s hard to beat these eerie, supernatural-inflected Western. Eastwood leads the cast as a nameless preacher who arrives in a small mining town that is being terrorized by a ruthless corporate mining boss. The preacher, who seems to have a violent past, steps in to defend the townspeople, using both his faith and his gun to bring justice to the town.
Plot-wise, the film is similar to High Plains Drifter, but the mystical and religious elements are compelling, elevating Pale Rider over most other ‘lone gunslinger’ Westerns. This is a dark and meditative film that avoids being overbearing, featuring one of Eastwood’s very much performances in his favored genre. It’s perhaps the best Western of the 1980s and hints at the powers Eastwood would later unleash with Unforgiven. Eastwood fans who haven’t seen it yet should give it a try.
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