Spaghetti westerns are Italian western films from the 1960s and ’70s, known for their stylish cinematography, cynical antiheroes, brutal action, and epic soundtracks. Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone made the genre legendary, and their films remain icons in film history. Here are the 10 best spaghetti westerns ever made.
1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) – The ultimate spaghetti western
If you watch only one spaghetti western, make it The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo).
Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach play three rival gunslingers hunting for hidden treasure during the American Civil War.
With an iconic Morricone soundtrack, epic shots, and a climax that made film history, this is the definitive spaghetti western.
2. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) – A masterpiece
Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West is a slower, grander, and more emotionally epic work than his earlier films.
With a chillingly calm Charles Bronson, a sadistic Henry Fonda, and a tragic Claudia Cardinale, the film is visually breathtaking and perfectly constructed.
The opening scene might be the greatest in film history.
3. For a Few Dollars More (1965) – Dueling with style
The second film in Leone’s Dollars Trilogy brings Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef together as bounty hunters with very different methods for tracking a violent outlaw.
With one of Morricone’s best scores, intense shootouts, and great chemistry between the leads, this is top-tier spaghetti western filmmaking.
4. Django (1966) – The grimiest antihero of the genre
Franco Nero’s Django is the grimy cousin to Leone’s films, with a dark, violent tone and an iconic hero dragging a coffin with a machine gun inside.
This film inspired countless rip-offs and a modern tribute from Quentin Tarantino.
The opening scene, with Django trudging through the mud with his mysterious coffin, is pure cult cinema.
5. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) – The birth of the spaghetti western
The film that started it all. A Fistful of Dollars (Per un pugno di dollari) is an unofficial remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, but Leone gave it a rougher, grittier edge.
Clint Eastwood plays The Man With No Name, who plays two rival gangs against each other in a small town.
With dry cynicism, epic shootouts, and that iconic Morricone score, this film put the genre on the map.
6. The Big Gundown (1966) – Lee Van Cleef on the hunt
Lee Van Cleef shines as a relentless bounty hunter tracking a Mexican outlaw, only to realize the truth is more complicated than it seems.
With a fantastic Morricone soundtrack, striking cinematography, and a strong social undercurrent, The Big Gundown is an absolute must-see.
7. Companeros (1970) – Revolution and friendship
Director Sergio Corbucci (the man behind Django) delivered a lighter but spectacular western with Companeros.
Franco Nero and Tomas Milian play two rival gunmen forced to team up during the Mexican Revolution.
With fast-paced action, humor, and a brilliant performance by Jack Palance as the crazed villain, this is one of the most entertaining spaghetti westerns ever.
8. Death Rides a Horse (1967) – Revenge and style
John Phillip Law plays a young man seeking revenge on the gang that murdered his family, getting unexpected help from a grizzled gunfighter (Lee Van Cleef).
Packed with intense duels, stunning compositions, and a fantastic Morricone score, this one delivers the goods.
If you love revenge stories and stylish shootouts, this is a must-watch.
9. Sabata (1969) – The coolest gunslinger ever?
Lee Van Cleef is Sabata, a mysterious gunslinger with deadly aim, who terrorizes a corrupt town using unique weapons and clever tricks.
With eccentric villains, weird gadgets, and a comic book-like style, Sabata is a delightfully pulpy spaghetti western.
The film has earned cult status, thanks in part to Van Cleef’s charismatic performance.
10. Keoma (1976) – The final great spaghetti western
Just when the genre was nearly dead, Keoma delivered one last brilliant blow.
Franco Nero plays a half-Native American outlaw returning to his hometown, only to find it ruled by corrupt mercenaries.
With experimental camerawork, raw performances, and a unique soundtrack, this is a poetic and melancholic western that symbolizes the genre’s end.
Spaghetti westerns took the classic American western and made it grittier, dirtier, and more visually iconic. With epic soundtracks, intense gunfights, and brilliant directors like Sergio Leone, these films remain influential to this day.
