A Fistful of Dollars

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A Fistful of Dollars

R

Released Jan 18, 1964

1h 36m

Western

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98%

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56 Reviews

91%

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50,000+ Ratings

Wandering gunfighter Joe arrives in the Mexican village of San Miguel in the midst of a power struggle among sheriff John Baxter and the three Rojo brothers. When a regiment of Mexican soldiers bearing gold is waylaid by the Rojo brothers, Joe is hired by Esteban to join the gang, but he plays one side against the other.

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Critics Consensus

With Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo as his template, Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars helped define a new era for the Western and usher in its most iconic star, Clint Eastwood.

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Simon Abrams

Village Voice

Every genre-loving moviegoer should see at least once projected on a theater screen.

May 23, 2018

Full Review

Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

The climatic bloodbath of A Fistful of Dollars still stings because the film's swaggering braggadocio deliberately fails to prepare us for it.

Rated: 4/4

May 21, 2018

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

[Clint] Eastwood may not have been technically gifted, but he had plenty of star quality.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 13, 2018

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Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

The Italian western that launched a genre.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 11, 2024

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Gian Maria Volonté lends excellent support as the snarling Ramon and Ennio Morricone's minimalist score is a gem.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 9, 2024

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

It seems all that it took was a spark to ignite the storied career, but it all truly begins with A Fistful of Dollars. We should all be thankful.

Rated: 9/10

May 16, 2024

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Clint Eastwood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

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Edward F

Awesome movie. Still holds up with age.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Steve W

Great! Solid music and revolutionised westerns!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

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J H

It has its moments, but this movie is hampered by muddled storytelling.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Audience Member

Man got beat up for a family that he saved

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Chanse S

Slow to build up but not bad enough to keep me from watching the trilogy

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

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Sergio Leone

Director

Clint Eastwood

Joe

Marianne Koch

Marisol

Joseph Egger

Piripero

Wolfgang Lukschy

John Baxter

Gian Maria Volonté

Ramón Rojo

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Synopsis

Wandering gunfighter Joe arrives in the Mexican village of San Miguel in the midst of a power struggle among sheriff John Baxter and the three Rojo brothers. When a regiment of Mexican soldiers bearing gold is waylaid by the Rojo brothers, Joe is hired by Esteban to join the gang, but he plays one side against the other.

Director: Sergio Leone
Producer: Arrigo Colombo, Giorgio Papi
Screenwriter: Adriano Bolzoni, Víctor Andrés Catena, Jaime Comas Gil, Sergio Leone
Distributor: Tobis Filmkunst, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ízaro Films S.A., Unidis
Production Co: Jolly Film, Ocean Films [es], Constantin Film
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 18, 1964, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2012
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Mono

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