Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

High Plains Drifter

Play trailer Poster for High Plains Drifter R Released Apr 19, 1973 1h 45m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In this Western, a drifter with no name (Clint Eastwood) wanders into a small town, where his gun-slinging abilities are in high demand. When the drifter rides into Lago, he is met with incredulity and disapproval by the townspeople. But once he shows his skills with a pistol, the locals realize he may be able to help them fend off a band of criminals who have been terrorizing the town. He agrees to help the townspeople, but does so with his own secret agenda.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Clint Eastwood's sophomore outing as director sees him back in the saddle as a mysterious stranger, and the result is one of his most memorable Westerns.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (32) Critics Reviews
Perry Stewart Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com The difference between this and all those “Dollars” pictures is that Clint has gone and refined the art of steel-eyed enigma. Eastwood directed this one himself and, like his earlier Play Misty for Me, it shows he has some savvy behind the camera. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review Noel Murray The Dissolve Eastwood holds fast to the rebel spirit of the spaghetti Westerns and revisionist "New Hollywood" Westerns of the previous decade, but packages it in a film that's slicker and more mainstream-friendly. Rated: 4/5 Oct 28, 2013 Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine As a director, Eastwood is not as good as he seems to think he is. As an actor, he is probably better than he allows himself to be. Oct 26, 2008 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies In High Plains Drifter, Clint Eastwood already shows off his promising talents as a filmmaker in only his second directing gig. Rated: 4/5 Apr 5, 2023 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm A nasty, eerie Clint Eastwood Western... Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 11, 2023 Full Review Robin Holabird Robin Holabird I admit Mono looks phenomenal in this memorable piece where Eastwood spins off his Spaghetti Western persona during a violent round of vengeance. Aug 10, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Ricardo B Claramente inspirado pelos faroestes spaghetti do diretor italiano Sergio Leone que ele estrelou, mas sem perder suas raízes e características estadunidenses, Clint Eastwood inicia "O Estranho sem Nome" no estilo de um faroeste como qualquer outro, mas o diretor e protagonista sutil e gradativamente transforma o filme em um misterioso conto de vingança, com uma leve pitada de terror sobrenatural. E o resultado é um dos faroestes mais singulares do gênero. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review Daniel C. M The best ducking Western of all time and i will die believing in this. I will not spoil anything, just watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/02/24 Full Review Nithin B A terrible film, highly misogynist. Can't imagine how you can give it such a high rating. Its worse than a thrash movie. Doesn't deserve to be watched in this era. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/26/24 Full Review Stefan V Lot of caricatures and a hero that starts the action with by raping thhe first woman he sees. I watched. this movie because so many say it is Eastwood's best and maybe it is. It still bad though. I guess it is the supernatural element that elevates it for some, but I have never seen supernatural made more one-dimensional. By the way; a ghost with nightmares? Seriously... Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review Crocodile D This movie as a western horror story truly stands out, something like this could never be made in the modern day with current cancel culture making it a true once in a lifetime experience. Truly a gritty story that holds nothing back, if you're sensitive don't watch Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/12/24 Full Review Ravenswood R Very strange movie. Starts out great and very promising, but devolves into a loose story peppered with caricatures and cliches. Eastwood is in excellent form. On screen he does as expected throughout. As usual for these films he has very scant dialogue. But dialogue is not the point. The revenge aspect is muddled and in the end we get it, but it never earns the audience rooting for the hero. Vengeance is delivered, but without a compelling purpose. Not an essential western by any stretch, but good for fans of Clint Eastwood and the "mysterious gunman" trope. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews
High Plains Drifter

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

The Stranger

Verna Bloom

Sarah Belding

Marianna Hill

Callie Travers

Mitch Ryan

Dave Drake

Jack Ging

Morgan Allen

Movie Clips

View All videos

High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipped to Death High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipped to Death 2:15 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipping the Outlaw High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipping the Outlaw 2:22 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Blowing Up The Hotel High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Blowing Up The Hotel 1:45 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Sheriff and the Mayor High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Sheriff and the Mayor 2:44 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shave and a Shootout High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shave and a Shootout 2:52 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shooting Up Hell High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shooting Up Hell 1:57 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Killing the Outlaws High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Killing the Outlaws 3:05 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Target Practice High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Target Practice 2:47 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Stranger Rides Away High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Stranger Rides Away 2:30 High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - He Shot My Ear Off! High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - He Shot My Ear Off! 3:17 View more videos

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Ulzana's Raid 90% 66% Ulzana's Raid Watchlist The Hired Hand 81% 75% The Hired Hand Watchlist Pale Rider 93% 83% Pale Rider Watchlist The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 97% 97% The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All High Plains Drifter photos

High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) High Plains Drifter (1973) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this Western, a drifter with no name (Clint Eastwood) wanders into a small town, where his gun-slinging abilities are in high demand. When the drifter rides into Lago, he is met with incredulity and disapproval by the townspeople. But once he shows his skills with a pistol, the locals realize he may be able to help them fend off a band of criminals who have been terrorizing the town. He agrees to help the townspeople, but does so with his own secret agenda.
Director
Clint Eastwood
Producer
Robert Daley
Screenwriter
Ernest Tidyman
Production Co
Universal Pictures, The Malpaso Company
Rating
R
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 19, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2015
Runtime
1h 45m
Most Popular at Home Now