Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Once Upon a Time in the West

Play trailer Poster for Once Upon a Time in the West PG-13 Released May 28, 1969 2h 45m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
There's a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) aims to have it, knowing the new railroad will have to stop there. He sends his henchman Frank (Henry Fonda) to scare the land's owner, McBain (Frank Wolff), but Frank kills him instead and pins it on a known bandit, Cheyenne (Jason Robards). Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle (Charles Bronson) and McBain's new wife, Jill (Claudia Cardinale), arrive in town.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A landmark Sergio Leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic Morricone score.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (68) Critics Reviews
TIME Staff TIME Magazine Leone's newest effort, Once Upon a Time in the West, with a major cast and a lot of big studio money behind it, proves that he is simply a serious bore. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out If there had to be a final Western, Once Upon a Time in the West would be it. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Moments of intense realism flow into passages of operatic extravagance; lowbrow burlesque exists side by side with the expression of the most refined shades of feeling. Mar 24, 2020 Full Review Noah Gittell Washington City Paper Sergio Leone’s 1968 spaghetti western might be set in the 19th century, but it captured the violence of the ’60s, yet the grandly cinematic film that still somehow embraces humanity. Jun 8, 2024 Full Review John Nguyen Nerd Reactor The epic spaghetti Western features an excellent score from Ennio Morricone, sweeping cinematography, and a gritty cast with rugged features that are great for Leone’s close-up and long takes. Rated: 4.5/5 May 21, 2024 Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee Leone’s gloriously inflated epic isn’t just any old Western. It’s all of them. May 26, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
JOE S Classic spaghetti Western Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Tom Awesome quality film print. Really enjoyed the movie. Excellent food and drink service Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Alec B It might be the definitive "Spaghetti Western" as it infuses that genre with American westerns to create a fascinating hybrid movie. I remain impressed with Leone's ability to tell these larger than life epics that feel intimate and are never boring. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review Daniel C. M This movie is not for everyone; but for those who can properly appreciate a true masterpiece. Unlike most directors, Leone lets the scene go on in a realistic and natural way, which is the main reason for it's intimidating runtime, and this technique never lets it down, managing to perfectly show every character's personality and whole the world interacts with them. All the performances are great, the production design is a true wonder, and i don't think i need to even mention the absolutly IMMACULATE soundtrack by Master Morricone himself; any respectable person who just finished watching this movie WILL put at least one track of this composition on their playlist. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/22/24 Full Review Carl S Honestly, it's quite boring and overrated. On the positive side it has great sets and locations, feels real, includes classic famous actors, and is cinematic in many ways. But, it's slow moving, the story is weak, and it doesn't build much in the way of character empathy. People give it high marks because it was considered Sergio Leone's masterpiece spaghetti western. Maybe in its day that mattered. Not anymore. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/13/24 Full Review Chris G An iconic piece of classic western cinema with powerhouse actors of old and a score for the ages. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Once Upon a Time in the West

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - What You're After Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - What You're After 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - He Not Only Plays, He Can Shoot Too Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - He Not Only Plays, He Can Shoot Too 2:05 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Frank's Death Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Frank's Death 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Harmonica's Flashback Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Harmonica's Flashback 2:14 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - A Man's Hands All Over You Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - A Man's Hands All Over You 2:13 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - That Strange Sound Right Now Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - That Strange Sound Right Now 2:12 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - McBain Family Slaughter Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - McBain Family Slaughter 2:09 Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Two Horses Too Many Once Upon a Time in the West: Official Clip - Two Horses Too Many 2:13 View more videos
Hang 'Em High 92% 73% Hang 'Em High Watchlist TRAILER for Hang 'Em High Monte Walsh 90% 64% Monte Walsh Watchlist Little Big Man 91% 87% Little Big Man Watchlist Major Dundee 97% 67% Major Dundee Watchlist The Professionals 89% 81% The Professionals Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis There's a single piece of land around Flagstone with water on it, and rail baron Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) aims to have it, knowing the new railroad will have to stop there. He sends his henchman Frank (Henry Fonda) to scare the land's owner, McBain (Frank Wolff), but Frank kills him instead and pins it on a known bandit, Cheyenne (Jason Robards). Meanwhile, a mysterious gunslinger with a score to settle (Charles Bronson) and McBain's new wife, Jill (Claudia Cardinale), arrive in town.
Director
Sergio Leone
Producer
Bino Cicogna
Screenwriter
Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, Sergio Leone
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Western
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
May 28, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 6, 2014
Runtime
2h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now