Once Upon a Time in the West

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Once Upon a Time in the West

PG-13

Released May 28, 1969

2h 45m

Western

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96%

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67 Reviews

94%

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Leone’s gloriously inflated epic isn’t just any old Western. It’s all of them.

May 26, 2023

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JOE S

Classic spaghetti Western

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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Tom

Awesome quality film print. Really enjoyed the movie. Excellent food and drink service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

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Nico B

The best western of all time, tied with the good, the bad and the ugly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Audience Member

If you are into a captivating story with complimentary mood and tone, well, this Western hits hard. Honour, Courage, Tragedy are demonstrated by great acting. The music seems to make it magical and complete. I don't know how they made this so good, and that was done in 1968.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

Full Review

Turn K

If I had to choose a short list of 10 western movies, this is the 1st one I think of selecting. Awesome and amazing, words don't do it justice, see it for yourself and then you can decide.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Romas M

Greetings from Lithuania. "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) is a great movie. Deliberately slowly paced, it tells an old fashioned western story, but those this in an epic way. Brilliantly directed by the legendary Sergio Leone, this is a film in every meaning of this word. It looks epic, it feels epic and it epic in every frame. Cinematography here is stunning. How in the world movie like this haven't won multiple Oscar for its stunning production values is beyond me. Music by a legendary Ennio Morricone is absolutely unforgettable here. Acting by all involved was very good. And while the story takes its time to be told, its truly an involving one. Overall, "Once Upon a Time in the West" is a classic not without a reason. Stunningly filmed, with jaw dropping landscapes, unforgettable music this revenge tale was tailor made as an epic film. This surely must be seen more then once to be truly appreciated. One of the best spaghetti westerns ever made, and truly a stunning cinema in every way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

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Sergio Leone

Director

Henry Fonda

Frank

Claudia Cardinale

Jill McBain

Charles Bronson

Harmonica

Jason Robards

Cheyenne

Frank Wolff

Brett McBain

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

2:05

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

2:14

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

2:12

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

2:13

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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)

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