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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
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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.
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Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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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 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

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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 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 stefan C Ver long but one of the GOATED western movies! That Harmonica music is so good! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Steve W The ending was AMAZINGGGGG however it had a very slow build up. If you get bored easily, then Don't watch this. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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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
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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)
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