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The Outlaw Josey Wales
1976 135 min United States of America PG 12+
★8.0
Western
Director: Clint Eastwood
🎭 Based on
«The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales»
byAsa Earl Carter
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Description
After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.
Budget:
$3.7M
US Gross:
$31.8M
Worldwide:
$31.8M
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Actor
Sondra Locke
Actor
Chief Dan George
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1977
— Best Original Score
Key opinion
The Outlaw Josey Wales is widely regarded as a standout entry in Clint Eastwood's filmography, effectively blending traditional Western elements with a character-driven road movie structure. While some critics argue it relies on genre clichés, most praise its emotional depth, strong supporting cast, and its evolution from a standard revenge tale into a meditation on found family.
| Acting | Chief Dan George and John Vernon deliver standout supporting performances that add essential character color and emotional weight. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography masterfully utilizes the harsh, vast landscapes of the American West to enhance the film's visual scale. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative successfully pivots from a violent revenge plot to a compelling road-movie structure focused on surrogate family dynamics. | |
| Acting | Clint Eastwood provides a physically imposing and charismatic lead performance that anchors the film's shift from vengeful killer to empathetic protector. | |
| Pacing | The two-hour-plus runtime divides opinion: supporters find the episodic road-trip pacing engaging and brisk, while detractors feel the film is overlong and prone to narrative lulls. | |
| Originality | Opinions on the script's originality are split; some applaud its mature exploration of post-war grief, while others contend it relies too heavily on standard Western archetypes and banal dialogue. |