High Plains Drifter

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High Plains Drifter

R

1973

1h 45m

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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31 Reviews

85%

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25,000+ Ratings

In this Western, a drifter with no name 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.

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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.

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Perry Stewart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Jun 14, 2022

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.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Oct 28, 2013

4/5

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.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Oct 26, 2008

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.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Apr 25, 2026

1.5/4

...a well-worn yet promising setup that is, for the most part, employed to uninvolving and rather tiresome effect by Eastwood...

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Apr 5, 2023

4/5

In High Plains Drifter, Clint Eastwood already shows off his promising talents as a filmmaker in only his second directing gig.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Feb 11, 2023

2.5/4

A nasty, eerie Clint Eastwood Western...

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Evan P

@EliteShadow2001 Oct 21, 2026

Amazing movie i love the horror and western vibes goes so well my fav bit is where he paints the town red and writes on the sign welcome to hell was so cool i love they make him kinda feel like a ghost too that was cool

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Megan C

@TexIcana Oct 10, 2026

The rape of an unpleasant woman by the protagonist in the first 15 minutes ruins the wonderful scene setting and justified gun fight right before. All merits negated by this choice.

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G L

@RT09869090 Sep 27, 2026

A man thought dead comes back for revenge against the town & the hired guns who tried to kill him, Clint Eastwood is unstoppable.

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Claudio C

@Claudio666 Sep 11, 2026

High Plains Drifter (1973) An Avenger Angel Looking for Revenge (12,680 – 17 Dec 2000/ 01 Sep 2020 / 11 Sep 2026 – Claudio Carvalho) "High Plains Drifter" is a great movie about revenge. The viewer never knows whether the "stranger with no name" is a brother or a friend of Marshal Jim Duncan, or whether he is the avenger angel of Jim Duncan himself looking for revenge. In the last scene, when Mordecai asks for the name of the stranger while carving the gravestone of Jin Duncan in the cemetery saying that he did not know his name, the drifter responds that Mordecai does know his name. In the gravestone is written "Marshall Jim Duncan - Rest in Peace". Fans of western movies will not be disappointed with this film, no matter whether he is a cowboy or a supernatural character. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "O Estranho sem Nome" ("The Stranger without a Name")

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Marc Z

@TKDLife Aug 11, 2026

It was Western films Like High Plains Drifter that made Clint Eastwood the King of this genre. His terrifyingly controlled low key gunslinger is the embodiment of modern Western Cowboy. This is not John Wayne's White hatted hero. This is a complex and dark character on a mission. The story is not simple but engaging. The characters are great. Well Directed by Clint Eastwood. This is an adult western and it has held up well.

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George S.

@GPSPROUD1 Jun 19, 2026

I love this movie! Eastwood stars and directs this pre Tarantino film with complex character development and a good script without and dead spots. The film ending can be discussed by sociologists for decades, but the film will stand the test of time for its clever story and beautiful landscapes.

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

The Stranger

Verna Bloom

Sarah Belding

Marianna Hill

Callie Travers

Mitch Ryan

Dave Drake

Jack Ging

Morgan Allen

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipped to Death

2:15

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipping the Outlaw

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Blowing Up The Hotel

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Sheriff and the Mayor

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shave and a Shootout

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shooting Up Hell

1:57

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Killing the Outlaws

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Target Practice

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - He Shot My Ear Off!

3:17

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High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Stranger Rides Away

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Synopsis

In this Western, a drifter with no name 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

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