The most celebrated Westerns usually feature actors such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper or Clint Eastwood, and no matter how many years go by, those movies tend to stand the test of time.
Beloved director John Sturges had a hit on his hands in 1972 with an Eastwood movie, but that film didn’t get a lot of love out of the gate.
That film is Joe Kidd. Reputable film site IMDb has named the movie one of the top 10 Clint Eastwood Western movies of all time, coming in at No. 6 on its tally. The movie stars not only Eastwood but also Robert Duvall and John Saxon.
“An ex-bounty hunter reluctantly helps a wealthy landowner and his henchmen track down a Mexican revolutionary leader,” they state in their ranking.
Cowboys Indians has also declaredJoe Kidd one of the best Clint Eastwood films of all time. They note that while it was “overlooked,” it’s really a hidden gem in his collection of Western films.
“Often overlooked, this lean western finds Eastwood caught between power and principle in a land dispute set against the New Mexico frontier,” they note. “It’s a reminder that even his lesser-discussed westerns still carry plenty of grit.”
Clint Eastwood Created a Subtle Hit in Joe Kidd
Why not add another? Rotten Tomatoes is also calling Joe Kidd a must-see Eastwood film, ranking it No. 24 out of all of his films.
“In New Mexico, one-time bounty hunter Joe Kidd owns a ranch where a nearby group of Mexican revolutionaries, led by Luis Chama, fights for their rightful land after the U.S. government denies their claims,” they note of the storyline. “In response, a greedy landowner gathers a posse to capture Chama and solicits Kidd’s assistance.”
Eastwood is arguably the best actor to ever appear in the Western genre, or at least one of the greatest. It’s difficult to narrow down his tally of the best Westerns of all time, but when it happens, Eastwood and Joe Kidd deserve to be on the list.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jul 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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