One of the best-known niches in the Western genre is the movies made in Italy during the height of Western film popularity, commonly known as Spaghetti Westerns. Highly influential thanks to their political discussions, historical relevance, and boundary-pushing gore, Spaghetti Westerns have inspired great filmmakers of many genres, particularly those who have made contemporary Westerns. One of the most famous modern directors of Westerns and well-known for his violent stories, Quentin Tarantino, makes movies for audiences who would respond well to the classic genre.
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Many of Quentin Tarantino’s best movie characters share traits with the iconic anti-heroes found in classic Spaghetti Westerns. Grappling with the role of isolation and justice in the so-called “lawless” West, these characters are often forced to interrogate their own positions as forces for good or evil. While the graphic imagery and fast-paced fight sequences are definitive aspects of Tarantino’s filmography, that’s not all these Spaghetti Westerns have to offer. With complex political discussions and plenty of humor, these films have become longstanding iconic pieces of history for a reason.
10 Django (1966)
Directed by Sergio Corbucci
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Django Not RatedWesternActionDrama
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*Availability in US Release Date November 30, 1966 Runtime 91 Minutes Cast Franco Nero , José Canalejas , José Bódalo , Loredana Nusciak , Ángel Álvarez , Gino Pernice , Simón Arriaga , Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia Director Sergio Corbucci Writers Sergio Corbucci , Bruno Corbucci , Franco Rossetti
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From the title alone, it’s easy to see why this movie would be essential viewing for any Tarantino fan, as it inspired the filmmaker’s 2012 film, Django Unchained. Directed by Sergio Corbucci, one of the heavy hitters of the Spaghetti Western genre, Django is the original movie that started a sizable franchise. The star and first actor to bring the character of Django to life, Franco Nero, didn’t return as Django for every installment. However, he continued making his name as one of the biggest Western stars of his time in works like Keoma and The Mercenary.
Unafraid to push the genre to its limits and engage with the darkest corners of the Western world, works like Tarantino’s wouldn’t exist without
Django
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At the time of its release, Django was considered extremely violent. Though onscreen gore is more typical in the contemporary era, Django isn’t suitable for viewers who don’t like the sight of blood. Unafraid to push the genre to its limits and engage with the darkest corners of the Western world, works like Tarantino’s wouldn’t exist without Django. Full of morally questionable characters and graphic imagery, Django has been a cornerstone of dramatic violence onscreen for decades.
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Django (1966) |
94% |
83% |
9 Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
Directed by Sergio Leone
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10/10 Once Upon a Time in the West pg-13WesternDrama
Once Upon a Time in the West is a critically acclaimed Italian Western released in 1968. Directed by Sergio Leone, the film stars Henry Fonda as Frank and Charles Bronson as Harmonica, two men who work together to protect widow Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale) from an assassin. Sergio Donati and Leone wrote the screenplay for the film based on a story by Dario Argento.
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*Availability in US Release Date December 20, 1968 Runtime 166 Minutes Cast Henry Fonda , Charles Bronson , Claudia Cardinale , Jason Robards , Gabriele Ferzetti Director Sergio Leone Writers Sergio Leone , Sergio Donati , Dario Argento , Bernardo Bertolucci Studio(s) Rafran Cinematografica , San Marco , Paramount Pictures Expand
Directed by Sergio Leone, arguably the most famous Spaghetti Western filmmaker,Once Upon a Time in the West features some of the best characters of Sergio Leone’s Westerns. Even if audiences haven’t seen Once Upon a Time in the West, it’s likely they’ve been impacted by its influence. Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is far from the only movie that pays tribute to the film with its title and draws inspiration from its iconic story. Henry Fonda leads the cast in an unexpected turn as the terrible villain, Frank, who is just as horrible as Tarantino’s worst antagonists.
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Widely regarded as one of the best Spaghetti Westerns of all time, Once Upon a Time in the West is the definitive work from this era and genre, becoming synonymous with what a Western should be. Tarantino has cited the film as an inspiration for his work, as well as other high-profile filmmakers who seek to explore the violence and individualism that marked so much of the lore of American history. Despite its significant length, Once Upon a Time in the West earns its runtime and engages audiences from beginning to end.
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Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) |
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94% |
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8 The Great Silence (1968)
Directed by Sergio Corbucci
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The Great Silence Not RatedWesternDrama
The Great Silence is a 1968 Western directed by Sergio Corbucci. Set in snow-covered Utah during the Great Blizzard of 1899, the film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as a mute gunslinger who protects a group of persecuted outlaws from ruthless bounty hunters, led by Klaus Kinski’s character. Noted for its bleak tone and theme of social justice, the movie is recognized as a critical entry in the Spaghetti Western genre.
Release Date January 27, 1969 Runtime 105 Minutes Cast Jean-Louis Trintignant , Klaus Kinski , Frank Wolff , Luigi Pistilli , Mario Brega , Carlo D’Angelo , Marisa Merlini , Maria Mizar Director Sergio Corbucci Writers Sergio Corbucci , Vittoriano Petrilli , Mario Amendola , Bruno Corbucci , John Davis Hart , Lewis E. Ciannelli Studio(s) Adelphia Compagnia Cinematografica , Les Films Corona Expand
One of the most grim Spaghetti Westerns, The Great Silence, has influenced many great modern filmmakers, not just Tarantino. Immediately, The Great Silence distinguishes itself in terms of style and setting, as it takes place in the mountains of Utah, with the director, Corbucci, filming in the Italian Dolomites. Often discussed with the same veneration as Corbucci’s earlier work, Django, The Great Silence stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as the titular Silence, who shoots his way through the mountains with deadly precision.
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The bleak original ending of The Great Silence is on par with the drama and intensity of the final battles, shootouts, and explosions that Tarantino is known for. Like Corbucci, Tarantino isn’t afraid to end a film with the deaths of its heroes, and The Great Silence is the perfect film for audiences who appreciate Tarantino’s willingness to push his characters to their limits. As far as Western heroes go, Silence might be as quiet as his name suggests, but he’s incredibly memorable.
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The Great Silence (1968) |
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89% |
7 They Call Me Trinity (1970)
Directed by Enzo Barboni
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They Call Me Trinity GComedyWestern
They Call Me Trinity is an Italian western comedy directed by Enzo Barboni. The film stars Terence Hill as Trinity, a laid-back but skilled gunslinger, and Bud Spencer as his morally upright half-brother Bambino. Together, they navigate various comedic and action-packed situations in a small western town. The film blends humor with classic western tropes, delivering an entertaining and lighthearted experience.
Release Date December 22, 1970 Runtime 115 Minutes Cast Terence Hill , Bud Spencer Director Enzo Barboni Writers Enzo Barboni Studio(s) West Film Expand
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Infusing elements of comedy into the Western genre while never skimping on the gunslinging intrigue, They Call Me Trinity pokes fun at the more outlandish parts of Spaghetti Westerns. Terence Hill stars as Trinity, one of the bumbling so-called heroes who attempt to save the day in They Call Me Trinity. This wouldn’t be Hill’s only starring role in a Western comedy, as the actor had the perfect blend of rugged looks and hilarious comedic timing. He’s joined by Bud Spencer as Trinity’s brother, Bambino, and the pair have excellent onscreen chemistry.
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Two more films in the Trinity series would be produced. Trinity Is Still My Name, and the much later Sons of Trinity followed the original. However, They Call Me Trinity remains the most compelling and fun addition to the small franchise. The brother dynamic and misguided actions of the story’s heroes are reminiscent of the comedic-leaning protagonists of some of Tarantino’s films. With a lighter narrative and more digestible violence, They Call Me Trinity is a strong contender for one of the most approachable Spaghetti Westerns.
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6 The Big Gundown (1966)
Directed by Sergio Sollima
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The Big Gundown ApprovedDramaWestern
The Big Gundown is a spaghetti western directed by Sergio Sollima, featuring Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunter Jonathan Corbett and Tomás Milián as the elusive Cuchillo. Set against the backdrop of the American Southwest, the film revolves around Corbett’s relentless pursuit of Cuchillo, who is accused of a heinous crime. Filled with intense chases and moral ambiguity, The Big Gundown is a notable entry in the genre.
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*Availability in US Release Date March 1, 1967 Runtime 110 Minutes Cast Lee Van Cleef , Tomas Milian , Walter Barnes , Nieves Navarro , Gerard Herter , Maria Granada Director Sergio Sollima Writers Sergio Donati , Sergio Sollima Studio(s) PEA , Produzioni , Cinematographice Tulio Demicheli Expand
The concept of the lone heroic bounty hunter and his brand of solitary justice is interrogated in The Big Gundown, which stars the iconic Lee Van Cleef as the conflicted hero, Colorado. Manipulated into hounding Cuchillo (Tomas Milian) for a violent crime by the powerful and wealthy Brokston (Walter Barnes), Colorado must decide what kind of vengeance he wants to carry out by the end of the film. As time has progressed, The Big Gundown has come to the forefront of lesser-known Spaghetti Westerns that deserve reevaluation.
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Plenty of action and intrigue keep the plot moving forward, but it’s ultimately the internal battle raging inside Colorado that keeps viewers engaged until the film’s final moments.
The twist halfway through The Big Gundown cements the movie as a thrilling and important part of the Spaghetti Western oeuvre. Plenty of action and intrigue keep the plot moving forward, but it’s ultimately the internal battle raging inside Colorado that keeps viewers engaged until the film’s final moments. Tarantino also touched upon this romanticization of the wandering hero and how this isolation can easily be used against these vigilantes.
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86% |
5 A Bullet For The General (1966)
Directed by Damiano Damiani
Full of action and excitement, Damiano Damiani’s A Bullet for the General is an early example of how political the Spaghetti Western genre would become. Though Tarantino often concerns himself with revisionist history, it’s clear that the political overtones featured in works like A Bullet for the General had a significant influence on him. Gian Maria Volonté and Lou Castel star in the film as Chucho and Bill, and their complex relationship is used as an allegory for how the story grapples with revolution.
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While it’s clearly in favor of liberation and revolution over personal gain and foreign intervention,A Bullet for the General can be interpreted in many ways. However, its lasting impact is largely thanks to how relevant the narrative was at the time of its release and how it’s stood the test of time into the contemporary era. A Bullet for the General‘s interest in both historical discussions and well-choreographed action sequences speaks to Tarantino’s own incorporation of world history into his work and his violent style.
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71% |
4 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
Directed by Sergio Leone
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Western
In the United States, a mysterious gunfighter tries to work together with a bandit and a bounty hunter to find a hidden treasure. The men are forced to forge a difficult alliance as each knows only part of the location. The big problem is that none of them has any intention of sharing the wealth once they’ve found it.
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*Availability in US Release Date December 29, 1967 Runtime 161 minutes Cast Clint Eastwood , Eli Wallach , Lee Van Cleef , Aldo Giuffrè , Luigi Pistilli Director Sergio Leone
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Though it’s far from an unknown or underrated addition to the Spaghetti Western genre, at least one collaboration between Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone must be discussed. One of the most beloved Westerns of all time, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, is the final movie of the Dollars Trilogy and one of the most highly-regarded of these films. Since its release, time has only increased the reverence and popularity of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and the way directors like Tarantino pay tribute to its influence is part of why.
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It’s difficult to find one protagonist within the Western genre whose creation was at least partly inspired by Eastwood and his numerous contributions to the genre. Though The Good, the Bad and the Ugly isn’t usually ranked as Eastwood’s best, it’s up there on the list of his most arresting Westerns. The development of the characters and their relationships is fantastic, and the film successfully drops hints about the final twist while using violence to propel the story forward. These are all skillful tactics that can be seen in Tarantino’s work.
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967) |
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97% |
3 My Name Is Nobody (1973)
Directed by Tonino Valerii
One of the most underrated Western comedies, My Name Is Nobody stars Terence Hill and Henry Fonda as Nobody and his gunslinger mentor, Jack Beauregard. Playing with the trope of the aging hero teaching and being usurped by the young upstart, My Name Is Nobody is a much less serious Western, as it’s committed to poking fun at the formulas and archetypes of the genre. This subversion is an early form of what Tarantino does with his tributes to many classic genres like Westerns, Martial Arts films, and war movies.
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Though Tarantino’s work is typically defined by violence and gore, the sharp wit and sense of humor that runs through his scripts are also evident. While My Name Is Nobody leans into the goofier moments with physical comedy and slapstick humor, this connects to the dark comedy that defines Tarantino’s films. There’s clearly love and respect for all forms of the Western in My Name Is Nobody, traits that come through in Tarantino’s work as well.
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My Name Is Nobody (1973) |
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83% |
2 Duck, You Sucker! / A Fistful Of Dynamite (1971)
Directed by Sergio Leone
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A Fistful of Dynamite PGWestern
A Fistful of Dynamite, also known as Duck, You Sucker!, is a 1971 film directed by Sergio Leone. The story centers on an unlikely partnership between an Irish revolutionary (James Coburn) and a Mexican bandit (Rod Steiger) during the Mexican Revolution. Set against a backdrop of political upheaval, the film combines action with social commentary, exploring themes of friendship and betrayal.
Release Date January 1, 1971 Cast Rod Steiger , James Coburn , Romolo Valli , Maria Monti , Rik Battaglia , Franco Graziosi Director Sergio Leone Writers Sergio Leone , Sergio Donati , Luciano Vincenzoni
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Known as both Duck, You Sucker! and A Fistful of Dynamite, this movie was the second installment in Leone’s Once Upon a Time Trilogy, which began with Once Upon a Time in the West. Though the original film is the best-known of the informal trilogy, Duck, You Sucker! is a fun and too often overlooked part of Leone’s work. Starring Rod Steiger and James Coburn as Juan and John, a pair of revolutionaries who grow to rely on each other, Duck, You Sucker! grapples with the role of revolution in cinema, especially the Western.
When compared to Tarantino’s contemporary films, it’s clear that Tarantino uses past conflicts and revolutions as a way of discussing present unrest the way Leone does.
Though Duck, You Sucker! falls victim to the inherent prejudice and racism that ran rampant in the Western genre during this period, there’s still merit to be found in the story. When compared to Tarantino’s contemporary films, it’s clear that Tarantino uses past conflicts and revolutions as a way of discussing present unrest the way Leone does. The characters in Duck, You Sucker! are as disillusioned with what they’re fighting for, and this can be interpreted as Leone’s feelings about Italy during this period.
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Duck, You Sucker! (1971) |
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84% |
1 Death Rides A Horse (1967)
Directed by Giulio Petroni
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Death Rides A Horse RWesternDrama
Death Rides a Horse is a Western film directed by Giulio Petroni, starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law. The plot centers around a young man seeking revenge for the murder of his family and his partnership with an ex-outlaw who also has a score to settle. Set against the stark backdrop of the wild west, their journey is one of vengeance and justice intertwined.
Release Date August 31, 1967 Runtime 114 Minutes Cast Lee Van Cleef , John Phillip Law , Mario Brega , Luigi Pistilli , Anthony Dawson , José Torres , Franco Balducci , Bruno Corazzari Director Giulio Petroni Writers Luciano Vincenzoni
Though Death Rides a Horse didn’t receive the critical acclaim of other Westerns of its era, it’s still a great addition to the genre and connects to Tarantino’s oeuvre. Starring Lee Van Cleef, an iconic Spaghetti Western actor known for playing heroes and villains alike, Death Rides a Horse sees an unlikely bond form between his character Ryan and John Phillip Law’s Bill. Intertwined by fate and a desire for revenge, Ryan and Bill set out on an action-packed journey to track down the outlaws who wronged them.
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Revenge is a significant overarching theme in the Western genre, and Tarantino has clearly been inspired by this, allowing it to influence his own work. Seeing a pair of grudging allies work together for their bloody common goal and witnessing how their personalities clash yet complement each other is a well-known dynamic in Tarantino’s work. While the pace is on the slower side, Death Rides a Horse is most notable for the acting of Van Cleef and Law, which Tarantino fans will appreciate.
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50% |
72% |