Numbers Don't Lie: The Highest-Grossing Clint Eastwood Movies, Ranked

Clint Eastwood: a name that practically evokes the whistle of an Ennio Morricone score, the creak of saddle leather, and a drawl that could stop a bar brawl dead. From his memorable role as the "Man With No Name" in Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns to the no-nonsense cop Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry series,

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Highlights

  • Clint Eastwood's net worth is approximately $375 million, with a total film gross of $3.8 billion worldwide.
  • Sudden Impact is the highest-grossing Dirty Harry film, with a total box office of $67.6 million, spawning the iconic line "Go ahead, make my day."
  • The Mule earned $174.8 million globally against a $50 million budget, almost quadrupling its costs and sparking discussions on aging and morality.

Clint Eastwood: a name that practically evokes the whistle of an Ennio Morricone score, the creak of saddle leather, and a drawl that could stop a bar brawl dead.

From his memorable role as the "Man With No Name" in Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns to the no-nonsense cop Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry series, Eastwood has embodied a timeless brand of cinematic masculinity for over six decades.

Behind the rugged persona lies an intelligent filmmaker and prolific actor who has amassed a net worth of approximately $375 million.

With over 70 acting credits and a directorial career studded with critical acclaim, Eastwood's films have grossed a collective $3.8 billion worldwide.

Although the Academy Award-winning director might be synonymous with westerns and tough-guy roles, his filmography shows an outstanding range and some serious box office results.

Let's dive into the highest-grossing Clint Eastwood movies, where the numbers tell the story of a legendary career.

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10 Sudden Impact (1983)

Global Box Office, Sudden Impact - $67,642,693

The fourth installment in the Dirty Harry series, Sudden Impact, saw Clint Eastwood not only reprise his role as the ruthless Inspector Harry Callahan but also step behind the camera as a director.

This neo-noir thriller follows a traumatized survivor of sexual assault (Sondra Locke) who, years later, embarks on a methodical revenge spree. Callahan, known for his brutal methods, is assigned to the case, leading to a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game.

Sudden Impact is perhaps most famous for spawning one of cinema's iconic catchphrases: "Go ahead, make my day."

With an opening weekend gross of $9.7 million in the US, the film's total domestic earnings reached $67.6 million.

Despite mixed critical reception, it remains the highest-grossing entry in the Dirty Harry franchise.

Estimated Budget

$22,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$9,688,561

Box Office (Domestic)

-

Box Office (International)

$67,642,693

Box Office (Total)

$67,642,693

9 Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Global Box Office, Any Which Way You Can - $70,687,344

Clint Eastwood traded his gritty cop persona for a lighter touch in this sequel to the box office smash Every Which Way But Loose.

As Philo Beddoe, Eastwood's easygoing charm and comedic timing shone as he reluctantly returned to bare-knuckle brawling, this time facing off against a Mafia-backed opponent.

Throw in Ruth Gordon's hilarious antics as Ma and the return of the bumbling Black Widow motorcycle gang, and you have a recipe for box office gold.

Any Which Way You Can debuted as the number-one film at the US box office with an opening weekend gross of $8 million.

It ultimately grossed $70.7 million in the United States and Canada against a $15 million budget, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 1980.

Estimated Budget

$15,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$8,024,663

Box Office (Domestic)

$70,687,344

Box Office (International)

-

Box Office (Total)

$70,687,344

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8 Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

Global Box Office, Every Which Way But Loose - $85,196,485

Every Which Way But Loose marked a surprising departure for Clint Eastwood, from his usual roles.

Swapping his usual stoic gunslinger persona for a more lighthearted role, Eastwood portrayed Philo Beddoe, a trucker with a knack for bare-knuckle brawling and a soft spot for his pet orangutan, Clyde.

In his cross-country search for a lost love, Philo encounters many colorful characters, including bumbling cops and a not-so-bright biker gang. While critics were lukewarm, audiences loved this offbeat comedy.

According to Box Office Mojo, Every Which Way But Loose grossed $10.3 million in its first week, and ultimately bagged $104.3 million in the United States and Canada.

Adjusted for inflation, the film's total gross would amount to approximately $463 million today.

Estimated Budget

$5,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$10,272,294

Box Office (Domestic)

$85,196,485

Box Office (International)

-

Box Office (Total)

$85,196,485

7 Space Cowboys (2000)

Global Box Office, Space Cowboys - $128,884,132

In Space Cowboys, Clint Eastwood directed and took to the stars as Frank Corvin, part of a veteran astronaut team sent on an unlikely mission to fix a malfunctioning Soviet satellite.

Joined by a star-studded cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner, the film blends action, humor, and a touch of nostalgia.

Although some critics found the plot a little predictable, audiences responded to its blend of heart and spectacle.

Space Cowboys blasted off to a successful box office run, achieving a domestic gross of over $90 million and a further $38 million from the international market, for a global total of $128.8 million against a budget of $65 million.

Estimated Budget

$65,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$18,093,776

Box Office (Domestic)

$90,464,773

Box Office (International)

$38,419,359

Box Office (Total)

$128,884,132

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6 Unforgiven (1992)

Global Box Office, Unforgiven - $159,167,799

With Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood shattered his gunslinger image.

He plays William Munny, a widowed farmer haunted by a bloody past, who reluctantly straps on his six-shooters for one last act of violence.

The film's plot relies on a melancholy meditation on violence, redemption, and the weight of a bloody past.

Eastwood's masterful direction strips the genre down to its raw core, exposing the ugliness, the desperation, and the impossible weight of redemption.

Unforgiven grossed $15 million in its opening weekend, making it the best-ever opening for a Clint Eastwood film at that time. It went on to earn $101.2 million in North America and $58 million in other territories.

Unforgiven won four Academy Awards, including "Best Picture," and "Best Director" for Eastwood, "Best Supporting Actor" for Gene Hackman, and "Best Film Editing" for Joel Cox.

Adjusted for inflation, its total gross stands at $257 million today.

Estimated Budget

$14.400,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$15,018,007

Box Office (Domestic)

$101,167,799

Box Office (International)

$58,000,000

Box Office (Total)

$159,167,799

5 The Mule (2018)

Global Box Office, The Mule - $174,804,407

In The Mule, Clint Eastwood stepped back behind the camera and in front of it, directing and starring as Earl Stone, a weathered World War II veteran facing foreclosure on his beloved flower business.

Desperate for a way out, Earl takes on a seemingly simple driving job that turns out to be something far more perilous: drug trafficking for a Mexican Cartel.

Eastwood delivers a nuanced performance as a man caught between desperation and a fading sense of right and wrong. The Mule sparked conversations about aging, societal pressures, and the complexities of morality.

It was a box office success, grossing $103.8 million in the US and Canada and a further $69.8 million from other countries.

A combined global total of $174.8 million nearly quadrupled the film's estimated $50 million budget.

Estimated Budget

$50,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$17,509,431

Box Office (Domestic)

$103,804,407

Box Office (International)

$71,000,000

Box Office (Total)

$174,804,407

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4 The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)

Global Box Office, The Bridges Of Madison County - $182,016,617

Swapping shootouts for stolen glances, Clint Eastwood painted a surprisingly tender portrait in The Bridges Of Madison County.

Eastwood plays Robert Kincaid, a rugged National Geographic photographer whose path crosses with Francesca (Meryl Streep), a woman resigned to a quiet farm life.

When her family leaves, a spark ignites, transforming four ordinary days into a whirlwind of longing and impossible choices.

Eastwood's direction is subtly potent, capturing the quiet beauty of Iowa and the aching, unspoken desires of his characters. The Bridges Of Madison County opened with $10.5 million in its initial weekend.

By the end of its run, the film had grossed $71.5 million in the United States and Canada and $110.5 million overseas for a worldwide total of $182 million.

Estimated Budget

$24,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$10,519,257

Box Office (Domestic)

$71,516,617

Box Office (International)

$110,500,000

Box Office (Total)

$182,016,617

3 In The Line Of Fire (1993)

Global Box Office, In The Line Of Fire - $176,997,168

More than just pulse-pounding action, In The Line Of Fire delivers a psychological cat-and-mouse game between Eastwood's seasoned agent and a twisted, brilliant foe.

Haunted by his role in guarding President Kennedy during the Dallas tragedy, Frank Horrigan (Eastwood) is a grizzled Secret Service agent nearing retirement.

His final mission takes on significance when he is assigned to protect the President (Rene Russo) from a deranged ex-CIA assassin (John Malkovich) with a personal vendetta.

This edge-of-your-seat thriller explores the burdens of duty, the passage of time, and the chance for redemption. Eastwood's portrayal of a flawed hero was a sleeper hit at the box office.

The film debuted with an opening weekend gross of $15 million.

It went on to earn over $102 million in North America and $85 million internationally, resulting in a total worldwide gross of $187 million against a production budget of $40 million.

Estimated Budget

$40,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$15,269,388

Box Office (Domestic)

$102,314,823

Box Office (International)

$74,682,345

Box Office (Total)

$176,997,168

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2 Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Global Box Office, Million Dollar Baby - $216,763,646

Clint Eastwood delivered a poignant double act in this 2004 drama, serving both as director and starring as Frankie Dunn, a grizzled boxing trainer reluctant to take on Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank).

Maggie is a fierce underdog, a waitress with a dream far bigger than her experience. But what starts as a familiar underdog sports story takes a dark, emotionally complex turn.

Despite initial hesitation, Frankie recognizes Maggie's potential and takes her under his wing. Million Dollar Baby delivered a financial uppercut, raking in over $216 million worldwide against a $30 million budget.

It proved that audiences craved more than just boxing theatrics; they were ready for a gut-wrenching exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the tough choices life can demand.

Estimated Budget

$30,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$179,953

Box Office (Domestic)

$100,492,203

Box Office (International)

$116,271,443

Box Office (Total)

$216,763,646

1 Gran Torino (2008)

Global Box Office, Gran Torino - $269,958,228

The Academy Award-winning director and producer did triple duty in the drama film Gran Torino, acting as director, producer, and lead actor.

Eastwood portrays Walt Kowalski, a grumpy Korean War veteran living in Detroit. Walt's world is shaken when his prized possession, a 1972 Ford Torino, becomes a target for his Hmong immigrant neighbors.

Gran Torino defies expectations, transforming a potential revenge tale into a poignant exploration of cultural clashes, forgiveness, and finding an unexpected family.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics for Eastwood's direction and performance within the Hmong community in the United States, but it also received criticism for its cultural inaccuracies.

In its wide-release opening weekend in the US, Gran Torino grossed $29.5 million, and is the highest-grossing Clint Eastwood movie to date.

It went on to amass a worldwide total of $269.96 million, with a domestic gross of $148.1 million and an international gross of $121.8 million.

Estimated Budget

$33,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$271,720

Box Office (Domestic)

$148,095,302

Box Office (International)

$121,862,926

Box Office (Total)

$269,958,228

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