The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Sergio Leone's landmark Spaghetti Western pits three ruthless men against each other in a deadly hunt for $200,000 in stolen Civil War gold.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
  • Release Year: 1966
  • Directed by: Sergio Leone
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Western
  • Runtime: 2h 41m
  • Original Language: Italian
  • Spoken Languages: Italian
  • Release Date (Theatrical): December 23, 1966 (Italy - VM14), December 29, 1967 (United States), September 6, 1968 (United Kingdom), December 15, 1967 (Germany - 18), March 8, 1968 (France - TP), April 15, 1969 (India - A), July 31, 1969 (Australia), January 11, 1968 (Brazil - 14), April 17, 1969 (Mexico - C), August 7, 1968 (Spain), July 5, 1969 (South Korea)
  • Alternative Titles: 석양에 돌아오다 (KR), O Bom, o Mau e o Feio (BR), Kargi, cudi, boroti (GE), Yaxşı, Pis və Çirkin (AZ), الطيب , الشرس و القبيح (EG), El bueno, el feo, el malo (CU), Den gode, den onde och den fule (FI), El bueno, el feo, el malo (PR)
  • Production Companies: United Artists, PEA, Arturo González PC, Constantin Film
  • Production Countries: United States of America, Italy, Spain, Germany

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Plot

While the Civil War rages on between the Union and the Confederacy, three men – a quiet loner, a ruthless hitman, and a Mexican bandit – comb the American Southwest in search of a strongbox containing $200,000 in stolen gold.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Trailer

Watch the official trailer and see the legend unfold:

For three men the Civil War wasn't hell. It was practice.

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Sergio Leone

Main Cast

  • Clint Eastwood
  • Eli Wallach
  • Lee Van Cleef
  • Aldo Giuffrè
  • Luigi Pistilli
  • Rada Rassimov
  • Enzo Petito
  • Claudio Scarchilli
  • Antonio Casale
  • Livio Lorenzon

Writers

  • Luciano Vincenzoni
  • Sergio Leone
  • Agenore Incrocci
  • Furio Scarpelli

Producers

  • Alberto Grimaldi

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - FAQs

Where can you stream The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is available to stream on MGM+, Philo, and AMC+. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Free ad-supported viewing is available on The Roku Channel and Fawesome.

What is the famous three-way standoff in the film?

The film's climax features a legendary three-way Mexican standoff — known as the “triello” — in a circular graveyard arena. Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes face off in a tense, wordless duel scored by Ennio Morricone's iconic music. It remains one of cinema's most celebrated and imitated sequences.

Who are the three main characters in the film?

The three leads are Blondie (Clint Eastwood), a cool-headed bounty hunter; Tuco Ramirez (Eli Wallach), a cunning and volatile Mexican outlaw; and Sentenza, also known as Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), a ruthless and calculating hitman. Each embodies the title's moral archetypes.

Is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly based on a true story?

No, the film is not based on a true story. It is an original screenplay by Sergio Leone, Luciano Vincenzoni, Agenore Incrocci, and Furio Scarpelli. However, it is set against the historically authentic backdrop of the American Civil War, lending the story a strong sense of period realism.

When was The Good, the Bad and the Ugly released?

The film had its world premiere in Italy on December 23, 1966. It was subsequently released in the United States on December 29, 1967, in Germany on December 15, 1967, and in the United Kingdom on September 6, 1968, with further international releases following through 1969.

How long is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly has a runtime of 2 hours and 41 minutes (161 minutes). Sergio Leone was renowned for his expansive, unhurried pacing, and this film is considered one of the definitive examples of his grand, operatic approach to the Western genre.

Did The Good, the Bad and the Ugly win any awards?

While the film did not receive major awards recognition upon its initial release, it has since earned widespread critical acclaim and is consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made. It appears on numerous all-time best lists, including high placements on IMDb's Top 250 and Sight & Sound polls.

What are similar movies to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?

Fans of this film often enjoy For a Few Dollars More (1965), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), High Noon (1952), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Duck, You Sucker (1971) — all notable Westerns with strong characters and moral complexity.

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