The Outlaw Josey Wales
Performance & Direction: The Outlaw Josey Wales Review
Last updated: February 6, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Western.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Western is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Outlaw Josey Wales features a noteworthy lineup led by Clint Eastwood . Supported by the likes of Chief Dan George and Sondra Locke , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Quick Plot Summary: The Outlaw Josey Wales is a Western film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Ending Breakdown: The Outlaw Josey Wales resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to western resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the western themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Outlaw Josey Wales reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Outlaw Josey Wales?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Western films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: The Outlaw Josey Wales
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.7M |
| Worldwide Gross | $31.8M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The Outlaw Josey Wales Budget
The estimated production budget for The Outlaw Josey Wales is $3.7M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: The Outlaw Josey Wales
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Where to Watch The Outlaw Josey Wales Online?
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YouTubeThe Outlaw Josey Wales Parents Guide & Age Rating
1976 AdvisoryWondering about The Outlaw Josey Wales age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Outlaw Josey Wales is 135 minutes (2h 15m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.4/10, and global performance metrics, The Outlaw Josey Wales is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1976 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Outlaw Josey Wales worth watching?
The Outlaw Josey Wales is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Western movies. It has a verified rating of 7.4/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Outlaw Josey Wales parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Outlaw Josey Wales identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Outlaw Josey Wales?
The total duration of The Outlaw Josey Wales is 135 minutes, which is approximately 2h 15m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Outlaw Josey Wales
I guess we all died a little in that damned war. The Outlaw Josey Wales is directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars as Wales, and is adapted by Sonia Chernus & Phil Kaufman from the novel "The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales" written by Forrest Carter. Joining Eastwood in the cast are Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon & Paula Trueman. Music is by Jerry Fielding and Bruce Surtees photographs on location in Utah, Arizona & Wyoming. We are at the very end of the American Civil War and Josey Wales is a contented family man working on his Missouri farm. But his peaceful world is shattered when Union soldiers raid his home and murder his wife and child. Surviving the attack, Josey takes up arms with a group of Confederate guerrilla fighters who take the fight to the Redlegs. However, when the news comes that the war is over and the Confederates are required to surrender, Josey refuses to do so. A wise choice since his group are rounded up and slaughtered in cold blood. So Josey is forced to go on the lam as an outlaw, where hot on his trail are the Redleg group fronted by bloodthirsty Captain Terrill. On his way, as he contemplates survival and what life has in store for he and his aggressors, Josey acquires some interesting companions. Acclaimed by the critics upon its release, The Outlaw Josey Wales is ageing like a fine wine. It's a film Eastwood himself is very proud of, citing it as one of the high points in his career. Yet the film got off to a difficult start. It was originally given to Kaufman to direct with Eastwood's Malpaso company producing, but the star and director fell out over Kaufman's directing style - and that a certain Sondra Locke was turning the heads of both men. As we now know, there was only one winner there. The story is a classic Western tale, hell it's a powerful tale, one with layers that peel off as the film progresses. Josey Wales starts out a peaceful family man but after having that stripped away from him by violence, he too is forced to take up violence in response. So far so formulaic then. But the film is so much more than just a Western revenge yarn, even if that aspect of the story is darn good as Clint gets mean and broody and pulls his pistols. There's a real strong family thread throughout, from losing his own kin in the beginning - to a father son relationship - and on to the way he acquires a new family on his travels, it's very strong and gives the narrative a real emotional kick. As Josey goes on his way, angry, bitter and prepared to face the consequence of his choices, the character is constantly forming. It was only after a number of viewings that I personally realised that Josey Wales the man was being healed by the ragtag assortment of individuals that he collects on route to his character being rebuilt. Eastwood the actor here is on fine form, cool and every inch a man's man. But even Eastwood wouldn't decry the scene stealing excellence of Chief Dan George as Lone Watie. His dry wit puts him in the top tier of Western comedy sidekicks, but rest assured the character is more than that. For Watie acts as a sort of spiritual mentor to Wales, and Eastwood reacts positively to George's serene acting to give the film its tight bonded centre. The rest of the cast are a much of a muchness but all serve the story well with solid performances. In fact it's a rare occasion when Locke's vacant method acting actually works well! Eastwood the director is calm, assured and subtle in pacing, with his storytelling boosted considerably by Fielding's popping score and Surtees' gorgeous cinematography. The script is awash with attentive dialogue and punching moments of humour, whilst its noticeable denouncement of violence and intelligent portrayals of the Indians is to be roundly applauded. Iconography unbound and bulging with class in the writing, The Outlaw Josey Wales is not just one of Eastwoods best Westerns. It's one of the best Westerns period. I reckon so. 10/10
**_One of the Great Westerns_** The Civil War is over and the remaining rebels in Missouri are encouraged to turn over their weapons and pledge loyalty to the Union, but Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) hold out and thus a generous reward is put on his head. Josey heads to West Texas and maybe Mexico to find sanctuary, but will he make it alive? The cast includes the likes of Bill McKinney, John Vernon, Sondra Locke, Chief Dan George, Sam Bottoms and Will Sampson. “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976) is Eastwood’s best Western and a standout of the genre. Everything clicks for a top-of-the-line drama/adventure. A critic said that Wales’ encounter with the Federals in the first act establishes him as invincible and thus destroys any sense of suspense. No, it just means that he caught the soldiers by surprise and he escaped the clash unscathed with a mixture of skill and luck. A later scene reveals he’s decidedly mortal. The movie starts with the typical Bob Steele revenge plot and soon morphs into a trail movie (similar to a “road movie,” but with horses). As such, some interesting characters come-and-go (or, more accurately, come-and-die), but several stay on. It’s a string of memorable episodes on the long trail, like the river crossing and Josey’s well-done pow-wow with Ten Bears (Will Sampson). I like the emphasis on how an outcast can acquire an unconventional family, even if inadvertently. The film runs 2 hours, 15 minutes, and was shot in Oroville, California; Arizona; and Kanab Movie Ranch, Utah. Wyoming is also listed. GRADE: A
A little overlong, though 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' is an entertaining watch - with cool action sequences and a pleasing ending. You have a strong performance from Clint Eastwood and good support showings from the likes of Chief Dan George and John Vernon. The plot is interesting and the road-esque nature of it keeps it moving well. I do think they could've trimmed the run time slightly, while Eastwood's character really didn't need to spit so much - on a dog and some insects, no less. Just bizarre, it adds zero and simply becomes an irritation. A sequel, without the involvement of Eastwood, was released ten years after this - I'm intrigued to check it out.
Believe it or not, this is a western film starring a Clint Eastwood who actually has some dialogue! He’s the eponymous farmer who has so far avoided the worst of the American Civil War only for his family to be brutally slaughtered by some marauding Yankees. Determined on retribution, he joins up with vigilante "Fletcher” (John Vernon) and his gang but yet more betrayal sees him on his own, traversing the country looking for revenge. His desperation has a certain magnetic quality to it, as he gradually attracts others on the fringe of what passes for society including “Lone” (Chief Dan George), the feisty “Grandma” (Paula Trueman) and the vulnerable “Laura” (Sondra Locke) whom he saves from a fate worse than death at the hands of more lawless raiders. With his search for “Terrill” (Bill McKinney) proving ever more perilous and his escapades more dangerous, might there still be any opportunity for him to suppress his lethal instincts, and perhaps, even find love again? This is quite a complexly structured drama that mixes the usual gritty and brutal storyline with which we are familiar from Eastwood with more in-depth characterisations from all, especially the underused but potent Vernon, as everyone comes to terms with grief, loneliness, vengeance and a sense that there is a maturity emerging into post-war America that might bring civilisation kicking and screaming along with it. It’s not always about intensity: George and Eastwood do bring a little light-heartedness to the proceedings and the photography captures well the hostility and unforgiving nature of this untamed wilderness.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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