To say that Clint Eastwood is one of the most influential Hollywood stars and directors of all time would undersell the contributions of the star. From Westerns like Hang 'Em High to war movies like Kelly's Heroes, the star has been a symbol of American masculinity and stoic heroism since the 1960s. Looking at his most iconic characters and best films, it's not hard to see why multiple generations looked up to him as a genuine movie legend.

Clint Eastwood's career has seen him take on a variety of genres, but it's hard to deny his Western and action-thriller movies are his most iconic. Whether behind the camera or on the big screen, his films have given audiences a long line of hard-boiled heroes, skilled detectives and grizzled gunslingers. Ranging across genres, he has too many brilliant movies to count, but some are as close to perfect as it gets.

A Fistful of Dollars follows the arrival of a mysterious drifter to the frontier town of San Miguel, a settlement caught in a war between two rival families, the Baxters and the Rojo brothers. Seeing an opportunity to enrich himself, the Stranger plays both sides against each other. After enduring a savage beating at the hands of the Rojos, the gunfighter's work becomes personal.

The first collaboration between Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone, A Fistful of Dollars helped usher in a new wave of Spaghetti Westerns, bringing the genre to new heights throughout the decade. From its tense opening to its iconic showdown, this adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo helped redefine its genre and effectively built up Eastwood's stardom overnight.

Where Eagles Dare casts Eastwood in the role of Schaeffer, an American soldier recruited to a British intelligence operation behind enemy lines. Along with his commander, British Major John Smith, he is tasked with infiltrating a German castle and rescuing a captured general. However, as their mission progresses, the American begins to realize he's being used for a greater purpose -- and questions the allegiance of his superior.

Where Eagles Dare has become more obscure to modern audiences, but it offers a brilliant look at World War II-era counter-intelligence, delivering a long list of twists that keep the audience in suspense. In the role of Schaeffer, Eastwood serves as the audience's surrogate, experiencing every revelation in line with the viewers. A gripping tale of espionage, this classic is one of the greatest war films of its decade.

Heartbreak Ridge follows the story of a seasoned Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, Tom Highway, as he's given command over a rebellious, ragtag recon platoon. Left with the tall order of getting them in shape and instilling some discipline, he makes a point of immersing his men in his old school training. Butting heads with his superiors, he gradually earns the respect of his unit, preparing them for their first combat mission.

Heartbreak Ridge gave Clint Eastwood his most badass character in Gunny Highway, a man defined by '80s-era one-liners, unrivaled competence and a steely-eyed gaze. For people who want a quintessentially Eastwood movie, it's hard to find something as good as this war movie. It may not be the action spectacle of Saving Private Ryan, but as a movie reflective of military culture, it has the enduring love and respect of real-life service members, who embrace its over-the-top cheesy tone.

Gran Torino follows a retiree and veteran, Walk Kowalski, a man with a strained relationship with his family who resents how the world is changing around him. When a teenage boy next door, Thao, is caught trying to steal from him, Walt reluctantly takes him under his wing, discouraging him from joining his cousin's gang. Despite clashing with the culture of his Hmong neighbors, he earns their respect as a well-meaning protector.

Gran Torino has been misunderstood by some, but it actually has a beautiful message. Through Walt Kowalski, the story explores a man shedding his resentment, finding new purpose towards the end of his life as a mentor, protector and surrogate father. While Eastwood shows up in the movie in his signature grizzled persona, the rest of the cast elevates the picture to one of the best dramas of the 2000s.

The Gauntlet follows Eastwood as Ben Shockley, a washed-up Phoenix cop struggling with alcoholism as he's sent to Las Vegas. There, he's tasked with finding a witness against the mob, Augustina "Gus" Malley, and bringing her back to Phoenix for trial. However, with the Mafia and every corrupt cop gunning for them, the city bets against them making it back alive, forcing the pair to go off-road to stay ahead of their would-be killers.

As one of the best on-screen pairings of Eastwood and his then-wife, Sondra Locke, The Gauntlet is a fun blend of action, adventure, romance and crime. It also remains one of his most underrated films, despite never having a dull moment and delivering on one of the best premises in the action genre. The film is made great by the story of Shockley himself, as he's redeemed from an unreliable cop to unstoppable hero.

For a Few Dollars More follows the partnership between Eastwood's Stranger and an older bounty hunter, Colonel Mortimer, to bring down an outlaw gang led by El Indio. With the Man With No Name infiltrating the group to lure them into a trap, the duo prepare for their big showdown -- revealing that Mortimer is driven by more than just the loot. Upping the ante on its predecessor, the film was a buddy cop movie before buddy cop movies became a big deal.

For a Few Dollars More is one of the rare cases of Eastwood being overshadowed, with Lee Van Cleef's Mortimer stealing the show. Boasting one of the best endings in the genre, the movie was elevated through the chemistry shared by its leads, and remains the most underrated entry in its trilogy. As Sergio Leone continued to prove himself a master of the Wild West, the film manages to flow between lighthearted friendship and frontier justice.

After playing the role of the Man With No Name, Eastwood was handed his second most iconic role in Dirty Harry, where he played a no-nonsense San Francisco cop tasked with bringing down a serial killer. Loosely based on the real-life murder spree of the Zodiac Killer, the film helped push the thriller genre firmly towards action. A flawed but ultimately heroic officer, Harry Callahan endeared himself to a generation as a hero who won't stop until the job is done -- earning four sequels.

Dirty Harry is a blend of Noir, action and mystery, and it helped redefine '70s cinema in a year stacked full of iconic movies. Every beat of the story lands in its genre, bringing themes of the Western genre that made Eastwood an icon into 20th century San Francisco. Here, the trope of the lone good cop standing against the system to ensure justice prevails was brought to perfection, and it's impossible to avoid its influence on modern-day action.

Set during the Civil War, The Outlaw Josey Wales opens when its titular protagonist discovers the murder of his entire family at the hands of Union Redleg militia forces. To avenge them, he joins a Confederate guerilla unit. However, when they surrender at the end of the war, Wales is forced to watch the same militia gun them down, leaving him the last man alive -- and turning him into a fugitive. As he sets off for Mexico to find refuge, he encounters a group of dispossessed, from outcast Native Americans to an elderly widow -- all while pursued by bounty hunters and Redlegs.

The Outlaw Josey Wales shows Eastwood turning in one of his best performances as a man driven by vengeance seeking peace from the war. The story highlights the importance of unity and companionship, with the Confederate protagonist finding strength through his diverse band of fellow travelers. Ending with an epic battle, the film contains some of the best scenes from the actor's career and has one of the strongest anti-war messages in the genre.

Unforgiven casts Eastwood in the role of William Munny, a widowed retired gunfighter who joins his old friend and a young bounty hunter to track down a pair of cowboys for attacking a prostitute. With a history of violence and murder, Munny finds that returning to his old ways has its costs and is soon forced to contend with a brutal sheriff, Little Bill Daggett. When things turn personal, he embraces his ruthlessness to get revenge.

Unforgiven serves as a fantastic exploration of the Western genre itself, using its morally compromised sheriff and outlaw protagonist to explore the ambiguity of the Old West. Here, the mythos of the gunfighter is challenged, forcing its audience to question everything they know about the genre -- only to deliver one of the greatest Eastwood moments of all time. Masterfully acted by its cast, this Oscar-winning movie earned every bit of respect given to it by audiences and critics.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly follows a trio of rival gunslingers in the midst of the Civil War as they hunt for a buried stash of gold. However, unable to trust one another and pursued by a ruthless mercenary, their quest is as dangerous as it is taxing. Featuring Eastwood at his best as the Man With No Name, the movie takes its time in every scene, proving a good action-oriented movie can be a true piece of art too.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly took the Western genre to an almost unprecedented epic scale, delving into the heart of the violence and consequences of its Civil War backdrop. Featuring some of the most beautiful scenes in Leone's filmography, as well as Ennio Morricone's iconic score, it's hard to find a Western as iconic as this. The film is a blend of adventure, action and war, giving the genre some of its greatest characters, most intense showdowns and stunning visuals. In a word, the film is simply perfect.