The 3-Part Western That Quentin Tarantino Called "The Greatest Achievement" In Cinema History Is Streaming on Prime Video

In the 1960s, Italian director Sergio Leone and American actor Clint Eastwood made three Westerns — A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Together, these films comprised an astounding series, known as the Dollars Trilogy, that influenced filmmakers for generations to come. Pulp Fiction director, Quentin Tarantino is among the movies’ loudest champions.

The Dollars Trilogy, also known as the Man with No Name or Blood Money Trilogy, follows Eastwood as the lone-rider at the center of an evolving plot. While the individual films met mixed reviews upon their initial release, the full set has been lauded as a piece of cinematic excellence. Tarantino once described the films as "the greatest achievement in the history of cinema” for their expert storytelling. The renowned modern director has remained steadfast in his praise. While speaking on Bill Maher's Club Random Podcast in 2024, Tarantino described the films as the only perfect trilogy.

“I think there is only one trilogy that completely and utterly works to the nth degree,” Tarantino told Maher. “And that's A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

The director went on to explain his admiration for the trilogy, saying Leone achieved the impossible by making each movie better than the last. Viewers seem to agree, as each entry in the trilogy has a higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes than the last - 91%, 94%, and 97% respectively. The lauded trilogy is a must-watch for cinephiles and Western fans. Luckily, each installment is available to stream on one platform - Prime Video.

All Three Movies In Clint Eastwood's Dollars Trilogy Are Streaming

As of July 1, the entire Dollars Trilogy is on Prime Video. The trio of movies road off into the sunset following a previous stint on the steamer, but have made a triumphant return this summer. Their central location is ideal, as viewers should watch all three to fully appreciate the trilogy's mastery.

Leone and Eastwood did not create the films as an official trilogy, and they do not follow a single narrative. However, the three films share intricate connections that culminate in a full timeline and satisfying story. In fact, the films did not receive stellar reviews as stand-alone releases. It was not until all three films were out and critics could stand back and take in the full picture that they were celebrated as a feat of cinematic genius.

The intertwining details between each installment greatly add to the viewing experience. While the film’s release order is A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, this is not the narrative order. For a straight timeline, viewers should start with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly prequel, before diving into For a Few Dollars More, and then finishing with A Fistful of Dollars. Together, the full trilogy is about six and a half hours, making it a fairly easy marathon compared to other renowned series.

Why Every Western Fan Needs To Watch The Dollars Trilogy

All cinephiles and Western fans must watch the Dollars Trilogy as it is an integral part of Western cinema history. Leone’s movies popularized the Spaghetti Western film movement that saved the faltering genre. Westerns were in a decline in the 1960s following the Golden Age of the 1940s and ‘50s. In the mid-to-late 1960s, Spaghetti Westerns matured the genre by muddying its moral system and introducing complex characters. These more mature genre films drew viewers back to the West.

The Dollars Trilogy is credited with cementing the Spaghetti Western as a genre and establishing its tropes, including gritty narratives and a central anti-hero. The movies have hugely influenced modern Westerns and neo Westerns. Unsurprisingly, the trilogies' clearest influence can be seen in the work of Tarantino, particularly his westerns Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. However, the Spaghetti Western trilogy' influence is sweeping. Even Star Wars and the video game Red Dead Redemption bare the mark of Leone’s genius.

Modern viewers can experience the ground-breaking Dollars Trilogy in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video, without having to hunt across disparate services.