GREAT CINEMAMASTER LIST
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great film.

Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #86 on its own—not above the ranking.
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Artwork
DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
ActorAll actors

Most represented actors

Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

Director:
Cast:
View Unforgiven film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

William Munny is a retired, once-ruthless killer turned gentle widower and hog farmer.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Widowed farmer William Munny, once a notorious killer, accepts a bounty offered after two cowboys attack a sex worker in Big Whiskey. He rides with former partner Ned Logan toward a town controlled by uncompromising sheriff Little Bill Daggett.

Why it belongs

Unforgiven dismantles the clean western legend through bad weather, compromised memory, frightened gunmen, and violence stripped of heroic comfort.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Eastwood dismantles the heroic Western through dark interiors, muddy streets, hesitant violence, and weathered performances, making reputation a dangerous story characters tell about acts that remain confused, painful, and morally compromising.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Academy Awards4 wins1993 · official ceremony record ↗
Best Picture1993 · Clint Eastwood, Producerofficial ceremony record ↗Directing1993 · Clint Eastwoodofficial ceremony record ↗Actor in a Supporting Role1993 · Gene Hackmanofficial ceremony record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Golden Globes2 wins1993 · official film record ↗
Best Director - Motion Picture1993 · Clint Eastwoodofficial film record ↗Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture1993 · Gene Hackmanofficial film record ↗
BAFTA1 win1993 · official BAFTA 1993 Film Awards results ↗
Supporting Actor1993 · Gene Hackmanofficial BAFTA 1993 Film Awards results ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
Film Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250156AFI 10068
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness9.4
Engagement9.2
Ease8.8

English · R
Narrative Feature
Mood: Gripping