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Once Upon a Time in the West

1968·Movie
2h 46min·PG-13

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Once Upon a Time in the West fingerprint

Relentless energy, stunning style, no humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and epic

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension9
  • Spectacle9
  • Violence8

Heart

Nostalgic and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Nostalgia9
  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Dark Humor1
  • Situational Comedy0

World

History, family, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion10
  • Rewatchability9
  • Novelty8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction10
  • Acting9
  • Narrative Structure9

Style

Standout cinematography, score, and editing

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography10
  • Music Composition10
  • Music Centrality10

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou want fast pacingYou want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

There were three men in her life. One to take her… one to love her —and one to kill her.

As the railroad builders advance unstoppably through the Arizona desert on their way to the sea, Jill arrives in the small town of Flagstone with the intention of starting a new life.
Epic Spaghetti WesternOperatic StorytellingNon-Linear NarrativeEnnio Morricone ScoreVisual GrandeurMelancholic MythologySlow-Burn TensionStylized ViolenceAmerican Frontier LegendCinematic Masterpiece

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Once Upon a Time in the West

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Once Upon a Time in the West legally?

Once Upon a Time in the West is included with a subscription to fuboTV, Philo, and MGM+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Once Upon a Time in the West worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88/100 (IMDb 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 82). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Once Upon a Time in the West rated?

PG-13ViolenceNuditySexual content

It's rated PG-13 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, and sexual content.

How long is Once Upon a Time in the West?

2 h 46 min

Once Upon a Time in the West runs 2 h 46 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Once Upon a Time in the West?

Critics89
Audiences89

Yes. Critics average 89 and audiences 89 out of 100, so both groups see Once Upon a Time in the West much the same way.

Was Once Upon a Time in the West a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$5 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $5 million to make and earned $5 million worldwide, 1.1 times its budget.

What language is Once Upon a Time in the West in?

ItalianEnglish

It was made in Italian, with some English. Produced in Italy, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Once Upon a Time in the West?

93ADAEAGALARATAUAZBABBBEBGBOBR+79

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Once Upon a Time in the West in 93 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Once Upon a Time in the West use?

White Shirt of DeathOutfit DecoyObviously EvilJack Bauer Interrogation TechniqueBut Now I Must GoEstablishing Character MomentScare the DogTragic DreamLeave No WitnessesRewatch BonusStop and GoThe Only One Allowed to Defeat Youand 142 more

TV Tropes lists 154 storytelling tropes for Once Upon a Time in the West, including White Shirt of Death, Outfit Decoy, Obviously Evil.