When the film released in 1966, American critics largely panned it as a poor imitation of Hollywood westerns. The term “spaghett…

When the film released in 1966, American critics largely panned it as a poor imitation of Hollywood westerns. The term “spaghetti western” was originally intended as an insult, a way of dismissing Italian-made westerns as cheap knockoffs. Roger Ebert, just one year into his career as a critic, gave it three out of four stars and noted its violence and length as weaknesses. The film grossed $38 million worldwide on a $1.2 million budget regardless. In the decades since, critics reversed their position entirely. Ebert later became one of its most vocal champions. Quentin Tarantino called it the best-directed film of all time and the greatest achievement in the history of cinema. Stephen King cited Eastwood’s character as the primary inspiration for Roland Deschain, the protagonist of his Dark Tower series. Film: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)