One of the best spaghetti Western movies ever made is coming to free streaming, giving fans the chance to relive this absolute classic next month for zero dollars. While the title of “best” is clearly subjective, most people can agree that this one certainly ranks among the top three, and rightfully so. Not only is it an incredible spaghetti Western, but it also features one of the greatest showdowns in movie history.
Released in 1966 overseas and in 1967 here in the United States, we’re, of course, talking about The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – director Sergio Leone’s Italian masterpiece that rounded out his “Dollars Trilogy.” Also in the mix are A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, and Western fans can take comfort in knowing that all three movies will be free to stream on Tubi beginning January 1, 2026, giving you the shot to ring in the new year with a bang.
Starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was a box office sensation back in the day, earning $38.9 million against a budget of just $1.2 million. Though it is considered to be part of a trilogy, you don’t have to watch any of the films in order to enjoy them, because they all feature standalone stories with no direct through line other than Eastwood’s character of the “Man with No Name.” The official synopsis reads:
“In the Southwest during the Civil War, a mysterious stranger, Joe (Eastwood), and a Mexican outlaw, Tuco (Wallach), form an uneasy partnership. Joe turns in the bandit for the reward money, then rescues him just as he is being hanged. When Joe’s shot at the noose goes awry during one escapade, a furious Tuco tries to have him murdered. The men re-team abruptly, however, to beat out a sadistic criminal and the Union army and find $20,000 that a soldier has buried in the desert.”
‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ Is a Certified Fresh Classic
Boasting a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes of 97% from critics, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly‘s audience score also sits at 97%, proving that everyone’s united on just how good this spaghetti Western really is. Called everything from “magnificent” and “quintessential” to “iconic” and “epic,” it still hits just as hard today as it did 60 years ago.
Featuring Leone’s signature style and an amazing score by Ennio Morricone, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly also has one of the best showdowns in cinema history. Who can ever forget that final standoff in Sad Hill Cemetery where Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes were locked in with their guns drawn, waiting for the other to make a move? It’s a masterclass in directing, editing, and sound that builds incredible tension, and delivers a shocking finale worthy of the movie’s three-hour runtime.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching this spaghetti Western classic before, or its two accompanying films, be sure to check out all three when they land on Tubi starting Jan. 1, 2026.
- Release Date
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December 29, 1967
- Runtime
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178 minutes
- Director
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Sergio Leone
- Writers
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Luciano Vincenzoni, Furio Scarpelli, Agenore Incrocci, Sergio Leone
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
