The Untold Truth Behind Clint Eastwood’s Greatest Road Trip Films — Why ‘The Mule’ Got Snubbed

Clint Eastwood’s filmography is legendary, packed with Western standoffs, cop thrillers, and iconic one-liners. But tucked inside his decades-long career is an underrated—and surprisingly diverse—catalog of road trip movies. Whether he’s behind the wheel or behind the camera, Eastwood’s road movies have taken audiences on journeys filled with action, humor, and soul-searching. A recent ranking from CBR (May 16, 2025), cross-referenced with insights from Collider and We Got This Covered, offers a definitive list of Eastwood’s best road trip films. Here’s how they stack up—and why some notable entries were left on the curb.

1. The Gauntlet (1977) – The Ultimate Eastwood Road Thriller

Release Date: December 21, 1977
Runtime: 109 minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot Summary: An alcoholic Phoenix cop is tasked with escorting a key witness across the state, dodging mobsters and corrupt officials. Exploding buses, relentless ambushes, and Eastwood’s signature grit make this a high-octane, quintessential road movie.

2. A Perfect World (1993) – A Pursuit with Heart

Release Date: November 24, 1993
Runtime: 138 minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot Summary: Eastwood stars as a Texas Ranger on the trail of an escaped convict (Kevin Costner) who forms an unlikely bond with a kidnapped boy. Their journey across Texas is equal parts suspenseful and deeply human.

3. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) – A Heist on the Highway

Release Date: May 23, 1974
Runtime: 115 minutes
Director: Michael Cimino
Plot Summary: Eastwood teams up with Jeff Bridges for a buddy-criminal road trip, full of sharp banter, offbeat humor, and the pursuit of a long-lost fortune.

4. Every Which Way But Loose (1978) – Comedy on the Road (with an Orangutan)

Release Date: December 16, 1978
Runtime: 110 minutes
Director: James Fargo
Plot Summary: In a rare comedic turn, Eastwood’s Philo Beddoe crisscrosses the West with his sidekick Clyde—who happens to be an orangutan. The result: bar fights, country music, and pure crowd-pleasing fun.

5. Any Which Way You Can (1980) – The Road Trip Sequel

Release Date: December 17, 1980
Runtime: 115 minutes
Director: Buddy Van Horn
Plot Summary: The antics continue as Philo and Clyde hit the road once again. More action, more laughs, and plenty of high-speed hijinks.

6. Pink Cadillac (1989) – Chasing Down Freedom

Release Date: May 26, 1989
Runtime: 122 minutes
Director: Buddy Van Horn
Plot Summary: Eastwood plays a bounty hunter chasing a fugitive (Bernadette Peters) and her pink Cadillac across California. The movie blends comedy, action, and plenty of classic car chases.

7. Bronco Billy (1980) – Showman on the Move

Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot Summary: Eastwood is Bronco Billy, a former rodeo star running a struggling traveling Wild West show. The open road is as central as the showmanship, with life lessons learned along the way.

8. Cry Macho (2021) – Late-Career Redemption

Release Date: September 17, 2021
Runtime: 104 minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot Summary: In his late 80s, Eastwood stars as a retired rodeo star who agrees to bring a young boy from Mexico to Texas. The border-crossing journey becomes a meditative road trip about regret, redemption, and hope.

Notable Omissions: Why Some Road Trips Didn’t Make the Cut

Two films often discussed as road trips—The Mule (2018) and Honkytonk Man (1982)—were not included in the CBR ranking, sparking debate among fans. The Mule, in which Eastwood plays an elderly drug courier, involves extensive travel but centers more on crime than character-driven adventure. Honkytonk Man, a Western about a dying country singer’s last-ditch journey to the Grand Ole Opry, fits the road trip mold but was likely excluded due to its genre trappings and mixed critical reception.

How These Films Define the Road Trip Genre

What makes an Eastwood road trip film? Each journey—whether pursued by police, criminals, showmen, or old friends—is a crucible for character growth and unexpected bonds. Eastwood’s road movies deliver action and laughs, but always with an undercurrent of reflection. The travel isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the engine that drives the story, and the transformation of everyone along for the ride.

Where to Watch

Fans can revisit these classics on streaming services: Cry Macho is currently available on Max and Hulu, while The Gauntlet can be rented via AppleTV, Prime Video, and Fandango At Home.

Conclusion

From the bullet-riddled highways of The Gauntlet to the sun-bleached backroads of Cry Macho, Clint Eastwood’s road trip movies remain a testament to his versatility and enduring appeal. Ranked or not, each journey offers a new facet of America—and a new side of one of cinema’s greatest legends.