“A really good script, but it’s politically incorrect”: Most Would’ve Walked Away but Clint Eastwood Instantly Agreed to One Movie That Became a $270M Masterpiece

Clint Eastwood has been known for his gritty, small-budget, and dramatic films that contend with themes ranging from war to sports to thrillers. As the Hollywood tough guy, Eastwood has established a career in film as the hero of Spaghetti Westerns before moving on to macho action hero. But in his third act as a director, Eastwood truly found greatness and a legacy to contend with.

With 11 Oscar nominations to his name, the Dirty Harry actor has one too many movies to define him as a filmmaker. Among his numerous notable works, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven, and Letters from Iwo Jima stand out as exceptional works of art. However, no film other than Gran Torino has been able to break down one truly defining barrier in Hollywood.

Clint Eastwood delivers a masterclass with Gran Torino

In his career spanning 60 years, Clint Eastwood has been involved in a record number of films, either as an actor or a director. Every actor who has worked under his watchful eye has complimented and feared Eastwood for his unique style of filming that involves no more than 2 takes for every shot. This often puts the actors in a tight spot to deliver their very best in a limited scope.

Ironically enough, most of Eastwood’s films have been nominated for Oscars, with him winning Best Director and Best Picture for both Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). Other films like Mystic River, Letters from Iwo Jima, and American Sniper have also raised him to an unparalleled status.

However, Eastwood’s 2008 action thriller Gran Torino stands a class apart. Known for its socio-culturally divisive theme and perpetuating the white-man savior narrative, the film starts off on a risky path that soon gives way to a heartwarming story about a man seeking absolution, moral enlightenment, and embracing cultures and values that initially did not resonate with his beliefs.

Clint Eastwood believed in the Gran Torino script

Today, Gran Torino stands as a culturally important film that transcends social barriers and encourages communication across one’s beliefs and boundaries. However, when the script first landed on the desk of a Hollywood agent, it was considered an impossible film that was destined to be forever shelved.

In an interview with Esquire, Clint Eastwood revealed the uphill path to making Gran Torino into a reality while simultaneously being offended by the politically woke crowd of today. The character he plays in the film is shockingly racist – offended by every Asian, Latino, and Black person moving into his rapidly changing and evolving neighborhood.

Although he absolves himself by the end of the film by intentionally sacrificing his life for the greater good, the story still had a certain degree of anti-woke narrative for the script to be considered a risk factor. Eastwood revealed:

Now, Gran Torino stands as the second-highest-grossing movie of Eastwood’s career, collectively earning $274.5 million against a mere $25 million budget [via The Numbers]. The film has also been rated 81% on the film critic website Rotten Tomatoes.

Gran Torino is available to stream on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Max.

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