For a Few Dollars More (1965)

The second Dollars film perfected the action-western formula by pairing Eastwood's Man with No Name with Lee Van Cleef's Colonel Mortimer to hunt the psychopathic El Indio, introducing the bounty hunter theme that became a genre staple. Made for $600,000 and grossing $15 million in the US, it was the most commercially successful spaghetti western upon release—30% cheaper than The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)'s budget yet earning a higher domestic gross than its predecessor. With a 92% audience approval rating, it balances artistry with entertainment better than the average genre film.