Fans of western movies don't have many idols as big as Clint Eastwood. With over 75 films under his belt, the legend of the far west has many gems in his acting - and directing - portfolio.

And now, a film that is widely considered to be one of his most memorable is available to stream on Netflix - and has amassed over 2.3 million views this week so far.

High Plains Drifter was released in 1973, and generally received favorable reviews at the time, especially praising Eastwood's direction, strong presence and the film's unique blend of genres - including some revisionist Western elements.

In the movie, the drifter, a man with no name, rides into Lago and quickly establishes himself as a formidable figure due to his gun-slinging abilities.

The townspeople, despite being initially wary of him, hire him to protect them from three outlaws who are set to return after being released from prison.

The drifter agrees to the town's request but with the understanding that he can do as he pleases, leading to some questionable actions and decisions.

Later on in the story, the drifter reveals secrets from his past in a plot twist that affects the entire population of the place - and is the beginning of a violent turn in the film.

Eastwood's first time writing and directing the same film was an ambitious one, which saw him take a screenplay written by Ernest Tidyman - who has won a Best Screenplay Oscar for The French Connection -, inspired by the real-life murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City, watched and quietly witnessed by several people.

As for the cast, Eastwood enlisted the help of Verna Bloom, Mariana Hill, Billy Curtis, Mitch Ryan and Jack Ging, to name a few, in his supporting roles.

High Plains Drifter holds a 94% fresh audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and is the sixth-highest grossing Western of the decade. Although it was praised by specialised media and fans of the genre, the film wasn't beloved by everyone, of course. What is surprising is that one of its loudest critics was another icon of Westerns.

"That isn't what the West was all about. That isn't the American people who settled this country", wrote John Wayne in a letter to Eastwood after watching it. He reportedly did not agree with the movie's iconoclastic approach.

High Plains Drifter (1973) is now available to stream on Netflix.