Filming for The Good the Bad and the Ugly began at Cinecittà Studios in Rome mid-May 1966 before moving to Spain. Production concluded in July 1966 after shooting locations included Burgos, Almería, and a custom-built cemetery.
Ennio Morricone composed the score for The Good the Bad and the Ugly as a frequent collaborator of director Sergio Leone. He worked on themes with Leone before shooting started and used instruments like flutes ocarinas and human voices for each character.
Production for The Good the Bad and the Ugly took place at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and various locations across northern and southern Spain. Filming occurred near Burgos and in Almería where sets included a town under cannon fire and an extensive prison camp.
The Good the Bad and the Ugly grossed six point three million dollars in Italy and twenty-five point one million dollars in the United States and Canada upon release. It earned additional revenue from other international territories to achieve its total worldwide gross.
Critics initially attacked The Good the Bad and the Ugly for its depiction of violence and because it was classified as a Spaghetti Western. Renata Adler called it repellent while Charles Champlin mocked its length and quality in his review.