Western movies are not for everyone, but there are some classics of the genre that everyone should see. Western film date back to the beginning of popular cinema when these tales of outlaws and cowboys were recent history. More than a century later, the Wild West and its stories are still fascinating to audiences, though the genre has gone through various periods of popularity and decline. Western movies are not as common as they once were, but some movies of the genre have stood out among the best movies of all time.
There is sometimes a feeling that Western movies are all the same and simply deal with the good guys in white hats shooting it out with the bad guys in black hats. The essential Western movies showcase how versatile the genre can be. There are movies that influenced many Western tropes, as well as revisionist Westerns that challenged those tropes. They feature icons of the genre like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, telling complex, exciting, and unforgettable stories that anyone can get swept up in.
10
True Grit (2010)
Directed By Joel & Ethan Coen
True Grit
9/10
- Release Date
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December 22, 2010
- Runtime
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110 minutes
- Director
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Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
John Wayne is a Western icon, but Jeff Bridges outdid him in one of his most famous roles. True Grit is not so much a remake of the classic Wayne Western but rather a new adaptation of Charles Portis’s novel, with the Coen Brothers proving the perfect match for the book’s terrific dialogue and quirky tone. Bridges stars as the ruthless and unkempt US Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who is hired by young Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) to hunt down the man who killed her father.
Along with the direction, the performances also best the original adaptation with Bridges and Steinfeld each earning Oscar nominations for their roles.
True Grit is an ideal movie for people who usually avoid the Western genre, providing a modern entertaining adventure. The Coens present the work with a bleak look at the revenge story, but infuse it with strong characters and a sense of humor. Along with the direction, the performances also best the original adaptation with Bridges and Steinfeld each earning Oscar nominations for their roles, while Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are terrific in supporting roles.
9
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Directed By Mel Brooks
Blazing Saddles
8/10
- Release Date
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February 7, 1974
- Runtime
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93 minutes
- Director
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Mel Brooks
It is sometimes assumed that the Western genre is largely devoid of humor, but Blazing Saddles is an example of how silly things can get in the Old West. Leave it to comedy legend Mel Brooks to deliver one of the funniest Western movies of all time that pushed boundaries and remains beloved decades later, despite the fact that many people agree it could never be made today. It stars Cleavon Little as a Black man who is appointed as sheriff of a lawless town.
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Despite its reputation of being wildly offensive by modern standards, Blazing Saddles is actually a satire of racist and prejudiced aspects of society. However, Brooks also clearly loves the Western genre and has a lot of fun poking fun at various aspects of these movies. The fact that Blazing Saddles holds the fart record in film is a sign of how seriously it thinks Westerns should be taken, yet also makes its own compelling entry into the genre.
8
Tombstone (1993)
Directed By George P. Cosmatos
Tombstone
8/10
- Release Date
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December 25, 1993
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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George P. Cosmatos
While it was well-received when it was released in the early 1990s, Tombstone has enjoyed a resurgence lately that has seen many people come to regard it as one of the best Westerns of all time. The movie examines some of the most legendary figures of the Old West, telling the story of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday as they battle the villainous gang, The Cowboys. It might be a classic tale of the good guys versus the bad guys, but it is done exceptionally well.
Kurt Russell makes for a stoic and determined hero as Earp, while Val Kilmer’s performance as Holliday has become a fan favorite. Seeing the grounded and authentic take on real history, including the Gunfight at the OK Corral, is thrilling. However, Russell rightly pointed out that the dialogue is what makes Tombstone stand out among Westerns.
7
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Directed By Andrew Dominik
Movies like Tombstone fit into the trend of Western movies telling stories of the real people who defined the Old West. Oftentimes, even the outlaws can get romanticized and turned into folk heroes. The Assassination of Jesse James is another fact-based Western movie that takes a realistic look at what these popular figures of the Old West were really like, in this case, the infamous outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt).
It is a brilliant movie in dismantling the myths of the Western hero while also serving as an allegory to modern celebrity cultures and fan obsession.
The movie is a slow and thoughtful look at James’ life outside the law and his relationship with devoted admirer, fellow gang member, and future murderer Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). It is a brilliant film that dismantles the myths of the Western hero while also serving as an allegory to modern celebrity cultures and fan obsession. It also features a terrific supporting cast, including Jeremy Renner, Sam Shepard, and Sam Rockwell.
6
Unforgiven (1992)
Directed By Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
- Release Date
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August 7, 1992
- Runtime
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130 Mins
Clint Eastwood is another Western icon who not only starred in many of the genre’s best movies but also directed several of them. However, his best film as a director was one that deconstructed not only Westerns in general, but also his legacy in the genre. Eastwood stars as William Munny, a former outlaw with a dark past who takes a job killing a man who abused a sex worker.
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The movie subverts expectations about the typical Western storyline, getting the audience to cheer for a character who has done terrible things, while Gene Hackman’s sheriff is made the sadistic villain of the story. With strong performances from Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris, Unforgiven makes for an intense and dark Western that proves there are new avenues to explore in the genre, even with its biggest icons.
5
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
Directed By George Roy Hill
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a perfect movie for Western detractors as it shows just how much fun the genre can be. Though it is a film that depicts two notorious outlaws of the Wild West, it makes them into charming, entertaining, and human characters, with two perfect actors taking on the roles. Paul Newman and Robert Redford share such wonderful chemistry that they instantly developed a reputation as one of the best on-screen duos.
The movie also challenged the somberness of the genre, working just as well as a comedy as it does as an adventure film. It also went against the typical Western hero roles, allowing the two leads to look foolish and be the butt of the joke rather than constantly being a stoic figure.
4
High Noon (1952)
Directed By Fred Zinnemann
High Noon
- Release Date
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June 30, 1952
- Runtime
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85 Minutes
- Director
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Fred Zinnemann
The fact that John Wayne called High Noon “Un-American” should at least pique the curiosity of fans beyond the Western genre. In actuality, High Noon was made as a response to the McCarthyism movement in the United States at the time, and still serves as a poignant and powerful examination of heroism at a time when no one else is willing to stand up for what is right. Gary Cooper stars in the movie as a town marshal who must choose between fleeing town or staying behind to face a gang of killers out to get him.
However, the success of High Noon and its lasting influences helped open up the genre to more challenging stories that did not simply reflect an idealized view of the Old West.
The notion of a town filled with people who were unwilling to fight alongside their marshal was a shockingly cynical Western idea and one of the main issues Wayne had with the movie. However, the success of High Noon and its lasting influences helped open up the genre to more challenging stories that did not simply reflect an idealized view of the Old West.
3
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1967)
Directed By Sergio Leone
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
- Release Date
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December 29, 1967
- Runtime
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161 minutes
- Director
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Sergio Leone
Within the Western genre, the emergence of the Spaghetti Western subgenre was hugely important to allow the genre to move forward. Just as the late 1960s saw new and bold movies pushing Hollywood into a new era of filmmaking, Spaghetti Westerns gave Westerns a rejuvenated feel, with The Good, the Bad and the Ugly being one of the best examples of this. It is the movie that cemented Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood as two of the most important artists in the history of Western cinema.
While the story of three outlaws each making their way in search of a buried treasure is not ground-breaking, everything else about the movie is fresh and exciting. Eastwood’s nameless hero is still copied to this day, Ennio Morricone’s score elevates the movie’s best moments, and Leone’s direction showcases a unique filmmaking vision. The climactic standoff remains one of the greatest moments in cinema.
2
The Searchers (1956)
Directed By John Ford
The Searchers
6/10
- Release Date
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May 26, 1956
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
-
John Ford
-
-
Jeffrey Hunter
Martin Pawley
While there are so many John Wayne Western movies to choose from, the one that would likely speak the most to those uninterested in the genre is The Searchers. It is an incredibly epic adventure from another genre legend, director John Ford, that features some of the most famous and beautiful shots in cinema history. However, it is also a dark and brutal movie that shows the changing of the times.
Wayne himself stars as his most despicable character of his career in the role of Ethan Edwards. He is a bigoted and bitter former Confederate soldier who sets out with a posse when his niece is taken by a band of Native Americans. There is a good reason why the movie remains so controversial, as it is ugly and offensive in many ways. However, that only adds to the overall message of the poisoning and useless nature of hate.
1
Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
Directed By Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was the movie that defined the Spaghetti Western for many people. However, he proceeded to best himself with Once Upon a Time in the West, which is often regarded as his masterpiece. Indeed, it is a stunning Western that once again mixes elements of the genre with bold story choices and arresting visuals, resulting in a fully engrossing adventure that is still beloved.
With Leone as an outsider in this world, he has the opportunity to heighten the intensity while also adding some commentary. The movie and its characters reflect a sense of the Old West era dying away and the people clinging to what is left. Among these characters, Charles Bronson gets his best silent hero role, while Henry Fonda is remarkable in a rare villainous role.
