10 Best Westerns Like Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson is a 1972 Western film about a lone man’s fight for survival in the Rocky Mountains, focusing on revenge, solitude, and man’s battle against nature and himself. Robert Redford’s portrayal of a former soldier turned mountain man as one of the greatest Western characters of all time epitomizes these themes. Westerns like Jeremiah Johnson often feature vast, untamed landscapes, revenge-driven plots, and introspective characters whose struggles are as internal as they are external. The wilderness becomes a character in its own right, shaping the entire narrative and adding an emotional component to the protagonist’s journey.

These are movies similar to Jeremiah Johnson—films that share themes of survival, the vast isolation of the wilderness, and deeply personal quests for revenge or redemption. The need for vengeance and the underlying tones of honor and integrity make up the basis for many films in this genre. These Westerns focus on character-driven narratives and the rugged beauty and danger of the wilderness. Each film examines violence-laden stories, the harshness of frontier life, the toll on the people living within it, and the greatest Western villains they have to deal with. The Western genre is such a diverse and complex landscape that similar tones and themes can run seamlessly through so many films that seem to be different on the surface.

10 The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Starring Clint Eastwood And Chief Dan George

This is a story about a Missouri farmer who becomes an outlaw after pro-Union soldiers murder his wife and young son. As Josey Wales embarks on a journey of revenge, Union soldiers pursue him across the American West. The Outlaw Josey Wales centers on a solitary figure navigating frontier life’s physical and emotional challenges. Eastwood’s portrayal of Wales as a man seeking both vengeance and redemption gives the film an emotional arc and intriguing narrative.

The sprawling landscapes and the slow, deliberate pacing make The Outlaw Josey Wales a contemplative film about the true cost of violence and the possibility of personal redemption. The character-focused narrative and the focus on Wales’ internal struggle make this a powerful addition to any list of introspective Westerns. The film’s exploration of vengeance, survival, and the consequences of a violent past make it a perfect companion to Jeremiah Johnson.

9 Meek’s Cutoff (2010)

Starring Michelle Williams And Paul Dano

This Western set in 1845 follows a group of pioneers lost in the Oregon desert. The group, led by a questionable guide named Stephen Meek, faces dwindling supplies, uncertainty, and the harsh realities of being unprepared for the wilderness. The film’s relaxed pacing and sparse dialogue mirror the quiet tension of Jeremiah Johnson, with the barren desert becoming a central figure in the story. The wilderness is not just a backdrop but an antagonist, challenging the characters in every situation throughout the movie.

The film’s contemplative nature and exploration of isolation and fear make it a haunting, atmospheric Western without the usual violent gunfights.

Meek’s Cutoff excels in depicting survival, with the characters’ internal and external struggles taking center stage. The film’s contemplative nature and exploration of isolation and fear make it a haunting, atmospheric Western without the usual violent gunfights. Meek’s Cutoff uses the vast, desolate landscape to amplify the characters’ emotional journeys, creating a powerful story of survival in an unforgiving world and a beautifully shot Western that has become a modern classic in it’s genre.

8 True Grit (1969)

Starring John Wayne And Robert Duvall

This story follows the journey of a young girl, Mattie Ross, who hires a tough, aging U.S. Marshal named Rooster Cogburn, played by John Wayne, to track down her father’s killer. The film, set against the vast, desolate wilderness, focuses on justice, revenge, and survival themes. Similar to the cast of Jeremiah Johnson, the central characters are driven by personal vendettas and must navigate harsh terrain as part of their quest for vengeance against those who did them wrong.

Like many Westerns, the wilderness in True Grit is not just a setting but a character in itself, posing constant physical and psychological challenges to those who venture into it. Rooster Cogburn’s journey is as important as the external plot surrounding him, with both films fleshing out arcs of redemption, loneliness, and the cost of living outside of society. The rugged landscapes and the physical endurance required of the characters make True Grit have a natural connection with Jeremiah Johnson.

7 The Homesman (2014)

Starring Tommy Lee Jones And Hilary Swank

Directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones, The Homesman tells the story of Mary Bee Cuddy, played by Hilary Swank, a frontier woman who, along with a drifter (Jones), is tasked with escorting three women showing signs of ‘prairie madness’ across Nebraska. The film is a bleak and introspective portrayal of the hardships of life on the frontier, where the unforgiving situation reflects the emotional struggles of its characters. As they face dangerous weather, hostile encounters, and their emotional limits, the journey becomes a struggle that threatens to consume them.

The title
The Homesman
refers to the task of returning immigrants home, which was typically a man’s job.
The Homesman
has been referred to as the “feminist western” for its reversal of gender roles and highlight of women’s plight in the American frontier.

The Homesman shares Jeremiah Johnson’s focus on the wilderness as a formidable adversary, like many of the films on this list. The characters’ forced isolation, both physical and emotional, resonates deeply with Johnson’s own journey of survival and revenge and the lengths one will go to feed their desires. The film’s slow pace and contemplative nature allow the audience to delve into its characters’ internal struggles, making it an emotionally driven Western that explores the human cost of Western ideals.

6 The Searchers (1956)

Starring John Wayne And Jeffrey Hunter

It tells the story of Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who embarks on a relentless quest to find his niece, who Comanches abducted after killing his nephew and brother’s wife. As Ethan travels through hostile terrain, his pursuit becomes one of vengeance and intense obsession. Much like the themes spread throughout Jeremiah Johnson, The Searchers explores the emotional toll of frontier life and the protagonist’s growing alienation from society as his quest consumes him in an all-encompassing way.

The vast, desolate frontier mirrors Ethan’s moral ambiguity and loneliness, with the film presenting a complex character study against a harsh backdrop. The loneliness and single-minded focus of Ethan’s journey make this a powerful exploration of vengeance, much like Robert Redford’s character’s personal struggle in Jeremiah Johnson. Widely regarded as one of the best Westerns ever made,The Searchers remains one of the most compelling depictions of revenge and obsession in Western cinema, with Ford’s masterful direction amplifying the epic narrative and expert performances by all involved.

5 Hostiles (2017)

Starring Christian Bale And Rosamund Pike

In the late 1800s, Hostiles tracks the journey of a conflicted Army captain, portrayed by Christian Bale, who is assigned the task of escorting a Cheyenne chief and his family back to their homeland. Throughout the journey, they face hostility from both the elements and their enemies, painting a grim picture of rudimentary survival on the frontier. The film is a reflective journey and maintains a somber tone similar to Jeremiah Johnson, delving into the emotional toll that violence and loss take on individuals.

Only You: The director of
Hostiles
, Scott Cooper wrote the characters of Christian Bale, Wes Studi, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, Q’orianka Kilcher, Adam Beach, and Stephen Lang specifically with each one of these actors in mind for their exact roles.

The wilderness becomes a powerful presence in the narrative, with the vast landscapes intensifying the tension and solitude experienced by all the main characters. Hostiles excels in depicting the harshness and beauty of the American frontier, both at times welcoming and calming yet violent and brutal. The intricate chemistry and relationships between the characters and the personal journey of redemption for Bale’s character provide a layered sadness, making it a profound Western film with a contemplative pace akin to Jeremiah Johnson.

4 Joe Kidd (1972)

Starring Clint Eastwood And Robert Duvall

Starring Clint Eastwood, Joe Kidd narrates the story of a former bounty hunter who becomes involved in a land dispute between Mexican peasants and wealthy American landowners. Set against the dry deserts and rugged mountains of the American Southwest, Kidd initially tries to remain impartial and out of any potential conflict but is eventually compelled to take a stand against the perceived injustice. Like the 1972 film, Joe Kidd features a protagonist who is forcibly isolated from society and must grapple with personal ethics amid external conflict.

Stranger than fiction: The titular character of
Jeremiah Johnson
was based on a real-life trapper named John Johnston, nicknamed “Crow Killer” or “Liver Eater Johnston” as he was notorious for cutting out and eating the livers of Crow Indians he killed on his journeys.

The environment Joe Kidd finds himself in plays a crucial role in shaping the storyline. The film explores the connection between humanity and the wilderness, showcasing how survival in such a harsh environment demands physical strength and rare emotional resilience. Eastwood’s portrayal of a reluctant hero mirrors Johnson’s complex relationship with violence and justice, making Joe Kidd another Western that delves into the personal and moral challenges faced by men living on the fringes of society.

3 The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Starring Brad Pitt And Casy Affleck

Featuring Brad Pitt as the legendary outlaw Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a slower-paced, thoughtful Western that delves into betrayal, infamy, and isolation. The film focuses on the dynamic between James, a charismatic yet increasingly paranoid figure, and Ford, the young man who admires him yet ultimately betrays him. Set against the vast, empty expanses of the American West, the film, like many iconic Westerns, is equally about its characters’ internal struggles and the outside world they inhabit.

Casey Affleck’s nuanced performance as a man torn between admiration and envy makes
The Assassination of Jesse James
a haunting exploration of the complexities of human relationships in a lawless time.

Like Jeremiah Johnson, this film prioritizes character development over action, concentrating on the psychological narrative of its protagonists in one of Brad Pitt’s best movies of his career. Pitt’s portrayal of Jesse James as a man haunted by his past is excellent, and his charisma is evident in every scene. Casey Affleck’s nuanced performance as a man torn between admiration and envy makes The Assassination of Jesse James a haunting exploration of the complexities of human relationships in a lawless time. The bitterness, confusion, and frustration he feels after killing his friend perfectly sums up the double-edged quest for justice and revenge.

2 The Mountain Men (1980)

Starring Charlton Heston And Brian Keith

Starring Charlton Heston and Brian Keith, The Mountain Men portrays two aging fur trappers navigating the perils of the Rocky Mountains and the local Native Americans. The film offers a rugged depiction of the trapper’s life, rife with danger, seclusion, and the ever-present threat of hostile Native American tribes. Heston and Keith’s characters live on the outskirts of society, much like Jeremiah Johnson, surviving based on their knowledge of the land and their ability to endure the harsh conditions they find themselves in.

The film combines survival and action with several brutal instances, reminding the viewer of the literal life-and-death nature of their lives. The Mountain Men also focuses on the personal connections formed in such extreme circumstances and the bonds you have to create to survive. The cinematography captures the splendor and brutality of the mountains, creating a striking backdrop for the trappers’ struggles. It remains a vivid portrayal of men in isolation, battling nature and their sense of purpose in a changing, violent world.

1 Man In The Wilderness (1971)

Starring Richard Harris And John Huston

Man in the Wilderness tells the story of Zachary Bass, a fur trapper abandoned by his comrades after being viciously mauled by a bear. Bass, played by Richard Harris, must navigate the unforgiving frontier in a bid for survival, determined to exact revenge on those who left him to die. This film emphasizes the protagonist’s battle against the wilderness, with the Rocky Mountains as the omnipresent enemy. Bass’s journey from victim to survivor to conqueror is central to the narrative and creates an engaging story.

Man of Few Words: In the entire film, Richard Harris only had nine lines of dialogue as Zachary Bass.

The film is reflective and haunting, with a slow-burn intensity that focuses on the internal struggles of its protagonist after a devastating attack that left many physical and emotional scars. Its powerful depiction of man’s battle with nature mirrors the 1972 film’s portrayal of resilience and revenge. Man in the Wilderness uses the potential for death to heighten the tension, making survival itself one of the film’s core challenges. The introspective pacing and thematic exploration of revenge and survival make it similar to Jeremiah Johnson and a must-watch if you want to watch something with the same themes.