Whether you’re already an expert on cowboys or looking to make your first foray into the Wild West, you’ve come to the right saloon, partner. Here’s our list of the best Westerns of all time, from old classics to modern takes on the genre.
The Western is one of the longest-standing genres in cinema. From iconic stars like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood to modern filmmakers and actors championing this type of story once more, cowboys have always been and always will be, incredibly cool.
Anyone familiar with Taylor Sheridan’s work on Yellowstone will know that the Western is well and truly back right now, and with Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga merely getting started, the genre could be set for glory days for years to come.
But enough about the future. We’re here to look back at the past and offer up our rundown of the 30 best Westerns of all time. So saddle up and check out these must-see movies from one of our favorite genres.
33. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
What it’s about: Spike, Jet, and the rest of the Bebop’s crew have to prevent bio-terrorists from wiping out civilization on Mars.
What we think: Retaining the style, grace, and tenacity of the original show, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is the perfect encore, placing our heroes even further in over their heads than usual. Creator Shinichirō Watanabe always believed this idea should be feature-length, and though it takes place in between regular episodes, it still feels big and loud. Given so much of the show has such a filmic aesthetic, the franchise’s movie goes above and beyond, just like the Bebop always does.
32. Blazing Saddles (1974)
What it’s about: Bart, a Black sheriff who is met with great offense and racism from the townspeople, works with an alcoholic gunslinger known as Jim, the “Waco Kid.” Together, they attempt to protect the dim-witted town of Rock Ridge from a gang of thugs and the greedy attorney general, Hedley Lamarr.
What we think: The Western might be most closely associated with its enduring machismo and intense violence, but there’s a lighter side to the genre best explored in Mel Brooks’ seminal Blazing Saddles. The 1974 satirical comedy pokes fun at the old-fashioned mentalities of the West, and pushed the boundaries as far as they could go, giving the concept of a parody movie a new wave of appreciation.
Where to watch: Showtime
31. Rango (2011)
What it’s about: After losing his family, a pet chameleon known as Rango winds up playing the part of a sheriff when he lands in an outpost town in the middle of nowhere. Called upon as a hero, he must find a way to protect the town from the villain known as Rattlesnake Jake.
What we think: Animation can often take a dive into other established genres, and Rango proves that the Western world can translate to the animated realm nicely. There’s an Old West aesthetic, a villainous gunslinger, and an incredible voice cast all behind Rango, making it the perfect introduction to the genre for a younger audience.
30. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)
What it’s about: A series of stories from different perspectives that focus on those trying to make a life in the Old West, including a Wagon trail on their way to find land, a mother and daughter who survived a brutal attack in their town, and a mysterious man travelling with a sex worker and her friend’s baby.
What we think: While not one of Kevin Costner’s best Westerns, it’s one of his most noble efforts at making something lasting. The accumulation of 30 plus years’ work, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 merely sets up what’s to come, and it does a hell of a job in teasing what would be one of the most sprawling and ambitious projects of the genre in decades.
Some characters are more favorable than others, but if Horizon continues to grow into something more fully-fledged, then this could stand to be a classic in the making.
29. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
What it’s about: An anthology series from the Coen Brothers telling six different stories all set on the American frontier.
What we think: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs isn’t the only Coen brothers Western on this list, and that’s testament for their unwavering ability to weave their unrelenting brand of humor into the familiar genre. The anthology-style narrative is also a fresh take on how to explore the sprawling landscape of characters and settings in the Old West, and it might be hard to pick out your favorite.
As with most Westerns (and Coen brothers movies), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is immensely quotable, meaning you’ll probably be left reciting Buster’s pre-roulette back-and-forth to yourself over and over again.
28. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
What it’s about: Based on true events, Killers of the Flower Moon studies the brutal and tactical murder of the Osage people in 1920s Oklahoma. Specifically, it focuses on the simple-minded Ernest Burkhart, and his betrayal of his wealthy Osage wife, Mollie.
What we think: Martin Scorsese’s three and a half-hour epic isn’t for the faint of heart, and is a lengthy, relentless telling of a very real series of murders. The powerhouse cast is more than capable of carrying the weight of this story, with Lily Gladstone in particular proving that she can hold her own against even Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
27. Wind River (2017)
What it’s about: An FBI agent and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tracker are forced to work together to solve a brutal murder cast on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
What we think: Wind River is a gutting neo-Western that showcases some of Sheridan’s greatest strengths. Icy and bitter, it’s a deeply difficult to watch exploration of a very real epidemic surrounding Native American women.
The harsh setting makes this one of Sheridan’s atmospheric projects, and the disturbing subject matter makes the climactic bloodbath a satisfying and well-deserved end. Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner are both at their best, navigating this complicated and unwelcoming landscape with ease.
26. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
What it’s about: After two cowboys fall for each other while camping out in the mountains of Wyoming, they spend the next several years trying to live performative lives, all the while trying to keep their meaningful and secretive history together intact.
What we think: Frankly, it was a disgrace that Brokeback Mountain walked away without a Best Picture Academy Award, and everyone has always thought as much. Brokeback Mountain is a cold, quiet adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story, warmed only by the small moments of honesty and tenderness that Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal share on screen.
25. The Harder They Fall (2021)
What it’s about: Hellbent on revenge, Nat Love (an outlaw) enlists his gang in order to hunt down Rufus Black, a notorious crime boss who just got released from prison.
What we think: For something with a little more buzz, The Harder they fall is just as a modern Western should be. Packed with plenty of action and a slick, exhilarating style, it’s a wild adventure that packs a lot of punches and makes you remember why Westerns can be so exciting.
24. Hell or High Water (2016)
What it’s about: Two brothers, Toby and Tanner, work together to pull off a series of heists in order to save their family’s ranch from foreclosure. While they’re at it, two Texas rangers are hot on their tail.
What we think: If you love Yellowstone, you’ll want to check out Hell or High Water. It’s one of the best Taylor Sheridan movies, with the Dutton creator having penned the screenplay. The script is what makes this movie tick, bringing a genuinely enthralling heist to the screen. It was enough to revitalize the Western for the modern era, and paved the way for a couple of excellent Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges performances.
23. High Noon (1952)
What it’s about: On the day of their wedding, ex-marshal Will Kane and his bride Amy are preparing to leave the town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, when he learns that a storied criminal is planning on rolling in to seek revenge. Kane then must decide whether to stay and fight for his people, or leave in peace with his new wife.
What we think: There’s no putting it lightly: High Noon is an absolute classic. It’s a Western of smaller scale, focusing on the intricacies of cowardice and responsibility, rather than grand-scale adventures. At the time of release, the film received some backlash for its political stance, but it went on to receive great critical acclaim and has since been referred to as one of the most culturally significant films of the genre.
22. The Hateful Eight (2015)
What it’s about: When caught in a blizzard, eight strangers must hunker down in a cabin and wait for the storm to pass. While they’re trapped inside, tensions and suspicion run high among the violent and mysterious inhabitants.
What we think: As one of two Quentin Tarantino movies on this list, The Hateful Eight is a far cry from the other entry, Django Unchained. Smaller in scale and quieter in manner, this Tarantino flick runs closer to a stage play than a grand action movie. There’s few casts in the genre that come greater than this, with the likes of Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh make this one of the greatest films about people sitting in a room.
21. The Power of the Dog (2021)
What it’s about: When George Burbank meets and marries the widow mother Rose Gordon, she and her son Peter move onto his and his family ranch. What they’re met with is torment from George’s volatile brother, Phil, who makes it his mission to terrorize them.
What we think: The Power of the Dog is more depressing than impressive, and more thoughtful than exciting, which makes it one of the most unique Westerns on this list. It’s an uncomfortable and challenging exploration of masculinity and what it means to be a man, a concept that has carried the weight of the Western since it first began. Powerhouse performances and an effectively heavy atmosphere also makes this one of the next movies on Netflix, period.
20. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
What it’s about: In 1850s Oregon, backwoodsman Adam Pontipee marries the beautiful Milly. When she reaches his home, she’s horrified to discover that he has six brothers who she now must care for. What follows is a mission to find each brother a bride of their own.
What we think: It’s not the most politically correct movie in the world, but with these old Westerns, you can’t afford to be picky. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a wonderfully crafted musical that ignites a joy for life in anyone who watches it. The barn-raising dance scene in particular is one of the best dance sequences you’ll ever see put to film.
19. Oklahoma! (1955)
What it’s about: A young farm girl by the name of Laurey Williams becomes torn between the affections of two men; the lovable cowboy Curly McLain, and the moody, disliked Jud Fry. Alongside this love triangle, sweethearts Ado Annie and Will Parker also struggle with romantic loyalty.
What we think: Okay, while we’re on the Western musical train, it would be a sin not to mention the movie of its kind. Oklahoma has been revisited multiple times since the musical first came to stage in 1943, but no version has stood out more than the 1955 film version. Joyous, jolly, and full of energy, it’s a refreshing spin on the genre that usually relies on grit and drama to get going. (Try to stop yourself from singing ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ after watching this.)
18. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
What it’s about: A gang of seven men with unique skills are hired to defend a small village in Mexico, which is terrorized by a group of threatening bandits, led by the fearsome Calvera.
What we think: To understand why The Magnificent Seven is so damn cool, you only need to know that it was a remake of the 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai. A Western take on a Japanese tale is an unmissable concept on paper, and the result proved just how much of a winner that idea was. Throw in the likes of Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson defending a small town and you’ve got yourself one hell of a picture.
17. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
What it’s about: After the capture of outlaw Ben Wade, a humble rancher volunteers to take him to the train that’ll escort him to where justice is waiting. While he’s charged with watching the criminal, Evans must battle danger at every turn.
What we think: 3:10 to Yuma proves that modern Westerns can emulate the magic of the genre’s heyday. There’s a balance of violence, thoughtfulness, and action that is often so hard to achieve, but this Russell Crowe and Christian Bale team-up hits all the right marks.
16. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
What it’s about: Sheriff Franklin Hunt enlists a posse to rise out into Native American territory and rescue three hostages who were abducted by a cannibalistic clan.
What we think: Divisive in nature, Bone Tomahawk delivers on all fronts when it comes to intense gore and brutality. It’s astonishing that the combination of Western and horror has not been frequently attempted, as the violent result is something that won’t be for everyone, but is extremely memorable.
15. No Country for Old Men (2007)
What it’s about: After Llewelyn Moss finds a bag full of cash at a grizzly murder scene, he goes on the run. What he doesn’t know is that he’ll soon be hunted by the sadistic Anton Chigurh, who’ll stop at nothing to find him.
What we think: The lack of music doesn’t make No Country for Old Men boring in any sense. It’s the slowest of burns and the most intense game of cat-and-mouse you’ll ever see, all led by one of the best movie villains ever put to screen. One of the Coen Brothers’ finest.
14. Stagecoach (1939)
What it’s about: While sharing a stagecoach, a stage driver, a sex worker, an alcoholic, a Southerner, and a whiskey salesman all make their way through treacherous Apache territory.
What we think: Stagecoach is one of those Westerns whose reputation extends far beyond simply being a great genre movie. Instead, it’s a commentary on social injustice and prejudice as it follows a group of very different strangers all battling their personal demons. Make no mistake, there is action to be found in their dangerous journey, but Stagecoach’s intentions go far beyond mere spectacle.
13. Johnny Guitar (1954)
What it’s about: A guitar-slinging drifter arrives into town and finds himself at the mercy of a strong-headed saloon owner (and former lover) as she attempts to maintain her controversial standing amid the townsfolk.
What we think: Dramatic and impulsive, Johnny Guitar is an operatic take on the genre, powerfully headlined by one of the biggest movie stars ever, Joan Crawford. The highly stylised and colorful nature of the film gives the impression that you’re in a Western dream, or better yet, soap opera, emphasized by lashings of punchy drama.
12. Red River (1948)
What it’s about: A fictional telling of the first ever cattle drive from Texas to Kansas, Red River follows the butting of heads between a Texas rancher and his adopted son over who is managing the excursion.
What we think: Is there anything more emblematic of the Old West than a simple, good ol’ fashioned cattle drive? Hardly. Red River is a simple adventure movie, classic in nature and so perfectly depicts the feeling of scope and the essence of the great outdoors that you don’t often see in the genre these days. A real throwback with timeless value.
11. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
What it’s about: The first installment in Sergio Leone’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ trilogy, Once Upon a Time in the West follows a mysterious man with a harmonica who forms an alliance with an enigmatic desperado, all in an effort to stop a railroad assassin and save a widow who owns precious land.
What we think: Whether you’re team Once Upon a Time in the West or The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it can’t be denied that Sergio Leone’s impact on cinema extended far beyond the limits of the genre. Simply put, it’s a masterpiece. Bold, dramatic, and utterly stunning to look at, it’s one of the true gems of the Western genre.
10. Tombstone (1993)
What it’s about: Tombstone focuses on the story of Wyatt Earp and his infamous brothers as they look to start a new life, but trouble finds them nonetheless.
What we think: Westerns, in general, are pretty cool, but they don’t come much cooler than Tombstone. When you put Val Kilmer, Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Michael Biehn, and Bill Paxton in a movie together, you’re going to get magic regardless of the story.
Tombstone is a slick, tightly constructed love letter to the genre without leaning on homages and cliches. Instead, it lets its fascinating characters do all the walking, talking, and shooting necessary to elevate this to be one of the very best modern Westerns around.
9. True Grit (2010)
What it’s about: Based on the 1968 Charles Portis novel, True Grit is about afourteen-year-old girl, Mattie, who hires a grumpy lawman to accompany her as she tracks down the outlaw who killed her father.
What we think: Yes, we know remakes of great movies are usually frowned upon, but sometimes they just work. In the case of the Coen Brothers’ revised version of True Grit, the remake excels and builds upon everything the original got right.
It helps when you’ve got the talents of Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon to rely on, and the pair truly bring their A-game to this one. However, it’s a young Hailee Steinfeld who shines the brightest in her big breakthrough, with an Oscar-nominated performance, no less.
8. Shane (1953)
What it’s about: When a mysterious and skilled gunfighter rolls into a small isolated town in Wyoming, he falls into the ranks of the local townspeople and finds that they’re being intimidated by a group of vicious henchmen.
What we think: Shane truly has it all: the cool cowboy riding into a new town looking for a quiet life, who finds himself not only embroiled in a bitter battle between the townsfolk and a cattle baron but also in the middle of a risky love triangle.
What’s interesting about Shane is that, although you find plenty of the trademark Western staples like gunfights and fisticuffs, the movie has an underlying pacifist attitude, and its complex characters make this a powerful and compelling classic.
7. Dances with Wolves (1990)
What it’s about: Dances With Wolves tells the story of a Civil War soldier who finds himself settling into a new life with a group of Lakota Indians.
What we think: Here he is, the current king of the Western genre (just don’t tell Taylor Sheridan we said that). Kevin Costner has been thriving in the genre long before he joined the Yellowstone cast, and there are a number of his films we could have chosen for this list, but Dances With Wolves is the winner here.
Costner directs and stars in this epic tale that combines emotionally-charged scenes with touches of humor and levity. If Horizon is half the movie Dances with Wolves is, we are in for a treat later this year.
6. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
What it’s about: Based on Ron Hansen’s novel, this historical Western examines the relationship between the infamous Jesse James and Robert Ford all the way up to the titular killing.
What we think: With a long runtime and an even longer title, it could be easy to be put-off this one, but you would be missing out on one of the most visually stunning, thematically rich movies since the turn of the millennium.
Not only does The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford boast the acting talents of Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Jeremy Renner, and Sam Shepard, it is also taken from a great movie to an outstanding movie by the cinematography of Sir Roger Deakins, with some of his finest work to date.
5. Unforgiven (1992)
What it’s about: An aging outlaw who has long since given up the game returns to take on one last job, with his mission to hunt down two cowboys on the run.
What we think: If you were building a Mount Rushmore of Western icons, Clint Eastwood would be on there without a doubt — maybe even twice, actually. His work on the genre back in the 1960s with the Man With No Name trilogy was inimitable, but he returned to the game in the 1990s to star in and direct yet another cowboy classic.
Unforgiven follows traditional beats: an old gunslinger who wants to leave the past behind but gets drawn in by another big job. However, Eastwood weaves such an intricate and riveting story that it’s easy to see why Unforgiven has been heralded as the greatest modern Western.
4. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
What it’s about: Based on two of the most famous Old West figures, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid follows the two outlaws as they attempt to outrun a posse who are after them following a series of train robberies.
What we think: The idea of ‘star power’ is something film fans talk about a lot, and sadly, there are very few true movie stars around these days. They just don’t make ’em like they used to, and Paul Newman and Robert Redford are perfect examples of charisma personified, especially when they appear together.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a rip-roaring adventure that feels more like a buddy road trip flick than a tense Western, and it’s in the lighter moments that this iconic picture really succeeds. Full of bold bank robberies, daring escapes, and quippy one-liners, you simply cannot help but smile when watching this movie.
3. Django Unchained (2012)
What it’s about: After a slave is freed by a quirky German bounty hunter, he undergoes a mission to seek out his wife, who was bought by the wealthy and dangerous gentry known as Calvin J. Candie.
What we think: Love him or hate him, Quentin Tarantino makes one hell of a good picture. Django Unchained carries all the characteristics of the classics of the genre, with a super cool protagonist on a mission to save the woman he loves, but in true Tarantino fashion, this Western comes with profanities, laugh-out-loud humor, and an outrageously stylish lens.
The range of performances, from Jamie Foxx’s bombastic turn as the titular hero to Christoph Waltz’s zany depiction of Dr. King Schultz and Leonardo DiCaprio’s incredible cameo as Calvin Candie, take this one to the next level. If we had your curiosity before, we’re pretty sure we’ve got your attention now.
2. The Searchers (1956)
What it’s about: The Searchers follows an American Civil War veteran on a year-long mission to rescue his niece from the Comanche tribe that massacred his family.
What we think: No list of the best Westerns would be complete without at least one appearance from the late, great John Wayne. The Searchers is rightly regarded as one of the all-time greats, and a lot of that comes down to the way Wayne throws himself into the role of American Civil War veteran, Ethan Edwards, here.
No matter how uncomfortable and dark this movie is, this realist approach from director John Ford makes the 1956 hit a moving and intelligent study of American history.
1. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
What it’s about: Buried gold in a remote cemetery is the subject of desire for three very different men, who attempt to outdo and outrace each other while trying to find the elusive bounty.
What we think: Sometimes, a movie is so revered and hyped that you start to wonder if it’s all a bit much. Then you watch The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and realize that sometimes, all the praise in the world isn’t enough for some movies. The conclusion of Sergio Leone’s masterful trilogy, this blistering takes all the best aspects of its predecessors (Eastwood’s uber-cool hero, beautiful shot composition, a stirring score) and wraps it up into the most perfect package cinema has ever seen.
The sprawling story of three men, bound together by greed, is mesmerizing and full of action. But it’s the final moments of the film where everything truly explodes, with twists and turns, crazy camerawork, and Ennio Morricone’s legendary music combining to allow this movie to achieve greatness and forever be etched into lists like this.
So, that’s us shooting our shot at the best Westerns of all time, but while you’re here, find more cowboy content with our guides to Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, Yellowstone 2024, Yellowstone 1923 Season 2, 1883 Season 2, and the Dutton family tree. You may also be interested in our guide to all the new TV shows coming this month, or our list of the best Western TV shows.
