I’m as big a fan of the current resurgence of the Western genre as anyone. The average moviegoer is undoubtedly familiar with Taylor Sheridan’s bevy of neo-Western shows and movies, most of which adapt the themes of classic Westerns for the modern world. In a world increasingly fraught with the advances of technology, the dust, horses, and black-and-white morality of the American West is a comfortable pocket of nostalgia to escape into. It’s what most attracted me to the genre in the first place, and what has kept me enamored my entire life: the unique, familiar aesthetic that captures the vibes of a bygone era.
As great as the neo-Westerns are, it’s important to remember that they are simply the latest evolution of a genre that has been growing since motion pictures were invented. Over the last few decades, I’ve watched dozens and dozens of classic Westerns from across cinematic history, and I recently revisited some of my favorites to bring you a list of the best from the last century. These films are not only entertaining and extremely well-crafted, but many are still referred to across all genres in American cinema as essential landmarks in the development of cinematography, sound mixing, and narrative/character development.
Why You Should Trust Me: From the neo-Westerns of Taylor Sheridan to the greatest performances of the Duke, I’ve spent 30 years enamored with the Western genre. While I still enjoy the gunfights, horse chases, and vengeful cowboys, I’ve come to appreciate just how influential the Western genre has been in the development of American cinema across all genres. I’ve watched dozens of the best of the best Westerns across the last century, and know what makes for a truly groundbreaking Western adventure.
John Ford’s Stagecoach is almost universally recognized as a seminal film in American cinema for a litany of reasons. It’s considered the godfather of Westerns, as it established Monument Valley as an iconic Western backdrop, turned John Wayne into a household name while establishing his rugged hero archetype, and redefined Westerns as an avenue for serious filmmaking as opposed to a canvas for cheap thrills. More importantly, its large and diverse ensemble cast captured many different perspectives of American society in one group, a storytelling technique that would be adopted and referenced across all genres in the years to follow.
Runner-Up: Destry Rides Again (1939), directed by George Marshall
Red River revolutionized the Western genre by adding psychological depth to its protagonist, a dictatorial cattle baron whose ruthless ways spark a mutiny on a cattle drive up the Chisholm Trail. As opposed to Wayne’s traditional hero battling outlaws, Red River established the power of a conflicted hero in a Western narrative, and also proved how talented John Wayne was as an actor in a role that asked him to do more than just shoot bad guys. The action and sweeping cinematography were also considered groundbreaking at the time, making it no small wonder why Red River was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry (as were many others on this list).
Runner-Up: My Darling Clementine (1946), directed by John Ford
If Red River introduced the concept of a conflicted Western protagonist, The Searchers perfected it. John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards is one of the earliest examples of a true anti-hero, as he is an openly racist ex-Confederate soldier obsessed with hunting down the Comanche who kidnapped his niece. Wayne’s violent, volatile gunslinger eventually gets to a point where he’d rather kill his own niece than see her live contentedly with the Comanche, as she desires, making it truly difficult to even support the character. It’s a brutal, engaging narrative backed up by some of John Ford’s most inspired camerawork, which highlights desolate landscapes and doorways as a framing device.
Runner-Up: Shane (1953), directed by George Stevens
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is maybe the finest work of iconic “spaghetti Western” director Sergio Leone. Perhaps most famous for Ennio Morricone’s iconic score, the movie features a cold trio of survivors hunting a cache of Confederate gold through unscrupulous means. It is positively loaded with oft-parodied and referenced scenes, most notably the famous Mexican stand-off scene, which features some of Sergio Leone’s most famous camera work as he swaps between extreme close-ups on the characters’ eyes and wide shots of the trio. It was another game-changer for the Western genre, but it’s influence is felt across many genres even in the 2020s.
Runner-Up: The WIld Bunch (1969), directed by Sam Peckinpah
Clint Eastwood’s legendary Western was a big hit upon its release, and while it was important in proving the commercial viability deep into the 1970s, it was even more important for how it portrayed the American frontier. Set at the tail end of the Civil War, Eastwood plays a vengeful Confederate soldier who engages in guerrilla warfare against Union troops following the murder of his family. However, defying the traditional brutality depicted by movies dealing with pioneers and Native Americans, Eastwood’s Josey Wales befriends a Cherokee veteran, a Navajo woman, and an elderly grandmother and her granddaughter, who he rescues from bandits. The Outlaw Josey Wales marks an important development in how Westerns depicted their heroes interacting with Native Americans in that time period, and it’s action-packed and entertaining to boot.
Runner-Up: Blazing Saddles (1974), directed by Mel Brooks
The Western genre was on the ropes in the 1980s, and may have truly faded into obscurity if not for Silverado. Abandoning the darkness and cynicism of the best John Wayne and Clint Eastwood anti-hero Westerns, Silverado fully embraced the fun elements of Westerns, supplemented with modern pacing and action beats. It also boasts an excellent ensemble cast that includes Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, John Cleese, Linda Hunt, Rosanna Arquette, and Kevin Costner in his true breakout role. Silverado proved that there was still plenty of fun to be had in the Western genre, and gave it a shot in the arm when it needed it most.
Runner-Up: Pale Rider (1985), directed by Clint Eastwood
The endlessly quotable and entertaining Tombstone picked right up where Silverado left off by injecting pure fun into the genre. While the almost unbelievable level of talent in the cast is all tremendous, Val Kilmer’s performance as the tuberculosis-ridden gunslinger Doc Holliday is one of the most memorable in the history of Westerns. Kurt Russell also shines as the ultimate badass Western lawman Wyatt Earp, and they both play ridiculously well off the exquisitely slimy villains played by Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn. It’s perhaps the most rewatchable movie on this list, and is just as entertaining now as it was in 1993.
Runner-Up: Unforgiven (1992), directed by Clint Eastwood
There is so much depth at play in this remake of the excellent 1957 classic of the same name. Christian Bale’s desperate and ashamed failing rancher Dan Edwards volunteers to escort the ultra-charismatic outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe in one of his very best roles) to the prison train in Yuma, Arizona to get the money to save his farm, and along the way both men learn that the lines of morality are much grayer than they appeared when they first met. With a top-notch supporting cast and one of the best Western action finales of this century, 3:10 to Yuma hearkens back to classic Westerns with elite updates in filmmaking and acting technique.
Runner-Up: No Country for Old Men (2007), directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
As opposed to updating the 1969 John Wayne classic of the same name, Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2010 10-time Academy Award nominee was a more faithful adaptation of Charles Portis’ classic 1968 novel. As a result, the narrative shifted its center from U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to its 14-year-old hero Mattie Ross, played by Hailee Steinfeld in her breakout role. The entire cast earned acclaim, but it was Steinfeld’s performance that really turned heads. It’s grimy and realistic, and doesn’t back down from a bleak conclusion, but its plenty entertaining throughout thanks to the performances and pitch-perfect pacing and direction from the Coens.
Runner-Up: Django Unchained (2012), directed by Quentin Tarantino
With more than a century of Western film history already on the shelves, singer/songwriter/producer Jeymes Samuel’s feature directorial debut The Harder They Fall represented a faithful ode to the genre while completely turning it on its head at the same time. Samuel’s expertly stylized take on the classic Western revenge story featured a fictionalized cast of (mostly) real black cowboys, outlaws, and lawmen of the 19th century played by an ultra-talented cast. The crackling energy is palpable thanks to the well-conceived performances of the entire ensemble and Samuel’s hip-hop-inspired original soundtrack and score.
Runner-Up: Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), directed by Martin Scorsese
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