The 20 Best Western Films of All Time
The 20 Best Western Films of All Time
There are few things more classically and indubitably "American" than the image of a cowboy silhouetted against the sunset. Here, we're paying homage to that uniquely American character by highlighting the best Western movies of all time—those movies that first showcased, revered, and mythologized him. From High Noon to She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, these are the now-legendary movies that truly immortalized the spirit of the cowboy (or at least his Hollywood equivalent). They're action-packed, romantic, and...well, not always family-friendly, if we're being honest. But that's just part of why we love them. And anyway, outlaws, gamblers, and bounty hunters are just one small part of what actually makes these classic movies so important to us. The real reason they hold such a special place in our hearts is that they're full of lessons...about true friendship, real loyalty, and the will to survive and fight—no matter the odds. So take a seat, pop some popcorn, and get ready to add a whole slew of award-winning titles to your roster of favorite movies. If you like this list, be sure to check out our favorite country movies, the top Texas movies, or the best patriotic movies.
The Furies
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$9.99
A firebrand heiress clashes with her tyrannical father, a cattle rancher who fancies himself a Napoleon, but their relationship turns ugly only when he finds himself a new woman.
Director: Anthony MannWriters: Charles Schnee (screenplay), Niven Busch (from a novel by)Stars: Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Walter Huston
Once Upon A Time In The West
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$13.99
A mysterious stranger with a harmonica joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad.
Director: Sergio Leone Writers: Sergio Donati (screenplay by), Sergio Leone (screenplay by) Stars: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
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$2.99
When Senator Ransom Stoddard returns home to Shinbone for the funeral of Tom Doniphon, he recounts to a local newspaper editor the story behind it all. He had come to town many years before, a lawyer by profession. The stage was robbed on its way in by the local ruffian, Liberty Valance, and Stoddard has nothing to his name left save a few law books. He gets a job in the kitchen at the Ericson's restaurant and there meets his future wife, Hallie. The territory is vying for Statehood and Stoddard is selected as a representative over Valance, who continues terrorizing the town. When he destroys the local newspaper office and attacks the editor, Stoddard calls him out, though the conclusion is not quite as straightforward as legend would have it.
Director: John Ford Writers: James Warner Bellah (screenplay), Willis Goldbeck (screenplay)
Stars: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles
No Country For Old Men
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$3.99
Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay) Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
The Magnificent Seven
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$3.99
Seven gunfighters are hired by Mexican peasants to liberate their village from oppressive bandits.
Director: John Sturges Writer: William Roberts (screenplay) Stars: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson
Shane
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$9.99
Shane (Alan Ladd) is just your average gunslinger trying to make a living as a farmhand. But when he's swept up in constant disputes between the family he works for and a group of hard-hearted cattle ranchers, he has no choice but to get involved—in a big way. This classic film simply has our hearts, and it's stood the test of time as one of the greatest Western movies ever produced.
Stagecoach
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$14.99
“Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from," and the sheer genius of cult classic Stagecoach is one of them. Fun fact: It was this brilliant 1939 Western that first catapulted John Wayne to household name status.
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
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$3.99
Where to begin? There's just so much to love about McCabe and Mrs. Miller, an incredibly deep, touching film about love and business starring Julie Christie and a young Warren Beatty. It's not your classic Western flick, and we love that. But it's the gorgeous Leonard Cohen songs dotting the soundtrack that really make this film a standout.
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
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$9.99
John Wayne stars as Calvary Captain Nathan Brittles in this 1949 Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford. Set just after Custer's last stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the Oscar-winning movie was the second in a "cavalry trilogy"—it's sandwiched between Fort Apache (1948) and Rio Grande (1950).
Lonely Are the Brave
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$11.99
A star-studded, A-list cast is just the start of what makes this classic Western film so memorable (the likes of Kirk Douglas, Walter Matthau, Gena Rowlands and Carol O'Connor take center stage here). It's the story itself—and the messages it carries—that will remain with you for years to come.
Jeremiah Johnson
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$3.99
Powerful and captivating, Jeremiah Johnson tells the story of a veteran of the Mexican-American War (Robert Redford) who attempts to live by himself in the woods. There, he runs into a cast of unforgettable characters (thankfully, since his own survival instincts aren't too strong) and finds both love and trouble.
The Ox-Bow Incident
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$3.99
Nominated for a 1943 Oscar for Best Picture, The Ox-Bow Incident is everything a classic Western should be: action-packed, fugitive-filled, and can't-look-away good.
True Grit
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$13.99
Pardon us if this is controversial, but we're pretty sure 2010's True Grit is a rare, glowing example of a remake that's better than the original (1969's True Grit starring John Wayne). Leave it to the Coen Brothers!
Red River (Colorized)
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1948's Red River chronicles the very first cattle drive from Texas to Kansas and stars John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, whose characters' relationship grows progressively more tense as the film goes on (to put it lightly).
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
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$2.99
A true "Spaghetti Western" directed by Sergio Leone himself, you'd likely be able to recognize this movie's telltale theme...whether or not you've ever actually seen the film. Prepare for action, adventure, and Clint Eastwood wearing a poncho.
High Noon
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One word comes to mind when we think of High Noon, and that word is "iconic." Gary Cooper fighting bad guys with Grace Kelly at his side...need we say more?
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
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$1.99
Trust us: You haven't seen a real adventure film until you've seen The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Join Humphrey Bogart on a rather stressful gold hunt in the Sierra Madre mountains, and try to stay in your seat.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
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$12.99
Brad Pitt plays Jesse James in this fantastic 2007 film based on the eponymous 1983 novel. Standout performances make it an unexpected, but undeniable, winner.
The Searchers
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$3.99
"That'll be the day" is the oft-remembered (and repeated) line from this John Wayne classic. Post-Civil War Texas makes for a gorgeous backdrop to all the adventure.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
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$14.99
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is the rough-and-tumble Western you never knew you needed in your life—but we assure you, you need it. Based on a true story, the movie takes its basis from the real-life friendship between outlaw Butch Cassidy and his right-hand guy, Sundance Kid.
From Shane to Jeremiah Johnson and everything in between.