A good many Westerns (particularly the older ones made closer to the middle of the 20th century) revolve around tales of good versus evil. For sure, when such a film is done well, it can be undeniably satisfying to see a heroic sheriff or gunman stand up to bandits or corrupt individuals and defeat them, often fighting violence with violence. But it’s unlikely such things would’ve actually occurred in Old West times, and as such, some movies specialize in taking a less black vs. white approach narratively.
Some of these films can be classified as outlaw Westerns which, as the name suggests, tend to revolve around those on the other side of the law, perhaps even making lawmen on the “right side” of the law the antagonists. It can be more thematically complex to have morally gray characters in such stories, andthere’s an argument to be made that such Westerns are also a little more fun and less predictable. Some of the best outlaw and/or antihero Westerns are ranked below, starting with the good and ending with the great.
15'3:10 to Yuma’ (2007)
Director: James Mangold
Standing as one of the best Westerns released in the last 20 years,3:10 to Yumais a slicker and more action-packed update/remake of the 1957 movie of the same name. Narratively, it’s not exclusively about outlaws, though a good many characters are, with one of the leads being the leader of an outlaw gang who spends the movie getting escorted to a train station by a veteran of the Civil War.
3:10 to Yumadoes tell a story of good vs. evil, in a way, though it feels interestingin the way it spends similar amounts of time on characters on differing sides of the law. It’s overall up there among thebest filmsJames Mangold’s ever directed, and benefits immensely from a great cast that includesRussell Crowe,Christian Bale,Peter Fonda, andBen Foster.
3:10 to Yuma
14’Silverado' (1985)
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
WhileSilveradodoes have its fair share of non-traditional Western heroes, it’s not a bleak or deconstructive Western movie, necessarily, and can probably count itself as one of the breezier “outlaw” Westerns out there. The leads are all a little rough around the edges and rebellious, but do ultimately seem heroic compared to the film’s antagonist: a corrupt sheriff who rules the town of Silverado.
It’s notable for beingone ofKevin Costner’s first big roles, and he’s one part of a great cast that also includesKevin Kline,Danny Glover,Rosanna Arquette, andJeff Goldblum.Silveradokeeps things pretty simple, but not in a way that’s detrimental to the film as a whole, and those wanting to see something generally old-fashioned – but not without a few more modern flashes here and there – ought to give this somewhat overlooked Western a shot.
Director: Sam Raimi
WhileSam Raimimight be best known for his superhero movies, he’s shown himself to be a versatile filmmaker capable of tackling any genre. Case in point:The Quick and the Dead, which sees Raimi taking the Western genre and being very Raimi with it.It’s a stylish, fast, sometimes over-the-top, and usually tongue-in-cheek kind of movie, and benefits from having tons of mysterious and/or morally dubious characters continually clashing throughout.
The plot ofThe Quick and the Deadrevolves around a quick-draw tournament taking place in an Old West town, withSharon Stoneplaying the mysterious hero,Gene Hackmandevouring scenery as the antagonist, and a youngLeonardo DiCaprioappearing in a supporting role, marking the first of several Westerns for the actor. Many of the characters are outlaws, and the film itself is stylish in a kind of rebellious or almost “punk” sort of way, which adds to the feeling of it being an outlaw Western.
The Quick and the Dead
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12’Tombstone' (1993)
Director: George P. Cosmatos
It might be a stretch to callTombstonean outlaw Western necessarily, but it’s one of the best Westerns to look at Old West lawmen, and it’s hard to have a compelling story about such figures without also having outlaws. The titular town becomes threatened by various adversaries inTombstone, leading to marshalWyatt Earphaving to assemble his own group of skilled gunfighters to take on such criminals.
This leads to plenty ofaction in the Western, as well as memorable character interactions, withTombstonebeing appropriately grand and bombastic in a way that takes a true story and makes it feel legendary. It is larger-than-life, and as such, might not be completely historically accurate… butit captures the spirit behind the legend of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and it’s also just super entertaining to watch, in any event.
11’Unforgiven' (1992)
Director: Clint Eastwood
A hugelysuccessful Western that won multiple Oscars,Unforgivencould be seen as one of the high points – if not the high point – ofClint Eastwood’s entire career, either as an actor or a director. This movie takes an anti-hero with a troubled past and pits him against a far more villainous authority figure: a corrupt sheriff who wasn’t willing to bring a gang of wrongdoers to justice properly.
Unforgivenis a rather bleak and down-to-earth Western movie, but this doesn’t stop it from being very compellingand engaging throughout. It balances difficult and subversive thematic content with great characters who all vary a great deal morally, and tells a simple story in an effortless and eventually moving way. It might not be as centered on outlaws as other aforementioned and soon-to-be-mentioned examples, but it can stand alongside them nonetheless.
Unforgiven
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Not to be mixed up with a certain 1960s Western with a similar title (more on that one below),The Good, The Bad, The Weirdis a Korean film that’s as ridiculous and entertaining as it is action-packed. It has a story set in Manchuria during the 1930s, nevertheless retaining the feel of a classic Western (and perhaps gently spoofing the genre; almost) as it follows three outlaws who are all seeking treasure hidden somewhere in the desert.
The Good, The Bad, The Weirdraces forward at a speed that makes plenty of other fast-paced movies look slow in comparison, and it’s a blast to watch from start to finish. All the characters are flawed – some more than others – but they’re all interesting and have plenty of good dynamics between each other. Even if they didn’t, the action here alone, which is frequent and of a very high quality, is worth the price of admission.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
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9’The Proposition' (2005)
Director: John Hillcoat
Not only doesThe Propositioncontain numerous cutthroat and morally complex characters, but it would also have to rank up there as one of themost brutal and bloody Westerns of all time. Its plot concerns a man who’s forced to make an impossible decision, as he’s told his younger brother will be killed if he doesn’t successfully hunt down and kill his older brother, who’s an outlaw at large.
The world ofThe Propositionis a nasty and hopeless one, but the film is nevertheless compelling, thanks toits intriguing premise and the complex moral questions it demands of its characters and audience. As far as Westerns revolving around outlaws go, it’s certainly one of the heavier ones, but those who don’t mind a Western that can be a bit emotionally demanding and grim ought to give it a shot.
The Proposition
8’The Outlaw Josey Wales' (1976)
Clint Eastwoodrose to prominence as an actor within the first decade or so of his career in the world of film, but by the early 1970s, he was also finding success as a director. Every so often, he would direct a film and star in it, in some capacity, withThe Outlaw Josey Walesbeing one of the first times he did this to great success. To this day, it remains one of thebest Westerns Clint Eastwood’s everbeen associated with.
It’s no surprise that it can count itself as an outlaw Western, given its title, and the story itself revolves around the legendary titular character; a feared avenger who gets bloody revenge for wrongs committed against himself, and then protects the downtrodden in the Old West by any means necessary. Though the main character is violent and ruthless,The Outlaw Josey Walesshows the West to be a dog-eat-dog kind of place, making the protagonist ultimately feel like something of an antihero.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
7’The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' (2007)
Director: Andrew Dominik
One of thegreat Westerns of the 21st century(therefore being one keeping the genre alive, even past its arguable heyday),The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordhas a plot that’s mostly summarized by its title. It does indeed revolve around that infamous event, showing the complex feelings Ford had towards James, exploring why he did what he did, and then showcasing how it impacted the rest of his life.
Those who like their Westerns packed with action and heroics might not find a lot to love withThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, because it’s dark, patiently paced, and character-focused.Yet it’s one of the most morally complex and thought-provoking Westerns, not just of its kind, but of any within the genre broadly speaking, and is likely a film that will go on aging incredibly well.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
6’Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid' (1973)
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpahwas no stranger to Westerns featuring rough-around-the-edges characters who tended to get involved in exceedingly violent conflicts. Of his various films,Pat Garrett & Billy the Kidis both one of his best and one of his most overlooked, not getting the kind of love it deserves despite telling an excellent and dramatic story about friends turned rivals, and the heartbreak/anger that comes with such a turn of events.
That’s not to sayPat Garrett & Billy the Kidlacks entertainment value or is otherwise devoid of excitement/action, but it isa downbeat Western overall, and all the better for it. Not only are various characters outlaws, but they’re all downtrodden and struggling to get by in their own ways, which is depressing, yes, but alsofeels perhaps more true to life than other Westerns out there with sunnier dispositions and more clear-cut heroes and villains.
