There’s nothing quite as powerful and captivating as watching a great, compellingWesternfilm. The Western genre, as most cinema-goers are familiar with, isone of the oldest and most recognizable styles of filmmaking in cinematic history. Even before films had sound, audiences were blessed with thrilling tales of good vs. evil,crimeagainst order, and brave explorations, all set in a time when the Western United States was an untamed frontier.
Today, we have whole lists of some ofthe greatest Western masterpieces of all time, and there’s no shortage of them. Westerns are an essential piece of cinema that can’t be ignored, nor should they be forgotten for their brilliance and influence on pop culture. In honor of this truly spectacular genre,let’s take a look at the game-changers of the Western genre –the ones that altered its course, saved it from irrelevance, and reimagined or even subverted the genre with new themes and compelling ideas. From a neo-Western to a classic remake that birthed Spaghetti Westerns, these tenclassicschanged this iconic genre for the better.
10’No Country for Old Men' (2007)
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Beginning with a Best Picture-winning modern masterpiece, theCoen Brothers' neo-Western filmNo Country for Old Menblows audiences away with its riveting dialog and powerful performances. Based on the novel by authorCormac McCarthy, it shows a deadly cat-and-mouse game between a Texas hunter (Josh Brolin) and a psychopathic cartel hit-man (Javier Bardem) afterthe hunter stumbles across $2 million in the aftermath of a drug deal that’s gone horribly wrong.
No Country for Old Menis a fascinating tale that brilliantly subverts while also respecting the Western genre.It breaks away from traditional tropes and paints a bleak, unromanticized approach with no clear heroesor a triumphant finale. It’s a deeply psychological story that’s thought-provoking and offers something unique and compelling that Western fans haven’t truly seen before. It’s a modern classic that will likely stand the test of time.
No Country for Old Men
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.
9’Tombstone' (1993)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos
Hailed for its exciting action and riveting performances,George P. Cosmatos' 1993 filmTombstoneis an absolute blast of entertainment that boosted the genre’s popularity going into the'90s. StarringKurt Russelland the lateVal Kilmer, it sees the two as legendary historical figures, Wyatt Earp and John “Doc” Holiday, as they stand up against a vicious criminal gang in the booming town of Tombstone.
Tombstone is widely consideredone of themost thrilling and enduring Westerns of all time. While admittedly a bit over-the-top and highly romanticized, it’s an incredible story with wonderful characters and some of the most quoted lines in movie history.It revitalized interest in the Western genre with its thrilling style and unique tone, which greatly captures the spirit of the West. Overall, it’s a fascinating story that never gets old and continues to have a significant presence in pop culture.
A successful lawman’s plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating.
8’Brokeback Mountain' (2005)
Directed by Ang Lee
A gripping tale full of heartbreak and tragedy,Ang Lee’s contemporary Western romantic dramaBrokeback Mountainoffers a unique take that flips the genre on its head. StarringJake Gyllenhaaland the lateHeath Ledger,it follows the ups and downs of a decades-long relationship between two ranch handsafter they fall in love with each other on a shepherding trip through Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming.
With riveting performances, brilliant writing, and competent direction,Brokeback Mountainis a powerful story that has become a massive standout in the genre in recent decades.It’s a Western that challenges classic Western archetypes and tropes, following a plot that also paved the way for more LGBTQ representation in the genre. It’s a complex tale that broke away from traditional storytelling andhas now become a modern classic, likely to be endlessly studied for its place in the genre’s history.
Brokeback Mountain
Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.
7’Stagecoach' (1939)
Directed by John Ford
Widely considered one of themost groundbreaking Westerns of all time, the highly reveredJohn Ford’s action-adventure classicStagecoachis a film that truly needs to be seen by all fans of the genre. Featuring the director’s first collaboration with Hollywood Golden Age iconJohn Wayne, it followsa motley group of stagecoach passengers as they brave the western frontierwhile facing the threat of an Apache raiding party.
Stagecoachis not only the film that launched John Wayne into the mainstream, but it changed the trajectory of the Western genre forever. It raised the bar for these types of movies with its compelling storytelling and complex character development. And it continues to capture the minds of audiences with its riveting action and exciting performances that still hold up incredibly well. It’s a true classic that was a major boost for the genre and continues to be beloved.
Stagecoach
Stagecoach follows a diverse group of passengers traveling through dangerous territory under the looming threat of attack. As they face external perils on their way to Lordsburg, each character’s personal story unfolds, revealing hidden depths and forging unexpected connections, ultimately shaping their shared journey and individual destinies.
6’High Noon' (1952)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
An innovative classic that hasn’t lost its luster in decades,Fred Zinnemann’s 1952 WesternHigh Noonis an enduring tale that gets better with every watch. StarringGary Cooperin a career comeback andOscar-winning performance, it sees him as a town marshal who,on the day of his wedding and retirement, must take up the badge one more time alone to face a vengeful gang leaderhe put away years prior.
High Noonis unique in that it offers a groundbreaking storytelling approach that sets itself apart from other Westerns.It takes place in real-timeand features a more complex plot that’s less heavy on action and more focused on character drama and dynamics.It’s also been praised for being an allegory of McCarthyism and taking a stand against Hollywood’s blacklistings of the time, proving to be much deeper and thought-provoking rather than being a romanticized Western.
5’The Searchers' (1956)
Not only consideredJohn Ford and John Wayne’s best filmtogether but also widely seen as one of the most compelling Westerns ever made, 1956’sThe Searchersis an iconic tale that continues to be a massive influence on filmmaking. It sees Wayne in his legendary roleas hardened Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards as he embarks on a years-long rescue mission to bring his niece homeafter she was taken by a Comanche raiding party.
It’s a near-flawless tale with incredible acting, innovative visuals, and gorgeous cinematographythat has inspired the likes ofGeorge Lucas,Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. It’s also complex for its morally ambiguous protagonist, who is far from a traditional Western hero but certainly one of the most memorable. Overall,The Searchersisn’t just a game-changer for Westerns; it’s a game-changer for all cinema.
The Searchers
An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother’s family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.
4’The Wild Bunch' (1969)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
For intense violence and thrilling adventurefor those who absolutely love theRed Dead Redemptiongame series, check outSam Peckinpah’sThe Wild Bunch, a 1969 Western epic starring an A-list cast includingAcademy AwardwinnersWilliam Holden,Ernest Borgnine,Edmond O’Brien, andBen Johnson. It follows the last days of an aging outlaw gang as they’re on the run after a robbery goes terribly wrong.
It’sone of the bleakest, bloodiest, and most spectacular Westerns you’ll ever see that changed the game with its revolutionary violence and powerful storytelling.It’s not a happy Western in the slightest and brings with it a harsher look at the life of a professional outlaw and the dirty work that comes with it.The Wild Bunchhas become timeless because of how unflinching it is, and it’ll likely never be forgotten.
The Wild Bunch
3’McCabe & Mrs. Miller' (1971)
Directed by Robert Altman
A near-perfect Western masterpiecethat re-envisioned the genre, 1971’sMcCabe & Mrs. Milleris a fascinating tale that flips everything you know about Westerns. Starring Academy Award winnersWarren BeattyandJulie Christie, it tells of a drifting gambler and an English prostitute as their thriving co-owned business in a remote mining town becomes threatened by the arrival of a major corporation.
It’s described as a perfect “Anti-Western” for subverting many of the tropes of traditional Westerns, challenging them by featuring complex heroes, moral ambiguity, and an emphasis on self-interest and greed. It’s become a massive influence on a lot of subversive Westerns, as its story doesn’t romanticize the West; it just focuses more on the harsh reality of living in this time period.
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
A gambler and a prostitute become business partners in a remote Old West mining town, and their enterprise thrives until a large corporation arrives on the scene.
2’Unforgiven' (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
A truly breathtaking Best Picture winner,Clint Eastwood’s powerful deconstruction of the classic Western idea,Unforgiven, is a riveting period drama that’ll leave audiences stunned. Starring Eastwood himself and the lateGene Hackmanin an iconic Best Supporting Actor-winning performance,it follows a retired feared gunslinger who takes on one last bounty to save his struggling farm.
It’s a harsh, tragic, andsubversive slow-burn Westernthat sees Clint Eastwood in a role that has never been seen before.It doesn’t shy away from the bleak actions of taking another person’s life and the aftermath that comes with it. It’s truly incredible and puts Westerns in a new light that doesn’t feel cheesy or adventurous; grounded and realistic.
Unforgiven
Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The “Schofield Kid.”
1’A Fistful of Dollars' (1964)
Directed by Sergio Leone
Finally, at number one, it is greatly considered the film that catapulted “spaghetti Westerns” into the spotlight, where they’re still revered today. Yes, finally, let’s talk about the film that started it all,A Fistful of Dollars, the first inSergio Leone’s iconic Dollars Trilogy. An unofficial adaptation of acclaimed Japanese filmmakerAkira Kurosawa’s 1961 Samurai classic,Yojimbo, the story follows a drifting gunslinger (played by Clint Eastwood) ashe pits two rival crime families against each other to free their grip over a struggling village.
A Fistful of Dollarsisthe classic that redefined the genre. It brought with it some of the most recognizable scenes in cinema history, and they continue to be a massive influence today.Everything else, from Eastwood’s legendary performance to Ennio Morricone’s inspiring score, has madeA Fistful of Dollarsone of the greatest game-changersin the Western genre.
