I grew up watching Western movies together with my dad. He loves a good Western (mostly old John Wayne movies), and so do I.
Nothing can top the adrenaline and excitement of watching a Western, and there’s just something about those rugged frontiers, crazy outlaws, and lonely strangers.
And just as the Wild West was constantly evolving – so is the Western film genre.
Today, I will look at ten of the best Westerns of all time that helped push the boundaries of the old and create new conventions and expectations.
1. Stagecoach (1939)
“I’ve always courted danger.”
Dr. Josiah Boone
- Genre: Western
- Director: John Ford
- Screenwriter: Dudley Nichols
- Starring: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Stagecoach elevated the Western from low-budget pulp to serious, character-driven storytelling. It introduced John Wayne as a major star and showcased deep, multi-dimensional characters, a focus on moral dilemmas, and high production values, setting a new standard for the genre.
2. High Noon (1952)
“People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it.”
Howe
- Genre: Western
- Director: Fred Zinnemann
- Screenwriter: Carl Foreman
- Starring: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: High Noon, directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper, broke the mold by introducing real-time storytelling and focusing on the tension and dread leading up to a climactic gunfight rather than the action itself. It also delved into themes of courage, community, and moral integrity, differing from the straightforward adventure tales of earlier Westerns.
3. The Searchers (1956)
“That’ll be the day.”
Ethan
- Genre: epic Western
- Director: John Ford
- Screenwriter: Frank S. Nugent
- Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Another John Ford classic, starring John Wayne, this film introduced complex characters with ambiguous morals. It explored themes of obsession, racism, and the cost of revenge, challenging the previously clear-cut delineation of heroes and villains in Westerns.
4. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
“People scare better when they’re dyin’.”
Frank
- Genre: spaghetti Western
- Director: Sergio Leone
- Screenwriters: Sergio Leone, Sergio Donati
- Starring: Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Directed by Sergio Leone, Once Upon a Time in the West is notable for its extensive use of long, tension-building scenes and its operatic score by Ennio Morricone. Leone’s style, including close-up shots and a slower pace, redefined the aesthetics of Westerns and introduced a more mythic and epic scope to its storytelling.
Once Upon A Time In The West has the coolest opening of any Western movie I’ve ever seen. The extreme close-ups, the sound design, and the slow pacing build up the tension!
5. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
“I’ll do anything you want me to but I won’t watch you die.”
The Sundance Kid
- Genre: Western
- Director: George Roy Hill
- Screenwriter: William Goldman
- Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid blended traditional Western elements with buddy comedy dynamics, making it distinct in tone and approach. Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, it offered a more lighthearted take on the outlaw narrative, incorporating humor and focusing on the characters’ relationships.
6. The Wild Bunch (1969)
“If they move, kill ‘em!”
Pike Bishop
- Genre: Revisionist Western
- Director: Sam Peckinpah
- Screenwriters: Walon Green, Sam Peckinpah, Roy N. Sickner
- Starring: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Directed by Sam Peckinpah, The Wild Bunch is known for its gritty realism, moral ambiguity, and highly stylized, slow-motion violence. It challenged the traditional portrayal of the West as a place of clear-cut heroes and villains, instead presenting a more nuanced, morally complex perspective.
7. Unforgiven (1992)
“I’ll see you in hell, William Munny.”
Little Bill
- Genre: revisionist Western
- Director: Clint Eastwood
- Screenwriter: David Webb Peoples
- Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven deconstructed many of the myths of the Old West, portraying its characters as flawed and haunted by their pasts. It critiqued the glorification of violence and explored the consequences of vengeance, marking a significant thematic shift in the genre.
8. Dances with Wolves (1990)
“I was just thinking that of all the trails in this life, there are some that matter most.”
Kicking Bird
- Genre: Western
- Director: Kevin Costner
- Screenwriter: Michael Blake
- Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Directed by and starring Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolfes offered a sympathetic portrayal of Native Americans, contrasting sharply with their frequent depiction as villains in earlier Westerns. It focused on themes of friendship, cultural understanding, and respect for the land, signaling a shift towards more nuanced and respectful portrayals of indigenous peoples.
9. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
“I wish I knew how to quit you.”
Jack
- Genre: Neo-Western drama
- Director: Ang Lee
- Screenwriters: Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
- Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain redefined the Western genre by shifting focus from traditional cowboy tropes towards a poignant exploration of forbidden love between two men in the conservative landscape of the American West. It helped challenge the machismo and heteronormativity typically associated with Westerns, offering a more inclusive and emotionally complex portrayal of its characters and their environments.
10. Django Unchained (2012)
“I like the way you die, boy.”
Django
- Genre: Revisionist Western
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
- Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
Why and How It Changed the Western Genre: Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, blended the Western with other genres, including the blaxploitation style. It was noted for its revisionist take on history, graphic violence, sharp dialogue, and dark humor. It challenged traditional narratives and introduced a black hero seeking revenge against slavers, a significant departure from the genre’s historical norms.
Conclusion
Good Western movies have proven to stand the test of time again and again.
Maybe it’s because the stories of the Wild West still instill in us a feeling of adventure and a nostalgic sense of freedom.
So there you have it. That’s the best Western movie ever, in my humble opinion.
Up Next: See if you can beat the FilmDaft Western movie quiz.
Author
-
by
-
