The western is one of the most essential genres in American cinema. The popularity of traditional westerns died out when audiences realized its myths were a skewed, whitewashed version of a very ugly, grisly chapter of history. But some more recent westerns haveleaned into the ugliness of their historical contextto upend those myths and present a more brutal, realistic take on the Old West.
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Either way, some of the greatest movies ever made have been westerns. Tales of marshals, gamblers, and bounty hunters trying to make it on the American frontier have provided the groundwork for a handful of cinema’sfinest western movies.
Updated on July 18, 2025, by Jason Van Duine:The western is a staple of both cinema and western culture. Once considered the definitive blockbuster before superheroes ever graced the screen, westerns portrayed an idealized version of American history that offered a wonderful escape for its early viewers. More modern westerns began to critique both the true American past as well as its depiction in the western genre, creating fantastic introspective work within film. Regardless of whether these films are escapist entertainment or thought-provoking pieces, they still stand the test of time as some of thegreatest western filmsever made.
13Rio Bravo
For anyone looking for a laid-back and fun western, it’s hard to beatRio Bravo. After setting up a trio of flawed heroes,Rio Bravobecomes a hangout movieas they wait for a gang to show up and try to liberate their prisoner. John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson are compelling in the lead roles, while Angie Dickinson gives a terrific supporting turn.
Howard Hawks and John Wayne madeRio Bravoas a direct response toHigh Noon, having been unhappy with how the Gary Cooper classic positioned itself as a critique of McCarthyism and ended with the lawman throwing down his badge. In response, they created a western where unlike the marshal inHigh Noon, the town sheriff receives help from anyone in town in order to catch the bad guys. Howard Hawks went on to make two more films with a similar premise, and director Quentin Tarantino has listedRio Bravoas one of his favorite movies of all time.
12High Noon
While polarizing when it was first released,High Noonnow ranks high as one of the most suspenseful westerns ever made. Gary Cooper plays Will Kane, the marshal of a small town, who has recently married and is just about to retire when news arrives that a vicious outlaw he sent to prison is on his way back for revenge. He has until noon that day to prepare. Knowing how deadly the outlaw is, everyone Will approaches for help declines, forcing Will to face down the outlaw and his gang alone.
Often considered one of the earliest “revisionist westerns”,High Noonstands apart from both the classic and modern westerns as a story mostly devoid of action and heroics until its very end. Instead, audiences are treated to a nuanced character introspection in a western setting. Part of the tension comes from the fact thatHigh Noonplays out in real-time, with frequent shots of clocks to remind the audience of the oncoming threat. The film is largely seen as a metaphor for the McCarthy witch hunts that were going on at the time, of whichHigh Noonscreenwriter Carl Foreman was a victim.
11Stagecoach
One of the most seminal westerns ever made, John Ford’s masterpieceStagecoachis considered to be so profound and influential that discussion of it has surpassed the western genre altogether. Adapted from the short story “The Stage to Lordsburg,”Stagecoachhas a great setup: the stagecoach setting introduces a bunch of characters who don’t know each other, then the ambush puts them all in danger, raising the stakes.
Along with its interesting premise,Stagecoachmanages to be just as exciting as it is personal, with each of the well-rounded characters bringing something special to the story. Recognized as a transgressive western,Stagecoachbecame an enormously influential movie, with Orson Welles screening it countless times in preparation for filmingCitizen Kane. Most notably, however, the film transformed actor John Wayne into a household name and synonymous with the western genre.
10The Outlaw Josey Wales
Even today, it would be difficult to remove Clint Eastwood from the western genre, who is arguably as iconic in a cowboy outfit as John Wayne. One of his best as both an actor and a director is 1976’sThe Outlaw Josey Wales. The story follows Josey Wales, a farmer who joins the Confederacy after his family is murdered by Union soldiers. After the war, Wales' group of soldiers surrenders to Union soldiers, who then proceed to kill everyone except Wales. Wales then becomes an outlaw, on the run from bounty hunters and Union soldiers alike.
In the mid-to-late 70s, the western genre was seemingly on its way out, slowly being replaced by more modern police procedurals and science-fiction spectacles. For a brief moment,Josey Walesrevived interest in the genre, thanks to Eastwood’s careful balance of humor, action, and emotion. This ultimately culminates in a satisfying dramatic confrontation and an ending of heart and care. Eastwood himself has listedJosey Walesamong one of his own favorite movies, and it’s not hard to see why.
9The Wild Bunch
With all the brutal violence that one would expect from a western directed by Sam Peckinpah,The Wild Bunchis a large-scale action extravaganza with an iconic gun-toting ensemble. The story follows an old gang of outlaws on the Mexican-American border who attempt to adapt to a modern world that seems to be abandoning the days of the old west.
Peckinpah’s blood-soaked epic was wildly controversial upon release for its boundary-pushing buckets of blood and itstill packs a heck of a punch after 50 years. Despite its controversy, it still was highly praised upon release, even receiving an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. Apart from its exciting action and introspective themes,The Wild Bunchis also noteworthy for its innovative filmmaking, Slow-motion, and quick editing may seem commonplace today, but they were revolutionary in 1969.
8The Magnificent Seven
An American remake of Akira Kurosawa’s equally brilliantSeven Samurai,The Magnificent Sevenreimagines samurai in feudal Japan as cowboys in the old west. When a small village is terrorized by a group of bandits, seven different but powerful gunfighters come together for their protection.
A great example of an exciting and entertaining classic,The Magnificent Sevenbenefits from a magnificent cast of then-all stars, lead most notably by Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Their interactions can often be just as much fun to watch as the thrills and the climactic action, all of which are elevated by Elmer Bernstein’s iconic and heroic score. A rare remake that rivals the original, Kurosawa himself was impressed enough to present a sword toMagnificent Sevendirector John Sturges.
7Once Upon A Time In The West
Sergio Leone intended to retire from the western genre withOnce Upon a Time in the West(although he later returned to it withDuck, You Sucker!), so he made it as a swansong to the western featuring everything he loved about the genre. Leone and his screenwriters Dario Argento and Bernardo Bertolucci watched a western movie marathon andstitched together a plot from all their favorite western momentsto create a kind of greatest hits album, so to speak.
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The opening scene ofOnce Upon a Time in the Westis one of the greatest in film history, expertly building tension toward a dazzling payoff. Of course, this is only the beginning of a fantastic story, which follows a mysterious man who works to protect a widow from a deadly assassin. This assassin is played by Henry Fonda, mostly known at the time for playing good guys, who is fantastically terrifying in the role. Legendary composer Ennio Morricone gives it his all, producing one of the most profound scores ever made for a western. Ultimately, however, Leone is the star of the show, directing one of the most profound films in the genre.
6Unforgiven
To avoid repeating himself, Clint Eastwood decided to stop directing and starring in westerns after helmingUnforgiven, the story of a retired gunslinger being reluctantly called back into action to avenge a prostitute who was attacked and permanently scarred by two cowboys.
Eastwood’s bittersweet farewell to the western is also one of the genre’s greatest entries.William Munny is a classic antihero, whileUnforgiven’s deconstruction of the western’s essential elements resulted in a movie with strong themes. This results in a darker and more grounded western decades after they went out of fashion. The film won Eastwood two long-overdue Oscars, both for Best Picture and Best Director.
5The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre
Directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart,The Treasure of the Sierra Madreisthe definitive cinematic portrait of the corrupting power of wealth. It’s about a couple of guys heading out into the desert with an old prospector and finding a fortune in gold. One of the guys, played by Bogart, becomes paranoid, convinced that the other two are going to stiff him out of his share. Ironically, that paranoia makes him the guy to keep an eye on.
Even over 80 years later,The Treasure of the Sierra Madreis still just as powerful and suspenseful today as it was in 1948. Humphrey Bogart was arguably snubbed an Oscar nomination, as his slow descent into insanity is both mesmerizing and terrifying. It’s an intriguing and tense story that still holds interest decades later, all leading to an impactful and devastating ending.
4Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
William Goldman’s screenplay forButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidwas groundbreaking in its subversion of western tropes. The movie ended up being one of the first anti-westerns as the heroes flee to the border at the first sign of danger and the movie ends on a hopeless, but ambiguous note. Loosely based on a true story, the film follows two outlaws on the run from the law after a series of train robberies.
The snappy dialogue between the title characters is brought to life spectacularly by Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s classic on-screen dynamic. Of course, this doesn’t take anything away from the story itself, which manages to be both wildly entertaining and exciting.Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidalso has arguably one of the most shocking and devastating endings in western history, though is all the more memorable for it.
