The Western genre is one of the best things to ever happen to cinema. However, many films in this classification are more suited to buffs, rather than general audiences. A random viewer might struggle to understand how the surrealist elements in El Topo connect to the Old West. A general movie lover who isn’t familiar with the brilliance of John Ford and John Wayne will also find it hard to tolerate the anti-Apache plot of The Searchers. Then there’s Heaven’s Gate with a running time of nearly four hours, a slow-burning movie that demands patience that only true genre fans can be willing to give.
Thankfully, there exist a few Golden Westerns that anyone can enjoy. Despite relying on distinctive genre ingredients, these films are straightforward and entertaining enough for most audiences. Most importantly, they are well-acted, well-filmed, and well-scored by some of the greatest talents to ever exist in America and Europe.
Here are 10 westerns we guarantee you’ll enjoy even if you hate the genre.
‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ (1969)
Ducking into the Old West town of Calender to find some respite from his troubles, highly skilled gunslinger and prospector James McCullough (James Garner) discovers the area has no law enforcement. All the able men are busy mining after gold was discovered in a freshly dug grave. Penniless and cynical, he accepts an offer to become the new sheriff and goes on to do his job in rather unconventional ways. Will he get rid of the notorious Darby family in Support Your Sheriff?
Smile… or the Sheriff Will Shoot
Support Your Sheriff is hilarious and so crisp that it doesn’t need a remaster. You’ll want to watch it in bits… like TikTok videos. And you’ll be shouting “Check out this scene!” to anyone you know. The film took some time to get its due, but it has been celebrated ever since. One of the all-time great satirical Westerns, this slapstick-heavy tale of an opportunistic, out-of-pocket gunslinger and a villainous family that tries to ensnare him takes a harsh look at a society that often eats its own. Support funny westerns!
‘Django Unchained’ (2012)
Set in the Antebellum South and Old West, Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained follows Django (Jamie Foxx), a freed slave who teams up with German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) to track outlaws and locate Django’s wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who is working as a slave for the ruthless plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Stitching Weighty Themes Into a Straightforward Story
By avoiding frontier justice and focusing on the relevant topic of prejudice, Django Unchained opens itself up to wider viewing. Even better, the high-grade banter makes it impossible for audiences to lose interest. Leonardo DiCaprio is faultless as the sardonic Candie, while Samuel L. Jackson angers you playing a creepy, twisted, Uncle Ruckus-type of character. But the film truly belongs to Waltz (who received an Oscar nomination) and Foxx, ideal choices to play the protagonists. Great support from Kerry Washington and a solid soundtrack round out this tense, sordid gem.
‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)
Loosely based on fact, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid covers the woes of Hole-in-the-Wall Gang leader Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), and his lawbreaking partner, The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) — arguably one of the greatest Western sidekicks. Butch convinces The Sundance Kid to relocate with him to Bolivia, a country he claims is “an outlaw’s paradise,” but the move won’t be as easy as planned.
Expertly Filmed
Buddy movies are always an easy watch, and even though Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a western, you’re likely to love it if you enjoyed movies like Thelma & Louise or War Dogs. The George Roy Hill is intelligently filmed and is best remembered for its iconic freeze-frame ending, where the two outlaws step out of hiding and rush out firing aimlessly at the Bolivian Army after being cornered. Do they get shot? No one knows. Newman and Redford shine, too. Kid’s sweet passivity and off-the-wall naivety contrast well with Cassidy’s foul-mouthed vulgarity. Most importantly, Hill guides their kooky, inept mission all the way to a heartbreaking conclusion without any faults.
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
Loosely based on real events that took place in the 1800s in Southeast Arizona, including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride, Tombstone sees retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) team up with his friend Doc Holiday (Van Kilmer) to take on a gang of outlaws known as The Cowboys. Apart from Doc and Earp, historical figures like William Brocius and Johnny Ringo are also featured.
No Cowards in This Town
Directed by George P. Cosmatos, this wild tale of crime and macho attitude feels like a nostalgic trip back in time… like something that was made in the ‘60s, when the genre was still at its peak. There are plenty of memorable scenes, but casual audiences will love it more for its black and white nature, dialogue, and iconic performances. Lines like “I’m your huckleberry” and “Hell’s coming with me” will forever be engraved on Hollywood’s stone tablets.
‘High Noon’ (1952)
Considered one of the saddest Westerns ever made, High Noon opens with news that a notorious outlaw, used to riding roughshod over the local population, is about to be released. He will be there the next day when the train stops at noon. The problem is Will Kane (Gary Cooper), a Marshall, is about to go on honeymoon. A man of honor, he decides to put his plans on hold. Bigger problem? No one is willing to assist him.
Loved by Presidents
Breaking almost every convention in the genre, High Noon is built around the cheeky, stubborn confidence of Gary Cooper. There is a total lack of repartee, and, although assembling a posse is always one of the easiest tasks for the hero of a Western movie, our character struggles to do so here. The film’s disruption-of-plans plot has a universal appeal; no wonder Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Dwight Eisenhower all cited it as a favorite. They sure could relate to preparing for some personal time, only to be called back to the job.
‘True Grit’ (2010)
There’s a long-standing debate regarding which True Grit is better. Well, Henry Hathaway’s 1969 version starring John Wayne is good, but we’ll go with the Coen Brothers remake. In it, 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to track down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the outlaw who murdered her father. Enter Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), and these three protagonists are off and running.
Revenge Is a Must
While mentioning it as one of his favorites, horror legend Stephen King described True Grit as “a must-see for teenage girls who want to see Westerns.” That’s solid proof of how enjoyable and inspirational the film is. You’ll enjoy the performance by Hailee Steinfeld, who beat 1500 other actors for the role. You’ll also bow down to her character, who is as tough as the men surrounding her. No one can resist rooting for a girl whose idyllic life has been disrupted by a senseless lawbreaker. Go Mattie! Make him pay!
‘Blazing Saddles’ (1974)
A major opportunity has popped up in Blazing Saddles. A new railroad under construction is about to be rerouted through the small town of Rock Ridge to avoid quicksand. Realizing the government will have to buy the land for millions, attorney general Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) begins scheming to force residents out. One plan involves convincing the governor to appoint a Black sheriff, Bart (Cleavon Little), assuming the residents are so racist that they’ll relocate. Wrong!
Stitches for Audiences… No Riches for Lamarr
Blazing Saddles is sure to thrill anyone in the mood for comicality, even those who put Westerns in the same category as lullabies. Madeline Kahn, who had received an Oscar nomination a year earlier for her role in Paper Moon, got recognized once, earning a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of a German seductress hired to ruin Bart’s reputation. Using satire, slapstick, and fourth-wall-breaking gags, the film effortlessly tackles greed and racism without feeling too didactic.
‘Rio Bravo’ (1959)
Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) is simply doing his job when we first see him in Rio Bravo. He arrests a man for murder and as he waits for a U.S. Marshal to arrive, the criminal’s wealthy brother surrounds the town with hired guns, determined to free his siblings. Unwilling to yield, Chance seeks the help of an unlikely group: Dude (Dean Martin), a former alcohol-addicted deputy; Stumpy (Walter Brennan), an old jail guard; and Colorado (Ricky Nelson), a gunslinger.
Justice Must Be Served
Howard Hawks’ Western thriller is as tightly plotted and crisply shot as any of the Golden Age master’s finest works. The tautness builds slowly and inexorably, as the protagonists bond passively, fearing the worst. Then the showdown happens. The film has been praised by many parties over the years. Quentin Tarantino declared, during a 2007 Cannes Film Festival Q&A session, that if he screens it to a potential lover, and she doesn’t like it, there won’t be a relationship. Assault on Precinct 13 and El Dorado are also partly inspired by Rio Bravo.
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960)
A remake – in a classic Old West-style – of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven takes us to a Mexican village where residents have grown tired of constantly losing their little food and supplies to a group of bandits led by Calvera (Eli Wallach). They thus hire seven gunslingers to defend them. The men train the villagers while sharpening their own skills, paving the way for an epic showdown.
They Won’t Take Anything This Time
Thanks to a talented cast that includes Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, nothing ever goes wrong, performance-wise. The straightforward Good Vs. Evil story is a great incentive to watch. Beyond that, there are genuine shockers and mayhem aplenty. Some lines are likely to cause chuckles. But your teeth won’t be exposed for long, as tension quickly segues tranquility. Elmer Bernstein’s rousing score will also pull anyone who dares resist the charms of The Magnificent Seven.
‘The Good, the Bad & the Ugly’ (1966)
Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly features an unlikely alliance between the bounty hunter, Blondie (Clint Eastwood), and the bandit, Tuco (Eli Wallach). The two agree to work together after learning about $200,000 worth of Confederate gold buried in a secret grave. But they’ll have to outwit the notorious contract killer, Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), who is willing to do anything to get his hands on the treasure.
The Most Entertaining Western Ever Made
Even if you don’t like one thing about The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, you are likely to love something else. Be sure that the iconic Coyote-inspired theme song by Ennio Morricone will get you, and if that doesn’t work, the sweeping widescreen cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli will make you want to go to cinema school. Then there are the characters. Blondie’s poise needs to be studied, and no one can ever get over Tuco’s lines. “If you want to shoot… shoot. Don’t talk,” he boasts to a dead enemy who snuck up on him to kill him, only for events to play out vice versa. Pure magic!