The Western genre is a cornerstone of American cinema and is known for its traditional stories of lone gunslingers and noble lawmen who roam the Wild West in search of justice, freedom, and efforts to establish law and order in the lawless, crime-ridden region. The classic Western initially peaked during the Silent Era and continued to thrive with the arrival of the Talkies, essentially becoming one of the most thrilling and beloved genres of all time.
Through the years, there have been countless classic Westerns, such as John Ford‘s Stagecoach, The Magnificent Seven, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, that reign today as some of the most definitive tales of the Old West. While there is an abundance of noteworthy Westerns, some iconic titles, including The Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and the Oscar-winning modern Western, Unforgiven, ultimately rank as top contending Western movies that are bangers from start to finish.
10
‘Stagecoach’ (1939)
Directed by John Ford
John Ford’s monumental Western classic, Stagecoach, features an all-star cast and a profound tale of redemption and honor during the course of a dangerous journey through uncharted territory. Based on a short story by Ernest Haycox, Stagecoach centers around a group of travelers in Arizona territory who are headed for New Mexico when they are unexpectedly joined by a marshal (George Bancroft) who is in search of a recently escaped outlaw, the Ringo Kid, played by John Wayne in his breakthrough performance.
Stagecoach is widely regarded as one of the greatest Westerns of all time and a vital piece of cinema that transcended the Western genre to new heights. The movie features a stellar cast which also includes Claire Trevor, Thomas Mitchell, John Carradine, and Andy Devine, and a gripping plot centered around second chances and the consequences of judging a book by its cover. With a slew of compelling characters portrayed by some of the greatest stars of classic cinema and a story full of vigorous action, Stagecoach is hands down both a trailblazing classic and a bonafide banger of a Western from start to finish.
9
‘High Noon’ (1952)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
High Noon is a unique Western film that goes against one of the genre’s main tropes by portraying the traditionally united townspeople as cowards who leave their faithful marshal to fend for himself against a vengeful outlaw. Gary Copper stars as the marshal of a small New Mexico town, Will Kane, who is preparing to leave town with his new wife (Grace Kelly), but his plans change when he learns that a vicious criminal, Frank Miller (Ian McDonald), has been released from prison and is headed to town to take his revenge on Kane who put him behind bars.
Despite going against a few of the genre’s basic elements, Fred Zinnemann‘s High Noon is still a sharpshooting Western that went on to win several Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Cooper’s performance, which many credit as one of the actor’s finest. In the film’s defense, the decision to take a different approach mixes things up and essentially presents a seemingly predictable tale of the Wild West that veers off in an unexpected direction that successfully piques the audience’s interest.
High Noon
- Release Date
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June 30, 1952
- Runtime
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85 Minutes
8
‘The Wild Bunch’ (1969)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpah‘s The Wild Bunch is a revisionist Western known for its gritty plot of redemption and betrayal as well as its revolutionary filming techniques that reshaped the art and craft of cinema. William Holden stars as an aging outlaw, Pike Bishop, who, along with several other notorious crooks, decides to commit one more robbery before retiring, but as things get underway, Bishop realizes the heist is a trap orchestrated by his former partner, Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan).
Initially, The Wild Bunch was met with some controversy regarding its excessive and graphic violence, but despite the mild negative reception, it is undeniably one of the greatest Westerns of all time. The epic Western follows an intense plot full of thrilling gunfights and captivating performances by a stellar cast which also includes Ernest Borgnine, Edmond O’Brien, Ben Johnson, and Warren Oates. On a technical note, the film is universally recognized for its innovative use of multi-angle shots and quick-editing of normal and slow-motion images, deeming The Wild Bunch to be both an influential and a top-tier banger of a Western classic.
7
‘True Grit’ (1969)
Directed by Henry Hathaway
John Wayne stars in the iconic Western, True Grit, as a no-nonsense U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn, who is hired by a fourteen-year-old girl, Mattie Ross (Kim Darby), to find a man, Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey), who killed her father and ensure he is brought to justice. With the help of a Texas Ranger (Glen Campbell) who is also in pursuit of Chaney, the trio set out into the dangerous wilderness where they trace the wanted man to a gang led by a notorious outlaw, Lucky Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall).
The Duke delivers an Oscar-winning performance in True Grit as the wily Rooster Cogburn, who is easily one of the most well-known and celebrated characters in the Western genre. Aside from Wayne’s signature performance, True Grit also features outstanding performances by the supporting cast, notably Darby, who effectively holds her own against her star-studded co-stars with her authentic and natural portrayal of a tough-as-nails Western heroine. With a powerful plot of thrilling action and an array of star-studded performances, True Grit is without a doubt a banger of a contribution to the Western genre.
True Grit
- Release Date
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June 11, 1969
- Runtime
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128 minutes
6
‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)
Directed by George Roy Hill
Robert Redford and Paul Newman star in one of the best buddy Western movies, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as real-life outlaws, Henry Longabraugh and Robert LeRoy Parke, who, after committing a series of robberies, find themselves on the run from a group of lawmen. As the partners in crime make their way to Bolivia, their friendship is put to the ultimate test as they are faced with overcoming unexpected gunslingers and dangerous, uncharted territory that eventually forces them into a fight for their lives.
Initially, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was met with mixed to negative reviews, with many focusing on the unsatisfying ending, but today, the movie is regarded as a defining film of 1960s cinema and beloved for its legendary pairing of Redford and Newman. Despite its original lackluster reception, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid earned several Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture, and went on to win four Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Musical Score, Best Song, and Best Cinematography.
5
‘Unforgiven’ (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood directs and stars in the Oscar-winning Western, Unforgiven, as a former gunslinger, William Munny, who learns from his friend, Ned (Morgan Freeman), about a large reward that is being offered for the heads of two men who brutally disfigured a woman in the town of Big Whiskey. Out of financial desperation, Munny agrees to come out of retirement for one final job, but when he and Ned arrive, they encounter the town’s corrupt sheriff, Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), who refuses to let vigilantes take the law into their own hands.
Unforgiven is a fitting throwback to the classic Western known for its gritty story of self-serving lawmen and merciless violence that once plagued the American West. Eastwood delivers an intensely sharp performance alongside Freeman, who is absolutely sensational, but Hackman ultimately steals the show with one of his best performances as the brash and arrogant sheriff. Unforgiven was a major success and earned nine Academy Award nominations and went on to win four of its nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Hackman. Between the film’s uncensored view of the lawless Wild West and its collection of unforgettable performances, Unforgiven is not only one of the greatest modern Westerns of all time, but also a banger from start to finish.
Unforgiven
- Release Date
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August 7, 1992
- Runtime
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130 Mins
4
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960)
Directed by John Sturges
John Sturges‘ The Magnificent Seven is an Old-Western-style remake of Akira Kurosawa‘s 1954 classic, Seven Samurai, and features an ensemble cast of classic film stars. In a small Mexican village, the townspeople are terrorized and robbed by an outlaw, Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his group of men on a regular basis, leading them to fear for their lives and any chance of survival. On the advice of the village’s elder, three of the villagers set out to buy guns to arm themselves, but instead, they return with seven gunslingers, led by a sharpshooter, Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), who are all willing to help the people win back their home.
The cinematic beauty of The Magnificent Seven lies at the heart of the story, which includes the expected action of any solid Western as well as a string of well-structured, detailed characters who are far from generic cardboard cutouts of Western gunmen. Audiences are immediately intrigued by the opening scene of the desolate town and the charismatically cruel Calvera, effortlessly luring them into a timeless tale of both heart and ferocity, definitively ranking The Magnificent Seven as an essential classic Western that is a smoking banger from start to finish.
3
‘Tombstone’ (1992)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos and Kevin Jarre
Kurt Russell stars in the 1993 Western, Tombstone, as the famous Wyatt Earp, who decides to hang up his gun and spurs to settle down in Tombstone, Arizona with his brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton). Despite their intentions of starting over and steering clear of any trouble, the town is soon taken over by a gang of ruthless outlaws who eventually turn their attention to the Earp brothers. With the help of Wyatt’s friend and notorious gunman, Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer), the men saddle up and set out to restore law and order in the town of Tombstone.
Loosely based on the events of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride, Tombstone is a must-see banger of a modern Western that pays homage to classic Western cinema with a lineup of glorious performances, an enthralling story, and suspenseful gunfights and showdowns that are guaranteed to satisfy any and all Western film fans. Tombstone was both a financial and commercial success and, while the overall cast was commended for their performances, Kilmer undoubtedly runs away with the picture as the hard-drinking and charming Holliday, which many consider to be one of Kilmer’s finest performances.
Tombstone
- Release Date
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December 25, 1993
- Runtime
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130 minutes
2
‘The Searchers’ (1956)
Directed by John Ford
John Wayne stars in John Ford’s The Searchers as a Civil War veteran, Ethan Edwards, who, after the brutal murder of his family, sets out to not only avenge them but also rescue his nieces, who are rumored to still be alive and being held as prisoners. As Edwards journeys into the dangerous wilderness with his nephew (Jeffrey Hunter), his pursuit soon turns into an all-consuming obsession fueled by revenge and hatred that threatens to destroy him and any chances of bringing his nieces back home.
The Searchers is one of the greatest Westerns of all time that introduced a darker ambiance to the genre with its themes of racism, solitude, and obsession, ultimately elevating the traditional Western to new heights of emotion and depth. Wayne delivers one of his most celebrated performances in this banger of an essential Western movie as the complex and enigmatic Edwards. The Duke presents a profoundly tragic and vulnerable portrait of a man whose tough exterior conceals a genuine sense of loneliness and guilt that serves as the heart and soul of this Ford classic. The Searchers is a vital entry in the Western genre and is known for its emotionally driven story, raw violence, and showcasing Ford’s mastery of the genre, rightfully earning its place on this definitive list.
The Searchers
- Release Date
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March 13, 1956
- Runtime
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119minutes
- Director
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John Ford
- Writers
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John Ford
1
‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ (1966)
Directed by Sergio Leone
When a callous bounty hunter, Blondie (Clint Eastwood), and a degenerate outlaw, Tuco (Eli Wallach) find a dying Confederate soldier, they learn about a secret fortune hidden somewhere in a cemetery. While Tuco learns the name of the cemetery, Blondie learns the name of the grave where the gold is buried, forcing them to form an unlikely partnership if either of them ever expect to find the gold. As they venture towards their easy pay day, they eventually realize they are in a race against time after discovering that a murderous mercenary, Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), is also in search of the gold.
Eastwood reprises his famous role as the Man With No Name in Sergio Leone‘s classic Spaghetti Western, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, which marked the third and final installment in the director’s Dollars Trilogy. Widely known for its iconic final scene and spellbinding musical score by Ennio Morricone, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is an ingenious Western with an unpredictable plot, riddled with shell-shocking action and a trio of curious characters whose individual uncertainty cultivates a thrill of unwavering anticipation and suspense. Considering the cultural significance and influence of this epic Spaghetti Western and Eastwood’s harrowing performance alone, there’s no denying that The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a banger of a Western from start to finish.