When it comes to the very best that the Western genre has to offer, there are probably a handful of movies that come to mind. No matter if your favorite Western heroes are cowboys, outlaws, or something in between, the Western canon of motion pictures has enough incredible material to last a lifetime. But which could truly be considered the greatest Western film of all time? Well, that’s a tougher thing to determine.
The truth is, calling anything “the greatest” is going to be, on some level, a subjective venture. Everyone has opinions, after all. But when it comes to the most technically and critically acclaimed horse operas, we begin to form a clearer picture. While there will always be a film or two left out when it comes to a list like this (we’re limited to 10 picks here), these are some of the best Western pictures that could be considered the greatest that the genre has to offer. No matter which is your favorite, they all perfectly embody the myth of the American West.
10
‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)
Alright, admittedly, Lonesome Dove is a miniseries and not technically a movie, so we’re starting this list off with a small caveat. However, the fact is that many still consider this Larry McMurtry adaptation to be on par with any Western film. Indeed, some have gone so far as to still consider Lonesome Dove a film, just one split into several parts. Wherever you fall in that argument, everyone can at least acknowledge the masterpiece that is this book-to-screen adaptation, which features some of the best performances in the genre by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, who play former Texas Rangers-turned-ranchers Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call.
A sweeping Western epic, Lonesome Dove meditates on all the various facets of the American West and the nuances and complications that come with a westward voyage. As Gus and Call lead a herd from the U.S.-Mexico border to the great state of Montana, they experience just about every hardship they could imagine. Though a traditional picture following the same plot was McMurtry’s initial hope for the story, this expanded version of Lonesome Dove bridges the gap between film and television in a way no other tale has been able. And, truth be told, it really is that good.
9
‘Once Upon a Time In the West’ (1968)
After his Dollars Trilogy, Sergio Leone attempted to put that story to bed and tackle a new tale with Once Upon a Time in the West. Following the gunslinger Harmonica (Charles Bronson) as he hunts down the outlaw Frank (Henry Fonda, playing here against his usual type). In the process, the gunslinger finds himself in the middle of Frank’s crosshairs as he allies himself with a grieving widow for the sake of her land and honor. With exceptional visuals and memorable characters, Once Upon a Time in the West is a masterwork of Western filmmaking.
While one could argue whether Once Upon a Time in the West is Leone’s best picture, it could certainly be argued as one of the greatest horse operas out there. It’s as if Leone took what he learned from his previous trilogy (as well as the genre’s vast history until this point) to tell a tale that feels simply definitive of the Western. Distilling some of the genre’s best material into his action-packed epic, Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West is a triumph that expertly utilizes its cast, camera, and musical composition.
8
‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962)
A Western by John Ford, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the first (and best) on-screen collaboration of John Wayne and James Stewart, and if there’s one picture that has all the makings of being labeled the “greatest,” it’s this one. When senator Ransom “Ranse” Stoddard (Stewart) returns home for the funeral of a friend, Tom Doniphon (Wayne), he recounts their previous struggles against the titular outlaw, Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). It’s a slow-burn, but the performances alone define the tale.
“When the legend becomes fact, print the legend,” the film famously states, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is certainly a legendary tale. Its examination of the fading American West is easily one of Ford’s finest hours, marking the end of the Golden Age of Westerns. Armed with Hollywood heavies and a black-and-white look that expertly highlights the battle of morals at play, this picture may often be overlooked by some of Ford’s other triumphs, but it has more than deserved its place here.
7
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
When the Western genre saw a resurgence in the early 1990s, only one picture stood out as the most exciting — and it wasn’t one of the ones that won Best Picture at the Oscars. Tombstone was instantly beloved by audiences and critics, who saw the Wyatt Earp adaptation as an exceptional piece of filmmaking with an inspired cast that could only happen once in a lifetime. Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer especially shine as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, bringing the whole thing home with their witty dialogue and full-bodied performances that really get into the headspace of these mythic Western heroes.
While not always accurate to the life of Earp, the film centers on the “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” with the events leading up to it and the aftermath chronicled in riveting detail. Whether you love Tombstone for Doc’s quippy nature, Wyatt’s tortured allegiances, or you’re just a fan of the entire horse opera as it stands, it became an instant classic for a reason. While some Westerns may be over or underrated, Tombstone is a film that’s always marked right where it should be.
6
‘Shane’ (1953)
While you can thank Logan for its boost in recent popularity, Shane was already a masterwork of the Western genre. The most traditional of all Old West tales, the moment Alan Ladd‘s titular gunslinger rides into town marks trouble as he gets between a group of homesteaders and the cattle baron hoping to drive them away from the sprawling landscape backdropped by Wyoming’s Grand Tetons. This is one classic Western that could easily be considered the quintessential take on the genre; there’s a reason it’s one we rewatch frequently.
Shane is the perfect example of everything a Western should be. A strong leading man, a simple (but life-threatening) plot that speaks to the deeper issues of the American West, and a stellar gunfight that audiences will remember for years to come. It’s one of those films that still plays as timelessly as ever, even over 70 years later.
5
‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (1966)
The finale of Sergio Leone’s famed Dollars Trilogy, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the culmination of the Italian director’s collaborations with Clint Eastwood. Starring Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach, the third entry in the famed “Man With No Name” saga offers a collection of dynamic characters, striking visuals, and a killer Ennio Morricone score that has since come to define the genre. It’s no secret that the Dollars films are only loosely connected, but this one is the most divorced from the larger whole, standing tall and completely on its own.
As the Man With No Name finds himself chasing down a bounty (Wallach), he crosses paths with a merciless mercenary dubbed “Angel Eyes” (Van Cleef) who threatens to force our hero into his grave. With an exceptional Mexican standoff that is forever an iconic moment for the entire Western canon, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a truly remarkable film that is a high contender for the title.
4
‘High Noon’ (1952)
If you prefer Rio Bravo to High Noon, you may feel a bit cheated here, but the truth is that this 1952 flick is one of the most straightforward Westerns out there. With clear moral lines and a tight 85-minute runtime, High Noon is a Western stencil that has been traced over so many times, though nothing truly compares to the original. When Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) hears that one of his most notorious troublemakers is on the way back to town to face him, he stands alone against the violence that’s coming. Having just been married, the stakes couldn’t be higher, but someone has to do the job.
Cooper is just superb here alongside Grace Kelly, with Kane easily being one of the best Western characters in the canon. While there’s a lot that could be said about High Noon‘s compelling notions of justice and high-minded view of the lone lawman who stands between chaos and order, the film is such a success because it perfectly embodies the almost black-and-white morality of more traditional takes on the genre. Although personal gain would tell him to back down, Kane remains simply because it’s his duty to.
3
‘Stagecoach’ (1939)
One of John Ford’s earlier Westerns, Stagecoach is the film that pushed John Wayne into the limelight, cementing his rough-around-the-edges take on the Western cowboy hero. It’s this film that revolutionized the Western, and it continues to thrill audiences to this very day. All the traditional genre elements are at play here, from the war between the white settlers and the Apaches, the picturesque Monument Valley, and the hard-headed renegade outlaw with a true heart of gold, Stagecoach is the one that, in many ways, really started it all.
As a group of travelers ride the stage from the Arizona Territory to New Mexico, they come upon countless obstacles that only push them into greater dangers. The Duke is grand as usual here, with an introduction sequence that says just about everything you need to know about the notorious “Ringo Kid.” Stagecoach is one of the Western’s finest hours, and no amount of remakes or copycat concepts will ever do the original justice.
2
‘Unforgiven’ (1992)
As Clint Eastwood’s parting Western, Unforgiven has proven time and again that it deserves the high praise given. Although Tombstone might be the most thrilling ’90s Western, Unforgiven is arguably the decade’s most powerful. Eastwood plays former gunfighter William Munny here, who is brought back into the world of gunslinging one final time to make enough to get his children out of the poverty they’re stuck in. With Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, and Richard Harris also starring, Unforgiven is a farewell drama that reveals Eastwood’s deep love for horse operas.
One of the few Westerns to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, there are more reasons to love Unforgiven than we can count. A powerful drama first and foremost, Unforgiven is a character-driven masterpiece that does what so many pictures have done before, but to a higher caliber than them all. The concept of the “former gunslinger who regrets his past” has been done to death, but never better than Unforgiven. But, when Clint Eastwood is running the show, what else would you expect?
1
‘The Searchers’ (1956)
Could any other Western have taken the first spot on this list? The Searchers is not only often said to be the greatest Western of all time, it’s also widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. John Wayne and John Ford reunite once more for a story about a former Confederate, Ethan Edwards (Wayne), as he searches far and wide for his long-lost niece after a band of Comanche’s raid her family’s home. With Jeffrey Hunter‘s Martin Pawley by his side, Ethan spends years looking for Debbie (Natalie Wood), battle worn and haunted by his own troubled past.
The Searchers is a motion picture that rivals all others. Wayne is at his very best here, and Ford is certainly at the top of his game as a director — and he knows it. Wayne himself considered The Searchers to be his best film, and even if you personally prefer another, it’s hard to argue with the Duke. With a distinct visual style, breathtaking cinematography, and performances that will have you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat, The Searchers may just be the greatest Western of them all.
- Release Date
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May 26, 1956
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
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John Ford
- Writers
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Frank S. Nugent
- Producers
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C.V. Whitney
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Jeffrey Hunter
Martin Pawley
