When considering which Westerns ought to be considered masterpieces, there is a lot that goes into such a classification. Cinematic style and memorability are certainly factors, as are cultural impact and the notoriety of the leading star or filmmaker responsible. Westerns were at their peak in the mid-20th century, and though there has been a resurgence of sorts in recent years, nothing has quite managed to match that period in terms of solidifying the mythic nature of the genre.
Still, there are plenty of great Westerns out there that deserve high praise. When we considered the most masterful horse operas, for instance, we came up with a list that felt quite definitive. Of course, opinions on the matter certainly vary, and there’s certainly room for debate as to which film should end up where (an opinion that may change depending on which picture you viewed most recently). But for a list of must-see Western masterpieces that deserve all the praise, look no further than these 20 feature films, which embody everything that made the genre so iconic in the first place.
20
‘Dances with Wolves’ (1990)
The first Western to win Best Picture at the Oscars in decades, Dances with Wolves ushered Kevin Costner into the forefront as the next great visionary for the genre. His directorial debut, Costner played Lt. John J. Dunbar as he is tasked with overseeing a remote military outpost where he befriends a group of wandering Lakota, with much of the film’s dialogue spoken in their native dialect. While the three-hour runtime may appear bloated on the surface, it’s a slow burn that more than warrants the excess.
Dances with Wolves was a trailblazer for Native American representation โ the film features Graham Greene and Rodney A. Grant โ not just in the genre itself but in Hollywood proper. Its aims for historical authenticity (despite a few blunders) elevated the material and almost singlehandedly sparked a revival in the genre that rode its way through the 1990s. While the actor-director’s later pictures โ Open Range and Horizon: An American Saga โ would likewise meditate on the Costner-led American West, Dances with Wolves remains a masterclass in thoughtful frontier reflection.
19
‘The Wild Bunch’ (1969)
Although not Sam Peckinpah‘s first Western, The Wild Bunch is easily his most popular. Meant to examine the cost of violence as the lawless West fades into budding civilization, the film follows an outlaw gang at the end of their rope โ which makes them more dangerous than ever. Considered one of the greatest to ever examine the genre, The Wild Bunch took bold moves away from the more mythic depictions of the West by offering a more revisionist stance on American history.
Peckinpah was a pioneer in his thoughtful (albeit, quite graphic) telling of this gang, using quick cuts, slow-motion, and wild tension that sets the mood from the very first scene. William Holden shines as outlaw leader Pike Bishop, and the rest of the crew (notably Jaime Sรกnchez‘s Angel) perfectly complement the tone that Peckinpah is going for. It’s a tough one to swallow at times, but a masterwork that lives up to its name.
18
‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968)
After saying goodbye to the Dollars Trilogy, director Sergio Leone returned to the bloody world of 1870s America for Once Upon a Time in the West. After Jill McBain’s (Claudia Cardinale) new family is murdered mercilessly by an outlaw gang, she finds herself working alongside the unnamed gunslinger known only as “Harmonica” (Charles Bronson) to take down the posse responsible. An extended tale of action and revenge, Leone follows up his previous cinematic success with a picture that has become just as memorable.
Of course, the real standout here is Henry Fonda, who plays against his usual hero type as the outlaw Frank, the man responsible for the McBain slaughter and the black hat on the receiving end of Harmonica’s wrath. From the killer opening sequence that sets the stage for the bloodshed to come, Once Upon a Time in the West is a slow but steady dive into the depravity of those who wander the frontier, and the hope that one might still find in the midst of such evil.
17
‘3:10 to Yuma’ (2007)
It’s perhaps a bold assertion to include James Mangold‘s epic remake of 3:10 to Yuma on this list (especially since the original 1957 picture is an underrated classic), but it really is a powerhouse of a film that elevates everything we love about the Western. Between Christian Bale‘s hard-working and unrelenting rancher Dan Evans to Russell Crowe‘s outlaw-with-a-soul Ben Wade, there’s something special here that proves the genre can balance high-stakes blockbuster-style action with deep and riveting character drama. There’s a reason we continue to rave about it all these years later.
3:10 to Yuma is a Western that honors the original material, while, in some respects, improving upon and subverting it in ways that are arguably more profound. The chemistry between Bale and Crowe, in particular, is of note, and the blood-soaked action is as dynamic as ever. Few modern takes on the genre have the ability to truly live up to the Western’s golden age, but 3:10 to Yuma is one of the fortunate few.
16
‘A Fistful of Dollars’ (1964)
The first in Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars is the picture that took Clint Eastwood off television screens and launched him into international fame almost overnight. Playing the infamous “Man With No Name” (here called “Joe”), Eastwood essentially reinvented the Western gunslinger with this picture, as the antihero wanders into a poor excuse for a town โ and right into the middle of a family feud that he has no business involving himself in. Yet, there’s more to this man than meets the eye, and Eastwood certainly delivers.
Although not the most famous of Leone’s trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars is a tight Spaghetti Western that proved audiences everywhere would enjoy an Italian-made take on the Wild West. The tight script and even tighter action sequences make for a quick and effortless watch that will transport you instantly to a time that has long passed. Eastwood made his most lasting mark on the genre here, one that would influence the Western (and his career) for decades to come.
15
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960)
An American remake of Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven is considerably shorter by comparison, and certainly more riveting. When a small Mexican village hires a band of seven gunmen to protect them from a gang of bandits who threaten their lives and livelihood, it’s a recipe for success that only director John Sturges could pull off so, well, magnificently. Alongside Charles Bronson, it features the likes of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, and, James Coburn, among others, this film is an action-packed shoot-’em-up like no other.
There’s a reason that The Magnificent Seven is one of the few Western flicks to receive not only multiple sequels, but reboots and underrated television adaptations as well. The tale is a tried-and-true staple of the genre, juxtaposing the complicated good against the pure and unadulterated evil, and reminding audiences that sometimes one gun isn’t enough. While some of the other entries in the series are good, nothing quite beats this original.
14
‘Django’ (1966)
While the pairing of Eastwood and Leone kicked off American adoration of Spaghetti Westerns, pictures like Django proved that the subgenre wasn’t just some one-and-done fad. From director Sergio Corbucci, launching his unofficial Mud & Blood Trilogy, you may recognize this one only due to its influence on Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained. However, the original Franco Nero-led tale of the drifting gunslinger is a classic that is the top of the genre’s game.
Following Nero’s Django, the film meditates on the tussle between a band of ex-Confederates and a horde of Mexican revolutionaries, with the title hero (in true Meatball Western fashion) caught smack in the middle. Not only is the action simply exceptional (proving the difference a single well-armed man can make), but Django’s almost spiritual redemption is a thrilling turn of events that the audience doesn’t see coming. No wonder Nero has continued to cameo in other Django projects ever since…
13
‘My Darling Clementine’ (1946)
Earlier, we noted that Henry Fonda played against his usual type in Once Upon a Time in the West, but for a horse opera that leans into Fonda’s heroic strengths, My Darling Clementine is certainly the best. Directed by Western legend John Ford, this classical adaptation of the famous “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” that occurred in Tombstone, Arizona, pits Fonda’s Wyatt Earp against Victor Mature‘s Doc Holliday in a distinct take on the tale that’s far more fictional than it is fact. Still, it’s an exceptional motion picture.
A true Western classic, the unique combination of noir-style visuals, memorable performances, and a mythic interpretation of the Wyatt Earp legend, My Darling Clementine proved that Ford always understood what made the genre tick. No matter if much of the material is legendary in nature, it’s commitment to character over factual accuracy is what makes it shine. It’ll make sure that the title track is stuck in your head for some time to come.
12
‘Rio Bravo’ (1959)
When it comes to John Wayne Westerns, Rio Bravo is a true step above. While Wayne and director Howard Hawks made the picture in response to another iconic horse opera, the end result truly stands on its own as a powerful tale of personal redemption, unexpected love, and old-fashioned law and order. As Sheriff John T. Chance (Wayne) stands against the Burdette brothers, he does so with his allies, Dude (Dean Martin), Stumpy (Walter Brennan), and young gun Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson). Oh, and that’s not to forget Wayne’s love interest, the ever-gorgeous Angie Dickinson, who is at her best opposite the Duke as Feathers.
Rio Bravo is simply exceptional. It’s a classic Wayne-led Western with plenty of grit and character that you’ll simply want to watch again once it’s over. Wayne and Martin are a fabulous duo who really play on each other’s strengths, with the latter offering a thoughtful examination of the singing cowboy archetype. With a final shootout that masterfully brings the picture to a close, it’s a masterclass in horse operatic fervor.
11
‘For a Few Dollars More’ (1965)
Perhaps the most underrated entry in the Dollars Trilogy, For a Few Dollars More reunites director Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood for a sequel that pushes the “Man With No Name” (now going by “Manco”) to his limits. Partnering with Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef) to track down Gian Maria Volontรฉ‘s villainous El Indio, the bounty hunter stylishly defies the odds and makes his mark once more. Proving that the Leone/Eastwood grouping was no one-trick pony, this is one sequel that exceeds the expectations delivered by the original.
Even if For a Few Dollars More isn’t the most beloved or the tightest entry, it’s arguably Leone’s most poetic installment. It’s a bit more developed and cinematic than its predecessor and arguably more intense than even the follow-up. The partnering of Eastwood and Van Cleef as Manco and Mortimer is a duo we only wish we’d gotten more of. Plus, as a conclusion to the Man With No Name’s chronological tale, it’s certainly well-earned.