Saddle Up
Westerns have been declared “dead” more times than a gunslinger in a saloon standoff—and yet the genre always comes riding back into town. From old-time classics to modern gems and surprisingly excellent remakes, plenty of Westerns (on both the small screen and the silver screen) still get endless love from fans. But there are also the ones that spark cringing faces and “ruined the genre” debates. Where do you stand on these?
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Fans treat The Good, the Bad and the Ugly like sacred text. Sergio Leone’s style, Clint Eastwood’s icy calm, and that immortal score shaped the modern Western. Even non-fans know this one belongs on every “greatest ever” list—it’s the genre’s ultimate calling card.
Screenshot from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, United Artists (1966)
Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood dismantled the Western mythos he helped build, giving fans a gritty, unromantic look at violence and redemption. Unforgiven feels like a reckoning—and fans love it for that. Many consider it the perfect bridge from classic Westerns into something more honest.
Screenshot from Unforgiven, Warner Bros. (1992)
Tombstone (1993)
Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday stole the movie—and fans’ devotion. Tombstone has swagger, style, and endlessly quotable lines, all wrapped in a fast-paced story that feels both modern and mythic. For many viewers, this was the movie that turned them into Western fans.
Screenshot from Tombstone, Buena Vista Pictures (1993)
Deadwood (2004–2006)
Deadwood redefined Western storytelling with its gritty, poetic dialogue and rich characters. Fans still praise its fearless look at frontier politics. Its early cancellation remains a sore spot—but the love for it has never faded.
Screenshot from Deadwood, HBO (2004-2006)
True Grit (2010)
The Coen brothers gave True Grit new teeth—darker humor, emotional weight, and standout performances. Fans loved Hailee Steinfeld’s arrival and Jeff Bridges’ grizzled spin on Rooster Cogburn. It proved Westerns could still dominate mainstream audiences when done with care.
Screenshot from True Grit, Paramount Pictures (2010)
Lonesome Dove (1989)
Fans treat Lonesome Dove like sacred treasure. The sweeping story, emotional depth, and powerhouse performances made it one of the greatest Westerns ever—film or television. It’s the rare miniseries people still talk about like it was a once-in-a-generation event.
Now, before we move on to even more beloved classics, here are a few Westerns fans say left a black stain on the genre…
Screenshot from Lonesome Dove, CBS (1989)
Wild Wild West (1999)
A flashy blockbuster that went completely off the rails. Fans say Wild Wild West tried to turn the genre into a CGI cartoon—and failed spectacularly. Even Will Smith has joked about choosing this movie over The Matrix, which only fuels the legend.
Screenshot from Wild Wild West, Warner Bros. (1999)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
The idea sounded daring, but fans argue it missed both genres entirely. Despite a stacked cast, many felt it misunderstood what makes Westerns compelling. Instead of reviving the genre, Cowboys & Aliens convinced studios that Westerns were too risky—at least for a while.
Screenshot from Cowboys & Aliens, Universal Pictures (2011)
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Bloated, expensive, and unsure of its tone, The Lone Ranger became shorthand for Western reboots that lose the plot. Fans say it leaned too heavily on spectacle and not nearly enough on story. Hollywood backed off Western blockbusters for years after this misfire.
Screenshot from The Lone Ranger, Walt Disney Pictures (2013)
The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Fans describe The Ridiculous 6 as the moment Western parody stopped being funny. Critics panned it, Western fans rejected it, and its reputation only worsened over time. Many argue this movie made the genre feel cheap and disposable at exactly the wrong moment.
Screenshot from The Ridiculous 6, Netflix (2015)
Jonah Hex (2010)
Jonah Hex had potential—with a strong cast and comic-book edge—but fans say sloppy editing and tonal confusion sabotaged it. It’s frequently cited as a major missed opportunity to bring Westerns into the modern era with real style.
Screenshot from Jonah Hex, Warner Bros. (2010)
Texas Rising (2015 miniseries)
Fans expected a gritty, prestige-level frontier epic—what they got was a melodramatic, historically shaky miniseries that felt more like a soap opera in cowboy boots. Texas Rising was loudly panned by critics and Western devotees.
With the fiascos behind us, let’s get back to the Westerns fans defend like family heirlooms…
Screenshot from Texas Rising, History (2015)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Haunting, operatic, and visually stunning, Once Upon a Time in the West feels like the purest expression of the Western myth. Fans adore its slow-burn tension and sweeping music—many say it defines cinematic Westerns.
Screenshot from Once Upon a Time in the West, Paramount Pictures (1968)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Paul Newman and Robert Redford gave the Western charm, humor, coolness, and heartbreak—all at once. Fans love its buddy-movie chemistry and stylish melancholy. It’s endlessly rewatchable and emotionally iconic.
Screenshot from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 20th Century Fox (1969)
High Noon (1952)
Taut, tense, and morally uncompromising, High Noon unfolds almost in real time. Fans still admire Gary Cooper’s quiet desperation and the film’s stripped-down storytelling. Its influence shows up everywhere—from thrillers to prestige TV.
Screenshot from High Noon, United Artists (1952)
Shane (1953)
Gentle, mythic, and deeply emotional, Shane remains one of the most beloved Westerns in history. Fans still debate its iconic ending and praise its reluctant-hero template. It’s a film that lingers long after the credits roll.
Screenshot from Shane, Paramount Pictures (1953)
The Searchers (1956)
John Ford’s sweeping epic divides fans. Some call it the greatest Western ever made; others critique its darker themes. Either way, its influence is massive, shaping decades of storytelling across film and television.
The classics paved the way—but then came the modern Westerns that proved the genre was far from dead…
Screenshot from The Searchers, Warner Bros. (1956)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Some say it’s not a Western—others insist it’s the best one in decades. Fans embrace its dusty tension, bleak morality, and frontier soul. Whether you classify it or not, it carries the genre’s DNA in every frame.
Screenshot from No Country for Old Men, Miramax (2007)
Hell or High Water (2016)
A modern outlaw story with real emotional punch. Fans love Hell or High Water for its razor-sharp writing, grounded characters, and contemporary take on Western themes. Many rank it among the finest neo-Westerns of the decade.
Screenshot from Hell or High Water, Lionsgate (2016)
Godless (2017)
This gritty Netflix miniseries impressed fans with its striking visuals, tense frontier storytelling, and powerhouse performances. Many Western lovers consider Godless one of the most underrated gems of the modern revival.
Screenshot from Godless, Netflix (2017)
Yellowstone (2018– )
Yellowstone turned the Western into a modern TV juggernaut. Fans love its blend of family drama, frontier grit, and raw intensity. Even people who don’t think they like Westerns find themselves hooked.
Screenshot from Yellowstone, Paramount Network (2018-)
Justified (2010–2015)
Stylish, sharp, and driven by unforgettable characters, Justified carries the Western spirit into modern crime storytelling. Fans swear by its dialogue, pacing, and swagger. Raylan Givens remains one of TV’s best modern gunslingers.
Screenshot from Justified, FX (2010-2015)
The Mandalorian (2019– )
It may be set in space, but fans argue The Mandalorian is a Western through and through—lone gunslinger, dusty towns, bounty hunters, and frontier justice. It reintroduced Western storytelling to millions.
Screenshot from The Mandalorian, Disney+ (2019-)
Logan (2017)
A superhero film on the surface, a Western at heart. Fans praise Logan for its dusty melancholy, harsh honesty, and emotional weight. Many call it one of the best frontier-inspired stories of the modern era.
As the genre kept morphing, these final entries proved that even reboots and wild experiments can still hit the bullseye…
Screenshot from Logan, 20th Century Fox (2017)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
One of the rare remakes fans universally defend. With tight pacing, emotional performances, and classic gunslinger tension, 3:10 to Yuma showed exactly how to honor an original while giving it modern power.
Screenshot from 3:10 to Yuma, Lionsgate (2007)
True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
Bold, raw, and unconventional, this film gave the outlaw myth a punk-rock reinvention. Fans praise its style and emotional punch—it breaks rules without abandoning what makes Westerns resonate.
Screenshot from True History of the Kelly Gang, Transmission Films (2019)
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